Programme includes:
Bach: Fantasia Super: Komm, Heiliger Geist
Rameau: Selections from Dardanus
Handel: Largo from Xerxes
Handel: But Who May Abide from Messiah
Mozart: Selections from Die Zauberflöte
Ewald: Quintet No. 2
Bach: Little Fugue in G Minor
Bach: Toccata and Fugue in D Minor
Blumenfeld: Sarabande
Fauré: Pavane
Beethoven: Symphony No. 9, 4th Movement
“Technically astonishing, eclectic in repertoire, and prepared to explode cliches of what brass chamber music should sound like” – The Arts Desk
Winners of the Inaugural Philip Jones International Brass Ensemble Competition and the Royal Overseas League Competition, Connaught Brass seek to redefine how brass chamber music is perceived. Blending a deep respect for the genre’s rich heritage with a fresh, youthful perspective, their performances are not only marked by vibrance and boldness, but with warmth and approachability, reflecting the strong camaraderie at the heart of the ensemble. Through brand-new commissions, audience-favourite arrangements and a commitment to originality, Connaught Brass breathe new life into tradition, offering a unique and engaging concert experience with the ultimate goal of bringing brass chamber music to the forefront of today’s musical world.
The Connaughts have shared their music-making widely across the UK and Europe at venues including London’s Wigmore Hall, the Lucerne Festival, De Doelen Rotterdam, Societá Filarmonica Trento, Snape Maltings, Kings Place, St George’s Bristol, Hidden Doors Arts Festival Edinburgh and Music for Wexford Ireland. Additional highlights include performing live on radio from the Concertgebouw’s Spiegelzaal and regularly on BBC Radio 3’s In Tune programme. The 24/25 season will see the group make debut performances at the Barbican Centre in London and in Wales at Cowbridge Music Festival, return to Ferrandou Musique Festival in France and undertake an exciting collaboration project with pianist Zeynep Özsuca, alongside an extensive performance schedule across the rest of the UK.
In previous years, the quintet have become artists of the Tillett Trust, City Music Foundation, Kirckman Concert Society and Britten Pears Chamber Music Residency. They also take great pride in undertaking masterclasses at conservatoires and education work in primary and secondary schools across the UK and Europe, including that supported by the Cavatina Chamber Music Trust and the Musicians Company.
Having been principal players and members of the European Union Youth Orchestra, Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester, and National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, members of Connaught Brass perform regularly on the professional orchestral circuit. They have performed with prestigious orchestras and companies, including the London Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia, Royal Philharmonic, BBC Symphony, BBC Philharmonic, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Sinfonia of London, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, London Sinfonietta, Royal Opera House, English National Opera, English National Ballet, Opera North, Welsh National Opera, and Ulster Orchestra. In addition to their classical work, they are also in high demand commercially, collaborating with high-profile artists such as Stormzy, Jamie Cullum, Bruno Mars, Florence and the Machine, Alison Sudol, and Cody Fry.
For more information about Connaught Brass visit their website