A graduate of Glasgow University, Francis studied tuba at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama where he won the Governors’ Recital Prize for Brass. He was a member of the National Youth Orchestras of Ireland and Scotland before being appointed Principal Tuba of the European Community Youth Orchestra. After graduating he attended the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.
For 10 years Francis was one of the busiest freelance tuba players in Britain. Working mostly with Scottish Opera and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra he also played with many of Britain’s symphony orchestras, most notably the Royal Philharmonic and BBC Symphony in London, the BBC Philharmonic in Manchester, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, the BBC Scottish and Royal Scottish National Orchestras. He was appointed Principal Tuba of the RTE National Symphony Orchestra in 1997 and occasionally records with the Irish Film Orchestra.
An enthusiast of brass chamber music, Francis was a member of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra Brass Quintet giving regular recitals throughout Scotland, presenting numerous educational workshops, and recording for CD and radio. He also recorded for television and radio with the BBC Scottish Brass and Athenaeum Brass. He is currently a member of Earlsfort Brass and Dublin Brass.
Francis has been musical director of Drogheda Brass Band and previously held third level teaching positions at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and the CIT Cork School of Music.