Drumming since the age of five, Sebastian Guard’s instinctive and intuitive bond with drums is self-evident whenever he plays. Adept in every style across the drums and percussion spectrum, he has a passion for all genres, to quote, “There should be no limits.Playing good music with enthusiastic and talented fellow musicians brings the greatest pleasure”.
His formal training at Trinity College of Music was in the early 80s, and it was here that he received timpani lessons from Mike Baker and John Chimes, and learnt percussion technique from Jonathan Bose. He also had the chance to gain valuable knowledge about early jazz drumming from percussion legend, James Blades. During this time, he helped found one of the UK’s finest 1930s retro dance orchestras, The Grahamophones, who toured the world and featured in several high profile events such as the Molde Jazz Festival.
Whilst enjoying the success of the latter, Sebastian created the FBI, The Federal Blues Investigation, a highly regarded soul band that played at an assortment of theatres and venues in Europe and across the Middle East.
During the 90s Sebastian was mainly involved in theatre shows on tour, and in the West End. Since then he has performed with a plethora of orchestras, bands and well known artists from the Albert Hall to Wembley Stadium, and can be heard playing on a variety of television and film soundtracks – all of which are listed below.
Running parallel to his performing life is his enthusiasm for teaching and a strong belief that music can be both a form of therapy and an avenue of essential self expression for young people. Sebastian has always enjoyed the chance to pass on his passion for drums and percussion to the pupils he teaches at Winchester College, Pilgrims and Cranleigh School and many other schools over the last thirty years – one of his first pupils being Prince William!
More recently, Sebastian has enjoyed both writing and arranging in his studio in Godalming, Surrey, and collaborating with a number of fellow musicians both in the UK and Los Angeles.
| West End Shows / Tours | Orchestra, Bands and Conductors | Film & Television | Artists |
|---|---|---|---|
| We Will Rock You Goodbye Girl Annie Blood Brothers A Chorus Line High Society Fiddler On The Roof Tell Me On A Sunday Thoroughly Modern Millie Magic of the Musicals Hollywood & Broadway Music to Watch Girls By Peggy Sue Got Married Behind The Iron Mask Pyjama Game Sentimental Journey Calamity Jane Chicago The Boyfriend Copacabana Too Marvellous for Words Pirates of Penzance South Pacific Too Close To The Sun Nunsense Oliver | The National Symphony Orchestra The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra The Glenn Miller Orchestra The Pasadena Roof Orchestra The Showbiz Pops Orchestra The London Pops Orchestra The London Telefilmonic Orchestra The Platters London Community Gospel Choir Geoff Love and Ron Goodwin | The News Hudd Lines The Darling Buds of May Hold the Dream A Woman of Substance The Bill Blue Peter Eurovision Song Contest | Russell Watson Alfie Boe Katherine Jenkins Cliff Richard Barry White Leo Sayer Gary Wilmot Gene Pitney Justin Hayward Peter Sarsted Bobby Davro Lionel Blair Anthony Newley Lyndsey de Paul Lily Savage Adam Faith Stephanie Lawrence Henry Winkler Sheila Ferguson Lesley Joseph Grace Kennedy Faye Tozer Patsy Palmer |