This exciting and energetic 10-piece brass ensemble has been working together since 2001. Brass¹⁰ performs standard 10tet repertoire, commissioned works, light music and jazz. Successes include appearances at major music festivals and concert venues throughout the UK and numerous live broadcasts for BBC Radio 3.

Consisting of multi-talented young musicians, Brass¹⁰ is based on the formation pioneered by the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble, 4 trumpets, 1 French horn, 4 trombones and a tuba. This is the traditional 10tet line-up and means that they have access to huge numbers of original compositions and arrangements written for PJBE and London Brass, as well as having commissioned many works themselves. This combination enables Brass¹⁰ to thrill audiences with performances of refined Renaissance music as well as show-stopping big band charts!

The individual members of Brass¹⁰ enjoy varied professional lives. Some of the performers are regular players with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, Opera North, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, London Soloists Chamber Orchestra and Philharmonia Brass. They have also worked with many renowned conductors including Sir Colin Davis, Bernard Haitink, Andrew Litton, Lorin Maazel, Kurt Masur, Sir Roger Norrington and Vassily Sanaisky. There are accomplished jazz musicians in Brass¹⁰ playing with the John Bennet Big Band, Mike Garrick Big Band, The Outfit and Hot Orange. Brass¹⁰ members can also be found playing on the cruise-ships of the world, including the QE2, P&O and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. Early music groups include The King’s Consort, English Cornett & Sackbut Ensemble and Kensington Cornett & Sackbut Ensemble. Nearly all members of Brass¹⁰ play doubling instruments, such as the cornet and euphonium (in brass bands), natural horn, natural trumpet and even the valve trombone!! As well as playing brass instruments, several members of Brass¹⁰ are also musically talented in other areas (singers, pianists, composers etc.).

Most musical requests can be met by Brass¹⁰ as it has composers and arrangers both within, and associated with the ensemble. These include Simon Dobson, whose ‘Three Scenes for Brass’ Brass¹⁰ premiered in 2001, Maxwell Davies, who wrote ‘Slow Motion Slide Show’ for double brass dectet, premiered by Brass¹⁰ and the RCMJD Brass Dectet in July 2002 and Edwin McClarty’s ‘Sinfonietta for Brass’, premiered by Brass¹⁰ in St Martin-in-the-Fields in February 2003. Forthcoming premieres include a piece by Luke Whitlock, to be performed in October 2003 and we are delighted that Edwin Roxburgh is to write us a piece to perform in 2004. Brass¹⁰ enjoys the challenge presented by new music, in particular technically demanding compositions and avant garde works. However, Brass¹⁰ is equally at home with lighter and popular tunes.

During the 2002-2003 season , Brass¹⁰ has performed at many prestigious venues in London. These include a St Martin-in-the-Fields lunchtime recital, a concert at Lincoln’s Inn Chapel and a performance at The Royal College of Music. They also made their Purcell Room debut in January 2002. Brass¹⁰ has made numerous live broadcasts for BBC Radio 3 including one from the Ballroom in Buckingham Palace. They have also played as part of The Queen’s Golden Jubilee Celebrations at Buckingham Palace, the Cheltenham Festival, the Two Moors Festival in Devon, the Philip Biggs Brass Festival in London and the Waterperry House Arts Festival in Oxford.

Brass¹⁰ won the Royal College of Music Ensemble Competition in 2002, and won a place on South East Music Schemes for 2003 – 2005. They were short listed to audition for the Park Lane group in 2002, and also the Royal Overseas League in 2003.

Concerts and Recitals form the basis of Brass¹⁰’s regular work, however, the promotion of educational workshops and ‘taster’ sessions to allow school children to experience how brass instruments sound and demonstrate how they work are also a priority.

Members of Brass¹⁰ have substantial experience in educational work, having participated in projects with groups such as ‘London Philharmonic Orchestra Playerlink Scheme’, ‘Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Thames Festival Projects’, ‘Britten Sinfonia’ and the ‘London Sinfonietta’.

Workshops can be for all levels. With the ‘Brass¹⁰ BOOM’, younger children (Key Stages 1-3) are introduced to brass instruments and different genres of music with group music making in the form of improvisation and the use of percussion instruments. Older children can be reluctant to participate, so for them Brass¹⁰ offers ‘Brass¹⁰ Educational Concerts’. The ensemble performs an entertaining and interactive concert of music, introducing the instruments and music in more depth, giving the students the chance to conduct Brass¹⁰ and join in with the ‘Brass¹⁰ Big Blast’. GCSE and ‘A’ level students can require less of a lecture and more hands-on help from the players. Brass¹⁰ can be involved in performances of students’ compositions, as well as offering helpful advice on how to write for brass instruments. Brass¹⁰ musicians can also give master classes for students who require an extra opinion on performance-based preparation.

Brass¹⁰ has many plans and aspirations for the future. These include:

Future Engagements include:

“Sonority personified…….wonderful! What a fabulous sound.”

Sean Rafferty - In Tune, BBC Radio 3

“This exciting group of talented brass players produce a splendid sound. Boundless enthusiasm comes across in their music making and should be heard.”

Lindsay Shilling – Principal Trombone, LPO.

“Brass¹⁰ is an exciting, vibrant young group already in the ascendant whose combined entrepreneurial skills help them to keep their feet planted firmly on the ground.”

Peter Harvey – The London Gabrieli Brass Ensemble

www.brass10.co.uk