2024 Autumn Season Announced
August 2024
We are delighted to unveil our 2024 Autumn/Winter Season, filled with an exciting lineup of performances across the UK. This season, Connaught Brass will be taking the stage at various prestigious venues, including our debut appearances in Wales and at the Barbican in London. We invite you to join us for a season of exciting performances featuring both new and classic music!
Autumn/Winter 2024 Performance Dates:
13th September – Bedwyn Music Society
20th September – Cowbridge Music Festival (Welsh debut)
21st September – Music at Malling
6th October – Two Moors Festival
13th November – Wimbledon Music Festival
8th December – Milton Court, Barbican
14th December – Fleet Choral Society & Connaught Brass
21st December – Epsom Choral Society & Connaught Brass
This season promises to be a memorable journey, blending fresh and familiar tunes. Mark your calendars and join us for a season of exceptional performances!
New Mini-Series: “Meet Connaught Brass” launches this week!
August 2024
We’re excited to announce the launch of our brand new mini-series, “Meet Connaught Brass”!
Over the next five weeks, we’ll be releasing a series of videos where you can get to know each member of Connaught Brass through a fun and engaging Q&A format. From favourite gigs to quirky pre-performance rituals, you’ll discover what makes each musician tick.
The series kicks off with Zoë, our brilliant horn player, and new episodes will drop every Friday on our Instagram!
Stay tuned and get ready to meet the faces behind the music!
📍 Filmed at Peanut Factory Studio.
Zoë Tweed announced as new horn player for Connaught Brass!
July 2024
Connaught Brass is thrilled to share the exciting news that the incredibly talented Zoë Tweed is joining Connaught Brass as our new horn player!
Zoë grew up in Wells, Somerset, and began playing the Euphonium at age 6 before switching to the trombone and eventually settling on the French Horn at age 9. She studied at the Royal Academy of Music, supported by the Elton John Scholarship. During her studies, she freelanced with various orchestras and has recently taken up the position of 3rd Horn in the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Zoë has also recorded music for film and TV and performs solo recitals across the UK as a Countess of Munster Recital Scheme Artist.
“I’m so pleased to be joining such a fantastic group of musicians. Connaught Brass have always been impressive to me and we already have had so much fun playing together so I’m really excited for it to continue!” - Zoë’
Welcome to Connaught, Zoë!
BBC Radio 3 In-Tune Performance 24.08
We are delighted to announce we’ll be once again featuring as a guest artist on BBC Radio 3 In-Tune on Wednesday 24th July at 5pm.
We’ll be joined by conductor, Dinis Sousa and interviewed by the fabulous Katie Derham.
You can listen live on Wednesday on BBC Radio 3, or catch it on BBC Sounds straight after the show. .
Farewell to Robyn Blair
July 2024
It is with immense gratitude and best wishes that Connaught Brass announces the departure of their beloved horn player, Robyn Blair. Robyn has been a cornerstone of the ensemble since its founding days at the Royal Academy of Music.
For the past year, Robyn has been pursuing her studies in Germany, where she has continued to excel and take the world by storm. While the group is saddened to see her go, they are incredibly proud of all she has achieved and know that she will continue to do amazing things in the future.
Connaught Brass wishes Robyn the very best of luck in all her future endeavours. Her presence in the ensemble will be deeply missed, but they are excited to see where her musical journey takes her next!
Thank-you Robyn!
Connaught Brass in Ireland this February!
February 2024
Connaught Brass is delighted to announce a mini tour of Ireland, visiting both Dublin and Wexford.
The group will fly to Dublin on Wednesday 21st February to perform and host several masterclasses & workshops with students from the Royal Irish Academy of Music before travelling down to Wexford to perform a recital on Friday 23rd February at St Iberius Church, followed the next day with a workshop for Music Generation Wexford.
New Commission | Robin Haigh
October 2023
Connaught Brass are delighted to announce a brand new commission written by award-winning composer, Robin Haigh.
Haigh’s new work, ‘Get Good’, will be premiered at the De Doelen in Rotterdam this December.
About Robin
Irish/British composer Robin Haigh (b.1993) works internationally with leading orchestras and soloists, writing pieces of “scintillating unpredictability” (Tom Service, BBC Radio 3) that have also been described as “timeless,” “dream-like” (Musical Opinion Magazine), and “remarkably discombobulating” (Seen and Heard International). Haigh’s work first gained widespread attention in 2017, when his recorder quintet In Feyre Foreste won him a British Composer Awardaged just 24, being described by the judges as “completely refreshing” and “magical.”
Connaught Brass returns to France for the 2023 Ferrandou Music festival
August 2023
Connaught Brass are excited to return once again to the Ferrandou Music Festival in France. Performing three concerts across their week stay in central France, the group will perform three eclectic programmes at churches in Beaulieu (09.09), Vayrac (10.09) and Albi (11.09).
They are appearing at Ferrandou for the fifth year, recently made their debuts in several Swiss festivals, in the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, and during the last twelve months have undertaken several international tours... and a coronation.here
Connaught Brass & Slide Action team up for ‘Brilliant Brass’ Concert at Snape Maltings
July 2023
Slide Action & Connaught Brass are joining forces to perform a concert at Snape Maltings later this month!
An eclectic programme featuring original arrangements for both groups, including some Boulanger and Schubert, ending with a premiere of Britten’s iconic Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes, arranged for the combined forces; it’s going to be pretty epic!
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Watch two of the UK’s outstanding brass ensembles side-by-side in a varied programme that showcases a world-premiere arrangement of Britten’s Sea Interludes.
Slide Action and Connaught Brass are two young brass ensembles quickly making a name for themselves. Both former Britten Pears Young Artists, they have performed at some of the world’s most renowned chamber-music festivals and have devised this unique programme, especially for Summer at Snape.
They weave together charm-filled arrangements of Boulanger and Schubert alongside bombastic original pieces. We finish with a flourish with Britten’s iconic Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes arranged for the combined forces.
Britten (arr. Josh Cirtina): Prelude to Owen Wingrave
Poulenc (arr. Josh Cirtina): Quatre petites prières de Saint François d’Assise (10’)
Saskia Apon: First Trombone Quartet (10’)
Schubert (arr. Josh Cirtina):Du bist die Ruh', D.776
Mogens Andresen: Prelude and Reinlendere from Three Norwegian Dances (3’)
Lili Boulanger (arr. William Foster): Suite from Clairières dans le ciel
Britten (arr. Josh Cirtina): Four Sea Interludes, from Peter Grimes
📸 @bennyomgbennyomg (Slide Action) & @benjaminealovega (Connaught Brass)
Aaron Akugbo from Connaught Brass plays at King Charles III Coronation
May 2023
After our fantastic Coronation Celebration performance in Aynho on Friday 5th May, Aaron had to shoot back to London for an early start the next day, playing as part of the Orchestra for the Coronation of King Charles III at Westminster Abbey.
Viewed by over 20 million people in the UK and many more worldwide, the orchestra played a fundamental part in the ancient ceremony. The Coronation Orchestra was conducted by Sir Antonio Pappano, Music Director for the Royal Opera House and is led by Vasko Vassilev, Principal Guest Concert Master, Royal Opera House Orchestra.
2023 Spring/ Summer Dates - additional dates added!
April 2023
Our busy summer just got busier! Additional dates include a very exciting brand new commission by Kenneth Hesketh Fanfare for St Bartholomew (world premiere), commissioned to celebrate 900 years since the founding of Barts Hospital, which the group will perform 3 times on June 14th & 29th, as well July 6th.
Other dates include two coronation celebration concerts at Aynho & Petersfield, a recital at Middle Temple in the City and a very exciting joint concert with the fantastic Slide Action trombone quartet at Snape Maltings.
Connaught Brass @ Bath Festival 23’
April 2023
Connaught Brass will feature at this year’s Bath Festival on Saturday, 13th May. The ensemble will play an exciting programme of music featuring Koetsier, Ewald and Handel.
Saturday 13th May, 14:00
St Swithin’s Church, Bath
Connaught Brass’s brand new music video; The Threepenny Opera is now live on YouTube!
April 2023
Connaught Brass is delighted to fully release their brand new music video, The Threepenny Opera, by Kurt Weill.
Specially curated and arranged by Will Foster for Connaught Brass's debut performance at the Lucerne Music Festival 2021, the Threepenny Opera has become an audience favourite over the past few seasons for Connaught Brass, and we are delighted to have worked with Beastly Studios to present a very special music video for all of you to watch at home!
Featuring classics from the opera, such as Pirate Jenny and Mack the Knife, this arrangement is like no other and also features some of the spoken libretto and drama from the opera itself. We hope you enjoy our latest recording & video project, a massive thank you to the Performance & Visuals team at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama for the use of the Milton Court Theatre, Will Foster for his fantastic arrangement, and finally to Sam Dye at Beastly Studios for putting together the entire project.
Connaught Brass to feature on BBC Radio 3 In Tune on the 07.04
March 2023
BBC Radio 3 In Tune 07.04
Connaught Brass are delighted to join Sean Rafferty once again back in the studio down at BBC Radio 3 for the ‘In Tune’ show on Friday 7th, April at 17:00.
The group will be playing a mix of items from their upcoming Wigmore Hall and summer season, whilst discussing some exciting upcoming projects!
Picture by Beastly Studios
2023 Spring/ Summer Dates Released!
March 2023
It’s our absolute pleasure to announce our 2023 Spring/ Summer Season! Having already played at the prestigious Kings Place back in January, we look forward to a busy season of music-making ahead!
With more dates in the pipeline to be confirmed, this season will be an exciting and busy one for sure, and we can’t wait to get started this Thursday, making our debut at St John Smith’s Square, London.
For more details, please feel free to check out our diary page with all the links to programmes, tickets and more!
Picture by Benjamin Ealovega
Connaught Brass announces Kings Place performance in January 2023!
January 2023
Connaught is delighted to announce its debut performance at the prestigious Kings Place in London Wednesday, 18th January at 8pm.
With the programme featuring music from the 18th-century dances and arias within Pulcinella, fanfare and atmosphere from Andresen, Lutoslawski and Longworth, to the fire which heats up Bizet’s Carmen – there’s something here to satisfy every taste!
Listen to the BBC Radio 3 In Tune ‘Christmas Special’ now on the
BBC Sounds app!
December 2022
Connaught Brass was featured alongside a stellar lineup of guests at this year’s BBC Radio 3 In Tune “Christmas Special’, including Laufey, Albion Quartet, Ganda Boys and many more!
Connaught Brass to feature on BBC Radio 3, In Tune: Christmas Special!
December 2022
Connaught Brass is delighted to have been invited to play on the 2022 BBC Radio 3, In Tune: Christmas Special, alongside a host of amazing musicians!
Tuesday 20th December, 17:00
BBC Radio Theatre
As well as listening live on the radio, you can apply for tickets to watch the full show live at the BBC Radio Theatre, BBC Broadcasting House.
“Throughout the year, Radio 3’s In Tune programme, presented by Sean Rafferty and Katie Derham, hosts live performances every weekday from some of the world’s finest classical, folk, jazz and world music artists. The In Tune Christmas Special live from the BBC’s Radio Theatre at Broadcasting House is the highlight of the In Tune year.
It’s a Christmas party celebration like no other where both Sean and Katie are joined by not only some of the show’s greatest performer friends, but also by a live audience of In Tune listeners.”
2022 Autumn Season Announced!
September 2022
Connaught Brass is back after their summer break and are delighted to present to you their busy autumn season!
As well as a host of performances across the UK, they are excited to announce that they will be making their Netherlands debut this October in partnership with the Ferrandou Music Festival, performing two concerts in Amsterdam and a very special radio broadcast live from the Concertgebouw Spiegelzaal 🇳🇱
As well as live performances, they have a host of exciting things to share with you all in the coming months, including a brand new music video, new vlogs and much more! Keep your eyes peeled on our socials for updates!
They kick off their autumn season at Kelso Music Society on Sunday 2nd October, an exciting programme of music featuring the music of Andresen, Pergolesi, Gabrielli, Bach, Boulanger, Gershwin, and a brand new arrangement curated by the fantastic Will Foster of Bizet’s, Carmen Suite!