Multi-international award-winning brass quintet seeking to redefine how brass chamber music is perceived
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. This includes playing with the London Symphony, Philharmonia, Royal Philharmonic, BBC Symphony, BBC Philharmonic, London Sinfonietta, Royal Opera House, English National Opera, Opera North, Welsh National Opera and Ulster Orchestras, as well as recording with and supporting artists such as Bruno Mars, The Jonas Brothers, Stormzy, Lil’ Nas X, Jamie Cullum, Rag‘n’Bone Man, Dave, Giggs and Gregory Porter.
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The members of Connaught Brass perform on the following instruments:
Aaron Akugbo | Bach Stradivarius Bb & C, Bach Artisan Eb & Scherzer Piccolo Trumpets
Harry Plant | Bach Stradivarius 37G Bb, Schagerl C Trumpets & Bach Stradivarius Flugel Horn
Zoë Tweed | Paxman 20M
Chris Brewster | Getzen 4147IB
Aled Meredith-Barrett | B&S 5099/2/W, generously loaned by The Cherubim Trust.
Members
Aaron Akugbo
Born in 1998 and of Nigerian-Scottish descent, Aaron Akugbo hails from Edinburgh and is poised as a future leading exponent of his instrument. He brings a wide-ranging musical taste to his artistry and despite being classically trained, cites Louis Armstrong as his biggest musical inspiration. He is a charismatic performer with an abundance of natural humour which translates into an effortless engagement with people and audiences.
A graduate of the Royal Academy of Music and an ex-principal of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, Aaron can often be seen freelancing in the principal chairs of some of the most prestigious orchestras in the UK including the Philharmonia, BBC Philharmonic, BBC Symphony and Royal Philharmonic Orchestras.
In 2020, as part of the Southbank Centre’s ‘Behind Closed Doors’ concerts series, Aaron made his London debut at the Royal Festival Hall playing the Haydn Trumpet Concerto with Chineke!, Europe’s first Black and Minority Ethnic orchestra. His performance received glowing reviews, with the Arts Desk describing him as “a refined soloist… His sound was sweet, often lyrical… with perfect clarity and intonation”. Within the orchestra, Aaron has played in the UK’s top concert halls including Chineke’s BBC Proms debut. Aaron made his Wigmore debut playing Saint-Saëns Septet Op. 65 for trumpet, piano and strings with members of Chineke! as well as participating in the orchestra’s tour of Europe playing in halls such as the Royal Concertgebouw Amsterdam and Kölner Philharmonie.
In early 2019, Aaron was a finalist in the “Girolamo Fantini” International Trumpet Competition whilst also being awarded the special prize for best performance of “Vulcano Club” by Piergiorgio Ratti. Aaron was subsequently invited by competition panellist and trumpet soloist, Tine Thing Helseth, to the Risør Kammermusikfest in Norway where he received masterclasses from Tine herself whilst also performing as a soloist.
Aaron plays on a Bach Stradivarius Bb & C, Bach Artisan Eb & Scherzer Piccolo Trumpets.
@ Olivia Da Costa
Harry Plant
Harry grew up on the south coast in Eastbourne, East Sussex, where his passion for music first took root. An accomplished and in-demand freelance musician, he completed his undergraduate studies at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, graduating with first-class honours in 2020. Shortly after, he served as Students' Union President at Guildhall, leading two successful years before completing a master’s degree with distinction from the Royal Academy of Music in 2024, studying on a scholarship. Alongside his busy freelance career, he now works back at Guildhall as the PA to the Principal and Chief Operating Officer.
Throughout his career, Harry has established himself as a dynamic freelance musician, performing extensively across the UK, Europe, and the US. He has had the opportunity to work with internationally renowned artists such as Stormzy, Bruno Mars, The Jonas Brothers, Jamie Cullum, Dave, Giggs, Gregory Porter, and others. His classical performances have taken him to prestigious venues like the Elbphilharmonie, Royal Festival Hall, and Notre Dame, as well as prominent festivals and events including the Lucerne Festival, the BBC Proms, and the Classic FM Spectacular at the Royal Albert Hall. In addition to these engagements, Harry regularly performs with various function bands, maintaining a busy and in-demand schedule.
Harry has also contributed to recording sessions at legendary studios, including Abbey Road, Sarm West, Air, Angel, Rockfield, and Electric Lady Studios (US). Highlights of his recent work include contributing to the score for the Golden Globe-nominated American horror film Beau Is Afraid by Bobby Krlic (The Haxan Cloak) and appearing both on screen and on the soundtrack of the Apple TV hit Masters of the Air, produced by Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Gary Goetzman, where he performed as part of the Century Bombers Band across several episodes.
Aside from his performing career, Harry is passionate about supporting the next generation of young artists and shaping the future of the arts. This spark first ignited during his time as Students’ Union President at Guildhall from 2020 to 2022, where he led initiatives to revamp the union’s social media, organised over 100 events, and championed diversity awareness and student welfare, leaving a lasting impact on the community. Now, in his role as PA to the Principal and Chief Operating Officer at Guildhall, he continues to blend his artistic vision with administrative expertise, working toward his goal of helping to shape and drive the future of both Guildhall and the wider arts sector as a whole.
Harry plays on a Bach Stradivarius 37G Bb, Schagerl C Trumpets & Bach Stradivarius Flugel Horn.
@ Olivia Da Costa
Zoë Tweed
Zoë grew up in Wells, Somerset and began playing Euphonium at age 6 before switching to the trombone, then settling on the French Horn at age 9. She was taught by Simon de Souza at Wells Cathedral School before moving to London in 2017 to study at the Royal Academy of Music for both her undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, where she was supported by the Elton John Scholarship.
Zoë was awarded her first trial at 20 years old with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra for their Principal Horn position, and won subsequent Principal trials with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. She continued to freelance with various orchestras throughout the UK during and after finishing her studies, including the Philharmonia Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonia of London, BBC Concert Orchestra, London Sinfonietta, and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. She accepted the position of 3rd Horn with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra a year after finishing her studies, in December 2023, becoming the youngest member of the orchestra.
As a soloist, Zoë has performed concertos with the Hereford Symphony Orchestra, Oxford Sinfonia and Surrey Philharmonic Orchestra, and as a Countess of Munster Recital Scheme Artist she performs solo recitals across the UK.
Zoë has recorded music for film and TV, and performed instrumentals on albums by artists such as Alison Sudol and Cody Fry. She enjoys a wide variety of musical genres and this is reflected in the music she writes and arranges for solo horn and piano, wind quintet, brass quartet and quintet. In 2024, Zoë joined the brass faculty at the Royal College of Music as a Horn professor.
Outside of the horn Zoë is an avid DIY-er from crocheting to haircutting, and is currently knitting herself a sweater vest.
Zoë plays on a Paxman 20M.
@ Olivia Da Costa
Chris Brewster
Chris grew up in Woking and began his musical journey on the euphonium before transitioning to the trombone at the age of 12. His early musical education took place at the Junior Department of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he studied from ages 10 to 18. Chris then pursued both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees at the Royal Academy of Music in London, studying trombone under Matt Gee, Peter Moore, Dudley Bright, and Ian Bousfield, as well as euphonium and bass trumpet with James Maynard.
During his studies, Chris served as a principal trombonist and member of several prestigious youth orchestras, including the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester, the European Union Youth Orchestra, and the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain.
As a freelance musician, Chris frequently performs across the UK, most recently with the Orchestras of the English National Ballet, Opera North, Welsh National Opera, and the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra. His career has taken him to some of the world's most renowned concert halls, such as The Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Konzerthaus Berlin, and The Royal Albert Hall. He has played under the baton of conductors including Edward Gardner, John Wilson, Vasily Petrenko, Kristjan Järvi, Sir Mark Elder, François-Xavier Roth, and Jukka-Pekka Saraste.
In addition to his performance career, Chris is a dedicated teacher, with both individual students and as an artist with the Cavatina Chamber Music Trust. Outside of his professional life, Chris enjoys travelling, drinking coffee, learning German, and spending time with his family dog, Isla.
Chris plays on a Getzen 4147IB.
@ Olivia Da Costa
Aled Meredith-Barrett
Aled, originally from Pembrokeshire, is a tuba player and a member of Connaught Brass. He recently graduated with MA (Dist) and a DipRAM from the Royal Academy of Music and was an associate of the London Philharmonic Orchestra’s Foyle Future First Scheme. Aled is an awardee of the Cherubim Music Trust, using their ‘Charles Steer’ B&S F Tuba.
Aled started playing the tenor horn at the age of 7 and quickly joined the Goodwick Brass youth band. Aled progressed through the ranks and joined the senior band in 2009, winning the 1st section national title in 2015. Aled has also been a part of the Welsh national ensembles, joining the National Youth Brass Band of Wales in 2014 and the orchestra in 2018. Aled was also a member of the National Orchestra of Great Britain in 2016, as the orchestra's principal tuba, playing in venues such as the Royal Albert Hall and Symphony Hall, Birmingham.
During his time at the Academy, Aled studied with Patrick Harrild, Lee Tsarmaklis and Rex Martin and was also a member of the Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Brass and Manson Ensemble.
As a freelance musician, Aled has performed with the Orchestra of Opera North, BBC Philharmonic, London Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC National Orchestra of Wales and is on trial for Principal Tuba for Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.
Away from the tuba, Aled enjoys supporting the Llanelli Scarlets, watching football and drinking coffee.
Aled plays on a B&S 5099/2/W, generously loaned by The Cherubim Trust.
@ Olivia Da Costa
Partnerships
Cavatina Chamber Music Trust Artists
Connaught Brass are delighted to be part of the amazing, Cavatina Chamber Music Trust.
Founded in 1998 with the aim of developing the next generation of chamber music lovers and players, the charity CAVATINA Chamber Music Trust exists to bring chamber music to young people, and young people to chamber music.
Ferrandou Foundation Artists
Connaught Brass are proud to be long-standing artists at the Ferrandou Musique Festival in France. The group made their first trip over to Ferrandou in the early summer of 2018 and have since been regular visitors performing in a host of local venues, churches and halls to packed crowds.
Kirckman Concert Society Artists
Connaught Brass are honoured to be Kirckman Society Artists.
The Kirckman Concert Society was founded by Geraint Jones and Calton Younger in 1963 to promote young artists of exceptional talent, and has been funded since its inception by the Chase Charity (now part of the LankellyChase Foundation).
Former | Tillett Trust
Connaught Brass were supported by the Tillett Trust between 2019-2023.
For more than 30 years, the Tillett Trust has been financially supporting young classical musicians when they need it most at the very start of their professional solo careers.
Former | City Music Foundation Artists
Connaught Brass were supported by the City Music Foundation between 2021-2023.
CMF’s mission is ‘turning talent into success’. We select exceptional professional musicians at the start of their careers when managing ‘the business of music’ can be a challenge, and support them with a comprehensive career development programme. Agency and management are fundamental to CMF’s role, but only a part of what we do. We also arrange mentoring, run workshops, make CDs, videos and websites, commission new music, secure airtime on BBC Radio 3 and promotion though online, print and social media, and put on our own recitals and concerts.