[3] He studied horn with Aubrey Brain and Frank Probyn and was a member of the National Youth Orchestra for six years.
Beginning his career as a teacher at Minehead Grammar School (1961–1965), Reynish was appointed horn co-principal of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra from 1965 to 1969.
He also played principal horn with the Northern Sinfonia and Sadler's Wells Opera and founded the Birmingham Sinfonietta from members of the CBSO.
[4] He joined the Royal Northern College of Music in 1975 as tutor, and in 1977 succeeded Philip Jones as head of the School of Wind & Percussion, staying there until his retirement in 2001.
During that time he developed the wind orchestra and ensemble of the RNCM, commissioning new works from composers including Richard Rodney Bennett, John Casken, Adam Gorb, Kenneth Hesketh, Thea Musgrave and Aulis Sallinen.