Emma-Jean Thackray is an award winning composer and trumpeter, having recently received an Emerging Excellence award from the Musicians Benevolent Fund, with previous awards including the Daryl Runswick Composition Prize and several scholarship awards. Ensembles have performed her work across the UK, with notable performances at the QEH South Bank Centre and the London Ear Festival.

She previously studied jazz performance at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and is now studying for a Masters degree in composition at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, under the tutelage of Issie Barratt, Errollyn Wallen, Stephen Montague, with conducting tuition from Gregory Rose.

Emma-Jean has led the brass sections of numerous renowned ensembles across England And Wales, directed her own devised outfits and written works for groups ranging from small combos to jazz orchestra. She is currently writing for her own jazz orchestra and octet, undertaking work as a freelance music copyist and exploring workshop projects, notably as an Ambassador for the National Youth Jazz Collective.

"I have known Emma both as a trumpet player and a composer and have been very impressed with her creativity."
- Steve Waterman

"Emma-Jean Thackray is a fascinating young composer prepared to mess with the mood of Mingus, the ‘klang’ of contemporary non-classical, the grace of Judy Garland and the pip-pop-shudder and stutter of hip hop. I’m looking forward to what happens next."
- Andrew Poppy