Liverpool mourns principal trumpet

Message from the Phil:

It is with a very heavy heart that we have to tell you that our former Principal Trumpet, Rhys Owens, died on Friday. Rhys recently had to step down from the Orchestra after some thirty years, after being diagnosed just over a year ago with Motor Neurone disease. It is a degenerative and incurable disease, but Rhys faced this terrible situation with his characteristic calm and lack of fuss.
Rhys was a wonderful musician, colleague, and friend to many. He was a proud member of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, and his contribution to our music making was immense. He will be greatly missed, but never forgotten, not only by everyone who worked with him, but also by countless members of our audience over the last thirty years.