Rob Eckland, BMus (Hons) Royal College of Music, graduated in 2010 after studying with some of the finest players in the industry, including Mike Moran (Keys/MDing), Mark Armstrong (Arranging), Ralph Salmins (Drums), and Alex Neal (Orchestral Percussion).


Rob's career is very diverse, and has performed at venues of all sizes including The Royal Albert Hall, The Brixton Academy, Hammersmith Apollo and 'The Big Chill Festival'. Some of his credits include 'The NME Awards 2010', 'BBC Blast', 'Noel's HQ', 'The Brit Awards 2010' and 'The X: Factor'. He has also performed for HRH The Prince of Wales, played at the BBC Proms and been broadcast live on BBC Radio 3/BBC Radio London.

Rob's credits (either as performer/arranger) include: Dizzee Rascall, Florence & The Machine, The Doobie Brothers, Simon Webbe (Blue), Ian Shaw, The Maccabbees, Rick Wakeman, Lara Johnston (UK Tour), Emma Smith, Michelle Gayle, Colin Vassell, Chris Madin, Ben Onono, Meiko, Nikki French, John Cowan, Marc Russo, The English Chamber Orchestra, Sarah-Jane Lewis, Kwabena Adjepong, David Heath ('Eton Road': X-Factor) Alan Cumming ('I Bought a Blue Car Today'), Craig Colton, Cecelia de Lisle, Laura Lucas, Matty Heanes. Rob is also the Musical Director for The Twist Show, a show touring UK Theatres performing 50s and 60s Rock 'n' Roll.

Further to this, Rob is the founder and band manager for 'The Funk Soul Brothers', a funk band created in 2007 with some of the finest young players from the London commercial scene. As well as being the band manager, Rob arranges all the charts; as he does for the 'Rob Eckland 6' - a Jazz/Gospel project fronted by the wonderful Emma Smith and Kwabena Adjepong. He also holds a chairs in The Chris Madin Band, and in the successful function bands Uncovered and Hula Groove.

Rob went on a National Tour in 2011 of 'Ha Ha Holmes' under Jamie Wilson Productions, and has also been the MD of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella and Aladdin for New Pantomime Productions. He is also the MD for Aladdin at Croydon's 'Fairfield Halls' at Christmas 2011, with Larry Lamb for Evolution. Rob was the drummer in 'I Bought A Blue Car Today' - Alan Cumming's stand-up show which ran in the West-End in the Summer of 2009. Over the course of Panto seasons, Rob has worked with some really lovely people, including Syd Little, Michael Starke, Leah Bracknell, Michelle Gayle, James Crossley (aka 'Hunter' from Gladiators), Mark Griffin (aka 'Trojan' from Gladiators), Nikki French, Aiden J Harvey.

Rob holds various residencies around London. The Dysart Arms, a beautiful restaurant in Richmond where he performs as a Piano Soloist to a very appreciative audience, at 'Brasserie Gerard' in Chiswick and at '3Green', Elstree, where he regularly performs with special guests. Rob also is one of the Resident Guest Pianists at the Reform Club along London's famous Pall Mall.

Rob also studied Percussion at The Royal College of Music with David Hockings/Alex Neal/Ralph Salmins/Hugh Wilkinson/Anthony Kerr, performing under world-famous conductors Bernard Haitink, Vladmir Ashkenazy, Esa-Pekka Salonen and John Wilson. Other projects have included playing under the leadership of Gordan Nikolic and being the Section Principal for the RCM's 125th Birthday Concert. Rob performed in all the major Orchestra's in his four years in South Kensington, and also performed with the RCM Big Band. He was involved in BBC's project 'Maestro', playing Percussion in an Orchestra in the early stages of the competition, where he played under the baton of the likes of Bradley Walsh, Goldie and Blur's Alex James.

Rob's regular set-up is his Clavia Nord Stage 88 with his Nord Wave Synthesizer. He also owns a Roland Fantom G8, Roland Fantom G6, Roland RD-700-SX Stage Piano, MicroKorg XL and a Roland SH-201 Synthesizer.