Q&A: Ralph Porrett

RP: My grandad plays the guitar and I remember always being drawn to the instrument. We used to have impromptu folky jam sessions at the dinner table after Sunday lunch. I've been playing for about 12 years now, but I had cornet lessons for a long time before I picked up the guitar. My parents met in a Shropshire brass band, mum playing percussion and dad the trombone. I remember watching their gigs as a toddler – these are some of my earliest memories.

RP: It was a huge privilege, and I was over the moon to reach the final! It's really fascinating to be part of such a huge operation. Working with BBC producers, stage managers, organisers, sound and lighting was very fun. Two years ago, YolanDa Brown presented the final and I've been playing with her band ever since. We've toured Spain and the UK festival circuit, played at Ronnie Scott's, the Jazz Café, Royal Festival Hall and have lots more exciting things in the pipeline. This year, the final was broadcast from the Queen Elizabeth Hall and I composed a suite of music, Ode To Arnheim, especially for the show. The piece takes inspiration from one of René Magritte's surrealist landscapes and an Edgar Allan Poe short story – you can watch it on iPlayer.