That's true. The LSO Co-Principal position has been held by some fine players from Willie Lang onwards. Lang's tenure at the LSO saw him share the principal's job with both Howard Snell and Maurice Murphy ( WL actually preceded MM as principal solo cornet of the Black Dyke Band) - you an see and hear booth him and HS on the LSO's very fine performance of Rite of Spring under Bernstein from 1966 on youtube. When Lang retired he was replaced by Malcolm Smith who stepping across from the BBC Concert orchestra after 13 years found himself suddenly having to play louder ("I couldn't believe the sound coming from the trombones"). MM's reputation as one of the finest British orchestral trumpeters ever is legendary but I think my favourite section was the short time when the section included HS and John Wallace (on 2nd trumpet if you please!). By the way did you know that at one point in the 1970s Rod was also in the solo cornet ranks of Black Dyke? He may have been "bumper" to Philip McCann but I can't be certain.

Charlie Geyer might agree

Rod explains why in the video, it's to help the tuning of the trumpet with the other sections: woodwind, strings etc.

jsteuernol tuning