John retired from the Royal Marines in November 2000 having served 35 years, the last twenty of which have been as a conductor and Director of Music of three major bands. He has combined this work with a parallel career as a violinist and record producer and is currently the MD of Clovelly Recordings Ltd (www.clovellyrecordings.com) and Leader of The Becker Ensemble (www.beckerensemble.com) . He began studying the violin aged 14 years with Harry Lipman (himself a pupil of Brodsky) and, at the age of seventeen, he was appointed Leader of the Orchestra in HM Yacht Britannia, a position he held for the next 8 years. During this time he continued his violin studies with Molly Mack at the Royal Academy of Music, and Mr KoeKoe in Arnhem, Holland. In 1977, John gained the professional qualifications of the Royal Academy of Music (LRAM), the Royal College of Music (ARCM) and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (LGSM). In 1980, he undertook the Advanced Conductors Course at the Royal Academy of Music with Maurice Miles and Malcolm McDonald, where his joint first study of composition resulted in composer membership of the PRS/MCPS and numerous recordings of his music. Throughout this second period at the RAM he studied the violin with Jack McDougal. John is a former Leader of the Kent Concert Orchestra and St Celilia Strings and has been Leader of the 'Becker Ensemble' since its formation in 1988. In 1997 John was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM) and in 1998 he completed his Master of Music Degree (MMus). He appeared as a solo violinist at the Royal Albert Hall in 1999, 2000 and 2001 with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. His popular recording of the 'Ashokan Farewell' (now released as a 'single' CD) was voted the highest new entry in the ClassicFM Hall of Fame 2000, 13th in the 2002 chart and 6th in the 2003 chart. Recent performances have included concertos by Bach, Vivaldi and Mozart.

John Perkins (Producer) & Bob Whitney (Engineer) recording for Clovelly Recordings Ltd (http//:www.clovellyrecordings.com)