How did the idea for the Classic Recorder Romp competition for school ensembles and community groups come about?

It was something that Musica Viva and the ABC creatively concocted, and I’m very happy to have been threaded in.

What’s special to you about kids playing in a recorder ensemble?

It’s a wonderful social and musical experience. There’s nothing like playing in an ensemble from an early age to teach you a great deal about people, teams, listening, working together, empathy, patience, discipline. And of course it’s a huge amount of fun.

Is that how you started out?

I played with a quartet from an early age, and those friends are still very dear to me. We grew up and discovered so many things together.

What was your favourite piece to play on recorder as a child?

I loved an 18th-century set of variations on Greensleeves. I still love them, and that tune.

And what about today? You’ve commissioned so much music for your instrument.

Each new piece has its own joys and challenges – a really good piece teaches you a huge amount, both technically and musically. It’s essential to work with composers to create new repertoire for...