MFL
Brass are one of the leading brass ensembles in the South East
of England. MFL
Marching and Military Bands are available for a wide variety of
events from street parades, concerts, music festivals and wedding
ceremonies to background music for business luncheons, dinners
(including military mess dinners, mess dress can be worn for these
functions), garden parties, receptions and product launches.
"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"
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.
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.
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). In 2006, she was also selected to perform
in the Maurice Andre Trumpet Competition at the Paris Conservatoire.
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).
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. 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 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
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.
