Calendar
World of the Trombone
29 May 2011 18:00
Programme to include works by Peter Graham, Eric Cook and Johan de Meij
Maidstone Wind Symphony
Conductor Jonathan Crowhurst
Trombone soloist Brett Baker
Astley House, Hastings Road, Maidstone
To reserve tickets phone 01580 291056
Tickets are also available on the door £7 (£5 Concessions)
BRETT BAKER | TROMBONE
Black Dyke Band’s principal trombone is viewed as one of Europe’s leading brass players and educators and is a clinician for Michael Rath Trombones. At the age of twenty-five he had won every major brass band competition and he is currently the most recorded trombone soloist in the brass band movement. Brett is a past Trombone Solo Champion of Great Britain and an Associate of the Royal College of Music, London. He has performed with a huge wide variety of musicians from celebrated singers such as Alison Goldfrapp and Hayley Westenra to other trombone soloists such Ian Bousfield and Joseph Alessi.
Originally from the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire Brett was introduced to the trombone at the age of ten by his father. His teachers were Bryan Nelmes, Robert Morgan and Ken Harmon and during those early years he played for the Bream and Lydbrook Silver Bands. In 1989 he moved to the Flowers Band, and the National Youth Brass Band where he was principal trombone for two years. Successes included wins at the Cheltenham and Bath Festivals and becoming a finalist at the British Open Solo Championships. His teachers at this time were Danny Hannaby, Steve Walkley and the Euphonium player Lyndon Baglin.
In 1992 Brett became a Brass Finalist in BBC’s Young Musician of the Year and shortly afterwards began reading Economics at Salford University, simultaneously joining the Fairey Band. Brett was British Open Trombone Solo Champion in 1993 and 1994 and the trombone tutor at Salford University from 1993-1996. He studied performance with Professor David King whilst also studying Business Economics. Brett’s first solo recording "Bone Idyll" with the Fairey Band was completed in 1996; his advisor at this time was also Denis Wick.
In Manchester, Brett established a reputation as one of the finest players of his generation. At Fairey’s he won every major brass band contest including a historic treble in 1993/4. The Fairey band also won the North-West Area competition and Brass in Concert where Brett was the featured soloist. In 1996 Brett was awarded “Performer of the Year” by his fellow players at Fairey Band.
In 2000 Brett began studies in performance at the Royal Northern Conservatoire under Chris Houlding, John Iveson and John Miller, and consequently joined Black Dyke Band. Under the Direction of Dr Nicholas Childs, Brett has played on over 50 CD’s and highlights with Black Dyke have included two trips to the USA and Bermuda, winning the National Championships in 2001, 2004 and 2008, winning the European Championships in 2005 and the British Open in 2005 and 2006.
As well as a hectic playing schedule Brett enjoys presenting workshops and lectures specializing in solo performance techniques and the education of younger players. Brett has been trombone tutor on Star Lake Music camp near New York and the Swiss National Youth Band. Brett is currently trombone tutor of the National Children’s Brass Band of Great Britain and the International Brass Band Summer School and has been trombone tutor of the Northern Brass Band Trust in Durham since 1992, and Course Director since 2000. In 2006 he became Chairman and Vice President of the British Trombone Society Executive Committee and Secretary of the International Trombone Association.
As a brass clinician Brett has toured from Brazil to Canada and from New Zealand to Western Europe. Brett has given workshops and recitals at Birmingham Conservatory, Leeds University, The National Arts Club USA, the New York Brass Conference and the University of Toronto. He has been a guest soloist with bands in Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, Holland, Canada, and the USA. Brett has been a guest player with Grimethorpe, Fodens, YBS and Leyland Bands and has regularly performed in the Royal Albert Hall and the Royal Festival Halls in London, the Symphony Hall, Birmingham and Bridgewater Hall Manchester.
Over the past fifteen years Brett has been keen to promote new music for the trombone including a joint project with Leeds University and Dr Philip Wilby. He has been involved with over forty commissions including composers such as Robin Dewhurst, Philip Sparke, Philip Harper, Darrol Barry, Paul Lovatt-Cooper, Rob Wiffin, Simon Wills and Martin Ellerby. Brett lives with is Wife Sarah in Cheshire and is increasingly building a reputation as a conductor and adjudicator.
"Brett is a trombonist who combines robust flair with delicacy, technical accomplishment with a warm audience personality. I have worked with him and thoroughly enjoyed the experience." Howard Snell
“Brett Baker is surely at the pinnacle of his glittering career – his strength and depth of sound can give way in an instant to the most heart-warming delicacy, and his phenomenally flawless technique is equally matched by an elegant ability to enhance a melodic line with musicianship and responsiveness.” Anthony Leggett Brass Band World
