Introducing our 2026/7 Musicians in Residence

As our Musicians in Residence programme enters its sixth year, we’re very proud indeed to share that Harry Bassett and Lauren Martin will take up the mantle for 2026/7.

Harry Bassett

Harry Bassett is a trumpet-player, composer, and musical director based in Dorset. An accomplished performer, Harry works across genres ranging from Dixieland Jazz to Reggae with his talents taking him to stages at Glastonbury Festival and the Royal Albert Hall. 

During his residency, Harry will develop his practice on the trumpet and experiment with composition through untraditional forms. Harry’s residency will commence a deep dive into improvisation, visual scores and combining the trumpet with effects to explore new sonic territory. 

Lauren Martin

Lauren Martin is a bassoonist, researcher and teacher based in Manchester. She is currently working towards a PhD in contemporary bassoon performance at Royal Holloway and her work as an academic has previously taken her to study performance at the University of Manchester and at the California Institute of the Arts in Los Angeles.

Lauren will be building on her doctoral research by exploring gender and personality in the contemporary bassoon cannon.

About the Musicians in Residence programme

Our flagship Musicians in Residence scheme facilitates unrestrained exploration. Through a bursary plus wraparound budget and support from the Paraorchestra team, It’s a residency that prioritises long-term support, so that seedlings of ideas are given the space, time and resources to blossom into new projects and collaborations.