A FRENCH horn player whose life as a musician ended when his jaw locked during a performance is carving out a new career as a conductor.

Dougie Scarfe, musical director of the Chorley-based Lancashire Schools Training Orchestra, made his debut as guest conductor with the Sinfonia of Leeds at Leeds University on SundayApril 6.

For two years hitting the low notes on his horn had been a painful experience and he attributed his aching jaw to impacted wisdom teeth.

But during an Orchestra of Opera North concert at Huddersfield Town Hall three years ago disaster struck when Dougie's jaw seized up.

He said: "As a second horn player you tend to play the low notes in a section. Suddenly my jaw seized and I couldn't move it. It was agony." It was a traumatic time as his 12-year career as a professional musician was effectively in tatters and his dentist could offer no explanation.

An MRI scan eventually revealed a jaw imbalance as the cause but playing still caused him pain and treatments offered gave no guarantee of success.

So Dougie, who lives in Leeds, had to give up the instrument he'd played for 26 years.

However, his loss has been softened by becoming musical director of the Lancashire Schools' Training Orchestra.

He combines it with a specially created job as concert manager to the Orchestra of Opera North and a part-time teaching job at at a school in Yorkshire.

He said: "This has been marvellous for me as I'm still naturally involved in creating music as opposed to administering.