MFL
Brass are one of the leading brass ensembles in the South East
of England. They perform in a such a wide range of styles, band
sizes and costumes that it is difficult to summarise. Best to
have a scan through the images below, and if it is a brass band
of any description that you are looking for, there's no doubt
you'll find it here....
...from
the traditional five piece function band, 20 piece military marching
band, New Orleans style jazz, seasonal Santas or in fact even
the A Bavarian Style "Oompah" Show Band!
The MFL Brass Band are also always happy to appear in any costume!
Recent
performances have included: Chelsea Flower Show, Santaland, Hampton
Court Flower Show, Craft Markets Woodland Crafts, Goodwood Revival
Meeting, VJ Day & Burma Star Veterans Day IWM Duxford, London
2012 Bid Greenwich, Frank Skinner Christmas TV Show, Commemoration
New College Oxford, Cabert Show The Salters Company, John Lewis
roof top garden opening, Lipper Citywire Awards Ceremony, Beacon
Bingo Social Club, Sainsbury Golden Jubilee event, Focus Do it
All Fun Days, Launch of the Connex 325 train, Conservative Party
conference Groundbreaking ceremony for the McArthur Glen Designer
Outlet development in Ashford The ISS Kosovan Children's Appeal
Celebrity Golf Tournament & Gala Dinner Plus many private engagements
and corporate and
public events.
Some
of the MFL Brass Band's premier members include:
1st
Trumpet - Stuart began his musical career as an army musician
in 1980 at the Household Division Junior Musicians Wing, Pirbright
with a further year at the Royal Military School of Music Kneller
Hall. Whilst there he won the Frank Wright cornet soloist competition
and the Worshipful Company of Musicians Bronze Medal for outstanding
instrumentalists. He performed many solos on the bandstand during
the summer concert season and was also part of the Kneller Hall
fanfare trumpeters that performed at St Paul's Cathedral, the
Barbican Centre and the Royal Festival Hall.
From
1983 until late 2006 Stuart served as a member of the Band of
the Scots Guards and during that time performed at venues the
world over, including Columbia Artists tours of the USA and Canada,
Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Germany and Monte Carlo. After
just three years with the band he was made principal trumpet,
subsequently becoming leader of the fanfare trumpeters and dance
band as well as soloist within the band. Whilst with the band
Stuart performed at every major state occasion including Trooping
of the Colour, the Cenotaph, Festival of Remembrance and seven
times at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. In 2002 Stuart was appointed
Band Sergeant playing leading roles in both, the State Funeral
of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother and Queen Elizabeth II Golden
Jubilee celebrations.
Stuart
instigated the founding of the Household Division Big Band and
went on to become leader and musical director, leading the band
at venues such as the Grosvenor House Hotel and The South Bank.
In the same year he attained Licentiate of Trinity College London
(LTCL). Moving to Reading, Stuart became a member of Hugh Turner's
quartet with a residency at JW's in Gun St., also joining the
Tim Hills Pandemonium Band and Tongues of Fire. Stuart was also
founder member of the Reading based funk band Funk Assembly which
went on to appear at Ronnie Scott's Club and The Jazz Cafι Camden
Town. He is currently the 2nd jazz trumpet player with Chris Smith's
String of Pearls Orchestra, has appeared with the John Miller
Orchestra (formerly Herb Miller) and has just been appointed 1st
trumpet of the Showbiz Pops Orchestra.
1st
Trumpet - Gemma started playing the trumpet aged eight and was
taught by Jock McKenzie. She became a prominent member of both
the area and county youth brass bands, with whom she performed
across the country and also abroad. During her two years as Principal
Cornet with the Hampshire County Youth Band, Gemma had the opportunity
to perform as a soloist, including playing Harry James' Concerto
for Trumpet at the Royal Festival Hall. In 2002 she moved to London
to commence her studies at the Royal College of Music, where she
gained her BMus (Hons). Here she studied trumpet with Paul Archibald
and Andy Crowley, and also studied Natural Trumpet with Neil Brough.
Gemma has also performed in masterclasses with several prestigious
trumpeters including Hakan Hardenberger (at the Wigmore Hall),
Crispian Steele-Perkins, and Florien Klingler. In 2006, she was
also selected to perform in the Maurice Andre Trumpet Competition
at the Paris Conservatoire.
During
her time at the RCM, Gemma performed with a variety of ensembles
including the RCM Symphony Orchestra and Sinfonietta, RCM Big
Band, Brass Band, Brass Ensemble, Elastic Band and Wind Band,
as well as chamber ensembles. She continues to play with Zone
One Brass, the RCM's Brass Band in Residence. Orchestrally she
worked with conductors including Bernard Haitink, with whom she
performed three Mahler symphonies and Bruckner's ninth, and Andrew
Litton, with whom she played Principal Trumpet in a recording
of Strauss' Don Juan. Since graduating from the RCM in July 2006,
Gemma has been building her career as a Professional Freelance
Trumpeter. As well as performing with a variety of ensembles she
performs with orchestras, including pit orchestras for shows,
and is involved in educational workshops, teaching and tutoring.
She also performs with singer songwriters, notably Charlie Winston,
with whom she has played at various major venues, including Shepherd's
Bush Empire and The Eden Project. Gemma has also held posts around
the world - in 2004, she was Principal Trumpet of the Bombay Chamber
Orchestra.
Trumpet
- Gavin Mann was born in Norwich and started playing the cornet
at the age of seven with the Salvation Army. After completing
his 'A' Level studies Gavin enlisted into the British Army. Upon
leaving the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall where
Gavin studied with Paul Archibald he joined the Regimental Band
of the 2nd Battalion the Royal Anglian Regiment. In December 1995,
after a successful audition, Gavin transferred into the Regimental
Band of H.M. Irish Guards. During his time in the British Army
Gavin has toured around the world in places including Australia,
New Zealand, Italy, Egypt, Czech Republic, Hong Kong, Germany,
Northern Ireland and France.
As
a member of the Irish Guards Band Gavin regularly plays at the
Mounting of The Queen's Guard at Buckingham Palace and for state
ceremonial occasions and public duties such as Investitures, State
Visits, Guards of Honour, Royal Garden Parties and The Queen's
Birthday Parade (Trooping the Colour). Gavin also plays with various
orchestras, brass quintets, brass bands and musical groups around
London and the neighbouring counties in shows, operas and concerts.
In 2006 Gavin completed his BA (Hons) in Humanities with History
through the Open University and is soon to complete his M.A. in
Music Performance Pathway with the University of Salford.
2nd
Trumpet - Doninic began his studies on Trumpet at the Birmingham
conservatoire. Whilst there he also studied Natural Trumpet and
then went onto to do a Post-Graduate at Trinity College of Music
London. Upon completetion Dominic continue his studies on Natural
Trumpet studying at The Schola Cantorum in Basel. Dominic now
combines his busy freelance carrer as a Freelance Trumpet player
with The National Symphony New London Orchestra, English Touring
Opera and Chamber Orchestra of Wales. Whilst on Baroque Trumpet
Dominic freelance with The English Consort, Capriccio Basel, Norwegian
Baroque Orchestra. Swelink players and Texas Baroque Trumpets
amongst others As well as working within orchestras, Dominic also
works within Shows as well as a variety of other ensembles. Along
with performing Dominic also teaches trumpet in London, working
for a number of schools and has also given a masterclass at Aberleen
university, Texas USA. Dominic performs with many of our ensembles
as well as performing at wedding ceremonies.
Trombone
- Don grew up in the brass band tradition in the west of Scotland
and joined the Royal College of Music in 2000 after a short spell
in HM Royal Marines Band in Portsmouth studying trombone with
the late Don Lusher. At the RCM, he studied trombone with Peter
Bassano and euphonium with Andrew Fawbert. Don is now working
as a successful freelance trombone player based in London and
has performed all over the UK in many top orchestras, opera companies,
bands, shows and small groups. Don has also appeard with The central
Band of The British Legion Band as Principal Trombone and occasionally
as soloist. Don started working with Premier Brass in 2004 and
continues to work within all of our bands and along with all our
principal members takes bands out on events.
He
played with the Regimental
Band of The Coldstream Guards
for 12 years, during which time he toured Japan, Australia, and
America; he also played at high profile events such as the Trouping
of the Colour, Festival of Remembrance, The Queen Mother's funeral
and The Lord Mayors Parade.
French
Horn - Jonathan first studied the French horn at Purley Grammar
School near Croydon, where he attained his Grade VIII qualification
at the tender age of fifteen. He began his career as a professional
musician by joining the Armed Forces in the Band of the Irish
Guards in 1976. He was tutored at the prestigious Royal School
of Military Music, Kneller Hall, in 1978, where he studied French
Horn and Double Bass. Subsequent courses at Kneller Hall found
Jonathan displaying further musical talents in arranging and conducting.
He worked his way through the ranks, achieving the enviable positions
of 1st Horn and Band Sergeant Major, responsible for the day-to-day
management of over 40 musicians.
He
left the Army in 2003 and has been a freelance musician since
then, playing and conducting all over the UK and Europe. Throughout
Jonathan's musical career he has played at major concert venues
in Australia, USA, Canada and Europe. London venues include the
Royal Festival Hall, Royal Albert Hall, Barbican and the London
Palladium, as well as high profile military duties such as Investitures,
State Banquets, Guard Mounts at Buckingham Palace and The Queen's
Birthday Parade. He has conducted in front of The Queen at St
Paul's Cathedral and with Concert Bands within the UK and Europe.
Jonathan is also 1st Horn of the Croydon Symphony Orchestra, where
he has been a regular member for nearly 30 years and continues
his freelance career within operatic societies, orchestras & ensembles.
Tuba
- Geoff served for six years with the Band of the Royal Regiment
of Fusiliers as a tuba player performing in the Trad Band, German
Band, Fanfare Team and also as soloist. Whilst serving, Geoff
served in the Gulf War in 1990 as well as the massed bands concerts
in Halle Munsterland, Bielerfeld Massed Bands as well as tours
of the UK, Canada, Holland, Italy, The Festival of Remembrance
and the Lord Mayor's parade Upon leaving the Army he then served
a further four years with the Territorial Army. He founded Premier
Brass in 1995 after leaving the army, and travels around the country
within all the groups performing at many events, both private
and public. Geoff also freelances as a tuba player within chamber
ensembles brass bands, jazz bands, Bavarian Bands and orchestras.
He performed the Concerto for Bass Tuba by Ralph Vaughan Williams
in 2000 and premiered (Little) Fool in a Trance by Chris Matthew
Haines in 2001.
He
attained an ARCM in performance in 1998 and in 2002 graduated
from Canterbury Christ Church University College with a BA Music
(Hons). During his time here, not only did he study Tuba but also
conducting and music arranging. Geoff is also the chief musical
arranger for this ensemble. As well as managing and performing
he also works as a peripatetic brass teacher and freelance Musical
Director within various ensembles such as the Dulcet Choir & Sanctus
Music XIV, as well as Musical Director & Drum Major of the 24th
Invicta Rifles Band.
