Originally from New Zealand, Blair completed his undergraduate studies at Victoria University of Wellington with tutors David Bremner and Marc Taddei. During this time he won the Second Trombone position with Orchestra Wellington, and worked with the Auckland Philharmonia and New Zealand Symphony Orchestras. He moved to the United Kingdom in 2005 where he completed a Masters degree at the Royal Academy of Music in London under tutors Ian Bousfield, Denis Wick and Dudley Bright. After graduating with a DipRAM, the highest accolade awarded to performers, Blair moved to Norway to take up the Solo Trombone position with the Stavanger Symfoniorkester. He returned to England in 2012 to join the Orchestra of Opera North as Principal Trombone, where he has also recently performed the Martin Ballade and Rota Trombone Concerto. He has performed as guest Principal Trombone with many of Britain’s orchestras, including the London Symphony, Royal Opera House, London Philharmonic, Philharmonia, BBC Symphony, Royal Philharmonic, City of Birmingham Symphony, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, and Hallé orchestras.