MFL
Theme Brass Band are one of the leading brass ensembles in the
South East of England. This
Brass Band is always happy to appear in any costume!
They perform in a such a wide range of styles, band sizes and
costumes that it is difficult to summarise. Best to have a scan
through the images below, and if it is a brass band of any description
that you are looking for, there's no doubt you'll find it here....
...from
the traditional five piece function band, 20 piece military marching
band, New Orleans style jazz, seasonal Santas or in fact even
the A Bavarian Style "Oompah" Show Band!
The
Bavarian Styled performs the traditional music as heard in the
various festivals in German, band can perform all the music for
dancing, swaying, clapping, singing and of course
..drinking!
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.
The
MFL Brass Band also have a large repertoire of Dixieland Jazz,
and can perform for your event in full, traditional costume and
instrumentation!
Available
with vocalist the band can entertain your wedding guests, corporate
event, dinner dance or themed event with all the traditional 1940's
big band numbers you've come to know and love. MFL Theme Brass
are available for a wide variety of events from formal recitals,
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.
Television
Work:
This
ensemble is available for TV or Film work having having had extensive
experience working within this industry. They are smart, professional
yet easygoing and always happy to appear in costume, with a wide
selection of their own costumes plus access to a extensive extented
wardrobe of costumes they can blend in with your theme or be in
character for your film, series or programme.
They are also happy to work outside, and aim to make everything
as easy as possible for you by when not filming - being ready
to go at short notice when you need them.
Some
of the ensemble's recent television work includes QVC Shopping
Channel Christmas Promotions 2006, Churchill Insurance Advert
Money Back Guarantee Celebration 2005, Frank Skinner Television
Show Christmas Special 2004.
Some
of the MFL Brass Band's premier members include:
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.
From
1983 until late 2006 Stuart served as a member of the Band of
the Scots Guards and during that time performed at venues the
world over, including Columbia Artists tours of the USA and Canada,
Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Germany and Monte Carlo. After
just three years with the band he was made principal trumpet,
subsequently becoming leader of the fanfare trumpeters and dance
band as well as soloist within the band. Whilst with the band
Stuart performed at every major state occasion including Trooping
of the Colour, the Cenotaph, Festival of Remembrance and seven
times at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. 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. 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.
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).
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.
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
attained an ARCM in performance in 1998 and in 2002 graduated
from Canterbury Christ Church University College with a BA Music
(Hons). During his time here, not only did he study Tuba but also
conducting and music arranging. Geoff is also the chief musical
arranger for this ensemble. As well as managing and performing
he also works as a peripatetic brass teacher and freelance Musical
Director within various ensembles such as the Dulcet Choir & Sanctus
Music XIV, as well as Musical Director & Drum Major of the 24th
Invicta Rifles Band.
