Jason Sellars

Jason Sellars graduated with an MA in English in 2001, and now plays the trumpet professionally.

I graduated in 2001 with a 2.1 Single Honours English. I now work as a freelance professional trumpet player. I still live in the Dundee area but play all over Scotland and the north of England.

The variety of work I do varies greatly. On the commercial side, there are corporate gigs at places such as Gleneagles, where I have played on several occassions. I have also played at numerous music festivals with various bands. My first love remains playing jazz, and I co-lead my own jazz quintet with my brother. I also do freelance recording work and have recorded with songwriter Michael Marra among other people.

I very much enjoyed my time as a student at the University of Dundee. In first year I studied English, Politics, and Geography and in second I did English, American Studies, and Philosophy. I decided to take single honours in English as I enjoyed it the most. I found the department to be a friendly place and the re-establishment of the English Lit Society helped to bind things together. Music was always important to me and I was a member of the music society also.

Although what I am doing now would seem to have no obvious connection with having an English degree, I feel I have benefitted greatly from it as a person; far more than I would have done as a musician by going to music college.