Quintessential Brass is a quintet of young, vibrant and versatile musicians who are all currently studying in their fourth year at the Royal Northern College of Music. The group have been together for four years and were runners up in the 2010 Philip Jones Ensemble competition.

Cai Isfryn / trumpet is currently a solo cornet player with Black Dyke Mills band and principal cornet of the National Youth Brass Band of Wales. He was formally a member and a soloist with the European Youth Brass Band in 2005, principal trumpet of the Youth Wind Orchestra of Wales and a member of both the National Youth Jazz Ensemble and Orchestra of Wales. Winner of the National Eisteddfod and Urdd Eisteddfod in 2007, Cai has travelled and performed as a soloist in Canada, Sweden, Norway and Holland.

Elizabeth Fitzpatrick / trumpet began playing aged eight, and became co-principal cornet of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain in 2007. She was awarded the best soloist award at the National Youth Championships of Great Britain in 2006 and also became a member of the European Youth Brass Band earlier this year on flugelhorn. Liz’s achievements this year include appearing in the recent Royal Variety Show in Liverpool.

Oliver Hickie / French horn studies with Lindsey Stoker and has been playing the horn for ten years. Amongst his achievements Oliver was a Bexley scholar and winner of the Geeson prize for musical performance for two years. He is a member of his County Youth Orchestra and has performed as a soloist with them in Maidstone earlier this year. He has participated in many ensembles and orchestras including the RNCM Chamber Orchestra and has recorded with the RNCM Wind Orchestra. He has performed in France, Czech Republic, Germany and Bulgaria.

Simon Lodge / trombone began playing the trombone at the age of nine under Terry Hext. At 13 he was invited to study at the Royal College of Music Junior Department with Simon Hogg and Peter Harvey. Simon has featured in many of the RNCM’s top ensembles, most notably the Big Band. Simon takes his Jazz very seriously and this year under the expert eye of Jiggs Wigham he came fifth in the Don Lusher solo trombone competition as well as scooping a seat in the Conservatoires UK Big Band, who this year appeared at the IAJE conference in Toronto.

James Hartley / tuba began playing at the late age of 13 and is also a keen saxophonist and pianist. James currently plays principal B flat Bass for Grimethorpe Colliery Band and was a member of the City of Sheffield Youth Orchestra. A member of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain for a number of years, James also features in many of the RNCM’s top ensembles including the symphony and wind orchestras.

The programme on 8 April 2011 will include:-

Little Fugue in G Minor: J.S. Bach, arr Canadian Brass
Green Hornet: arr. Cai Isfryn
Suite Americana: Enrique Crespo
Bohemian Rhapsody: Freddy Mercury arr. Oliver Hickie
Mini Overture: Witold Lutoslawsi
Little Prayer: Evelyn Glennie arr. Isfryn

Quintessential Brass appears by kind permission of the Royal Northern College of Music