Russell Torrance's childhood was devoted to listening to, learning about, and performing music. His parents had close affiliations with the local military bands and operatic societies, and their family home and car was usually cluttered with a range of keyboard and brass instruments!
Russell graduated with honours from the University of Nottingham, where he studied music. He was subsequently invited to join the editorial team for the second edition of the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. After the dictionary was published, Russell joined Classic FM in London.
Since relocating to Australia in 2007, Russell has worked in commercial radio (for which he was awarded a 2015 ACRA for Best Show Producer Entertainment/Music (non metro)) and at the ABC. He has also taught music and radio broadcasting at secondary and tertiary levels.
Russell is a keen performer and has taken to the stage in venues across Europe and Australia, most notably London's Barbican Centre and Manchester's Royal Northern College of Music. He is known to musicians as 'the Scotsman with the loud laugh and the big tuba'!