MFL
Corporate Brass is 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. This
band is highly professional and adaptable, happy to work with
you to create just the professional image that you require.
"Just
to say many thanks for the band on Friday. They were excellent
and we will certainly bear them in mind when we start planning
our next event. Please pass our thanks on to them. Yours sincerely,
John"
The most traditional format for this band is the five piece function
band, but this can be taylored to an ensemble larger or smaller
to fit your company's needs. Please feel free to contact us to
discuss your bespoke request and we will be happy to advise on
the available options.
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 cokm,ok7yh zporate 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. 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).
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.
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. 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.
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. 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.
