Laura Skeet

Instruments: Saxophone, Flute and Clarinet

Laura was inspired to take up the saxophone whilst at Junior School in Sheffield. She remembers seeing one close up for the first time and thinking, “Wow, I want to play one of those!” She finally managed to buy her first saxophone aged 15 and began her career by playing along with famous recordings of the sax greats, Gerry Mulligan, Stan Getz and Paul Desmond.

She went on to study Music at Bristol University and performed with numerous orchestras, big bands, chamber ensembles and pop bands whilst studying saxophone with Dr. Kevin Murphy and Duncan Ashby. On graduation in 2002 she returned to Sheffield and began teaching the saxophone, flute and clarinet for the Sheffield Music Service.

In 2006 Laura completed an MA in the Psychology of Music at the University of Sheffield whilst developing her playing further with Andy Scott at the RNCM. She also established the ‘Saxsational’ saxophone quartet. Laura continues to perform regularly with the quartet and is currently Lead Alto for the “Langsett Dance Orchestra”. She also performs for theatrical shows across the region on a variety of woodwind instruments.

Laura now specializes in teaching jazz, pop and improvising techniques and has pupils following the ABRSM and Trinity/Guildhall jazz courses in addition to the more traditional classical syllabus. As well as teaching privately, she is the saxophone specialist at Birkdale School in Sheffield where she directs the Senior Saxophone ensembles and the Prep School Jazz Band.