Laurence Perkins was born near Liverpool in 1954, and studied at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester with Charles Cracknell, Principal Bassoonist in the Hallé Orchestra. In 1974 Laurence joined Manchester Camerata as Principal Bassoonist, a post which he holds to this day. Laurence has given many recitals throughout Britain and Europe with pianist Michael Hancock, including concerts at London’s Wigmore Hall and Purcell Room. This duo recorded an award-winning album for Hyperion in 1982 called ‘L’après-midi d’un dinosaur’.

In 1990 Laurence and the Manchester Camerata conducted by Sir Charles Groves recorded ‘Serenade for Susan’ – a musical tribute to Laurence’s wife Susan who played bassoon with him in the orchestra for five years until her death in 1989 at the age of 33, following a six-month fight with cancer. His overseas concerts with Camerata include performances in France, Germany, Norway, Hong Kong, Japan and Australia, and he has given solo performances with orchestras in Belarus, Ukraine and Portugal.

His recent venture is a solo music-and-words concert presentation ‘As far as the eye can see’, a journey through the hills and mountains of Britain and Ireland in unaccompanied melody and classic poetry and prose. His other activities and interests include walking in remote areas, landscape photography, and musical relaxation sessions with cancer patients. Laurence Perkins’ bassoon is by G H Hüller, made in 1967.