Shaun’s musical career began at school, with a brief flirtation with the violin, before moving onto the trombone and then the trumpet. His professional career began at 16 when he joined the Royal Greenjackets Regiment (now called The Rifles) as a Bandsman playing trombone in the British Army.
Whilst still in the Army, Shaun was fortunate to receive funding to attend the Wavendon Summer School run by John Dankworth and Cleo Laine. After leaving the Army, he joined the Wavendon Summer School as a tutor, and it was through his association with the course and with the musicians he met there, that he discovered a love of Jazz and performing in Big bands.
Shaun graduated from the University of East Anglia, with an honours degree in music. Further study in arranging and composition led to a successful career writing and arranging music, and his many musical projects include works for NYJO.