Biography

Aaron Akugbo – Trumpet | Harry Plant – Trumpet | Robyn Blair – French Horn | Chris Brewster – Trombone |Aled Meredith-Barrett – Tuba

Previous member: Pippa Scourse – Trumpet

Connaught Brass is a London based quintet made up of students from The Royal Academy of Music and Guildhall School of Music and Drama. The ensemble was formed in 2016, created by a group of friends who have known each other for several years. The members have previously been principal players in the European Union Youth Orchestra and National Youth Orchestra’s of Great Britain, Scotland, and Wales. More recently, members have begun to appear on the professional circuit, freelancing with the London Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra and Cory Band, as well as recording with and supporting artists such as Bruno Mars, Jamie Cullum, Gregory Porter and Stormzy.

The quintet consists of Aaron Akugbo and Harry Plant (trumpet), Robyn Blair (french horn), Chris Brewster (tenor trombone) and Aled Meredith-Barrett (tuba).

Most recently, the group won first prize in the inaugural Philip Jones International Brass Ensemble Competition 2019. They also won the Worshipful Company of Musicians Brass Ensemble Prize in 2018, and travelled to France shortly after to take part in the music festival Ferrandou Musique, where they performed a series of concerts made up of a vast range of repertoire, including original works for brass quintet and specially arranged vocal and piano works. The group are returning to the same festival in 2019.

Whilst studying, Connaught Brass have benefited from coaching lead by some of the UK’s leading brass chamber musicians, including Alan Thomas and Matt Knight (Septura), as well as regular coaching with Bob Hughes (Senior Brass Tutor, RAM). They have also represented the Conservatoire in a masterclass with the contemporary American composer Anthony Plog, performing the composer’s own work.

The ensemble’s ambition is to explore and share the broadest range of musical repertoire with as wide an audience as possible, bringing brass chamber music to the forefront of the musical world.

Musicians’ Company Award: RAM Brass Ensemble Prize 2018

Page Updated: August 2019