Great Birmingham Brass Fest
All-inclusive Fest-pass:
£15 each day
£25 for both days
Free to under 18s with a paying adult
Wheelchair users are entitled to concessionary priced tickets with a complimentary companion seat. Guide dogs are welcome at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire venues. If you wish to bring a guide dog or wheelchair, please let the Events Office know by calling 0121 331 5909.

Join a stellar line-up of international brass superstars for a festival of concerts, horn-hangouts, masterclasses and participatory events at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.
*Under 18s go free with a full paying adult. {Parent/carer must fill in a consent form upon arrival }
**Individual performance tickets available on the door.
SUN 19 JAN
Side-by-Side with RBC Brass Band
Directed by Ian Porthouse with Katrina Marzella and Peter Moore
Open to all brass band instrument players of Grade 5 standard and above
9.45am - 11am, The Bradshaw Hall
Sarah Willis's Horn Hangout Live
Featuring the CBSO Horns, Katrina Marzella and Ian Porthouse
Rare chance to watch Sarah Willis, RBC’s International Chair in Brass Studies, in action in her legendary horn hangout!
11.15am - 12.15pm, Recital Hall
Connaught Brass
Lunchtime recital to include Adam’s Rib by James MacMillan and Monteverdi’s Scherzi Musicali
Fresh from their triumph in the inaugural Philip Jones Brass Quintet competition, this an opportunity to catch this thrilling young ensemble at the start of what is sure to be a major international career.
12.30pm - 1.30pm, The Bradshaw Hall
Masterclasses
An array of masterclasses to observe, including Sarah Willis, French Horn (Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra), Peter Moore, Trombone (London Symphony Orchestra), Alan Thomas, Trumpet (RBC Associate Head of Brass, CBSO, Onyx Brass, Septura), Graham Sibley, Tuba (CBSO, RBC Tutor)
1.30pm - 3pm, Workshop Rooms
Masterclasses
More opportunities to learn from the greatest players around, featuring classes from Katrina Marzella, Baritone (Black Dyke Band) and Philip Cobb, Cornet (London Symphony Orchestra)
4pm - 5.30pm, Recital Hall and Workshop 1
Massed Blow
Directed by Sarah Willis
Open to ALL, a chance to play in a large ensemble directed by Sarah Willis
5.30pm - 6.30pm, The Bradshaw Hall
Katrina Marzella
Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Brass Band
Directed by Ian Porthouse, with guest soloists Philip Cobb, Katrina Marzella and Peter Moore
Ray Farr Intrada: Ein’ Feste Burg
Peter Graham Baritone Concerto (soloist Katrina Marzella - Black Dyke Band)
Gordon Langford Rhapsody for Trombone (soloist Peter Moore - Principal Trombone, London Symphony Orchestra, ECHO Klassik young artist)
Ernest Tomlinson Cornet Concerto (soloist Philip Cobb - Principal Trumpet, London Symphony Orchestra)
With an outrageously talented line-up of global brass superstar soloists, this is a rare opportunity to hear some of the great works for solo brass and Brass Band, from the evergreen Langford Rhapsody for trombone to the rarely performed, ultra-virtuoso, Tomlinson Cornet Concerto via a wonderful new baritone concerto by Peter Graham. With the fabulous RBC Brass Band, under the sparkling direction of Ian Porthouse, this is an unmissable concert for all brass lovers.
7pm-8.15pm The Bradshaw Hall
MON 20 JAN
Orchestral Horn Side-by-Side Masterclass
Featuring Sarah Willis and Timothy Jackson (Principal Horn, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra)
9am - 11am, Recital Hall
Onyx Brass
Sarah Willis’s Horn Hangout Live
Featuring Onyx Brass, Peter Moore and Tim Jackson
Rare chance to watch Sarah Willis, RBC’s International Chair in Brass Studies, in action in her legendary horn hangout!
12pm - 1pm, Recital Hall
Peter Moore & Joanne Sealey
Join international trombone superstar Peter Moore and RBC’s own brilliant pianist Joanne Sealey in a recital of consummate artistry and expression: Peter makes the instrument sing in a way that is truly breath-taking.
1.05pm - 2pm, Recital Hall
Brass Chamber Music Masterclass
Watch RBC’s best student groups in action under the guidance of Onyx Brass. Trade stands available both days, provided by Phil Parker, Ltd with instruments available to try!
2pm - 4.15pm, The Bradshaw Hall
Connaught Brass
Onyx Brass, Connaught Brass, RBC Student Ensemble
And introducing RBC Youth Brass
Bernstein arr. Crees West Side Story Suite (RBC Youth Brass)
Timothy Jackson Three Worlds for triple brass quintet (world première)
Simon Dobson new work for brass quintet (première)
John Adams arr. Onyx Brass Shaking and Trembling (world première of new arrangement for triple brass quintet)
The final gala concert of the inaugural Great Birmingham Brass Fest will open with the debut of a newly formed youth ensemble, featuring the best young brass players from music hubs across the West Midlands and directed by Amos Miller, Head of Brass at RBC. It will then feature a smorgasbord of electrifying brass chamber music from Onyx Brass, described by BBC Music as “easily the classiest brass ensemble in Britain”, including several world premières, in two of which they will be joined by both Connaught Brass and a student ensemble from RBC.
7pm – 9pm, The Bradshaw Hall