Connaught Brass wins Philip Jones International Brass Ensemble Competition

We hosted the inaugural Philip Jones International Brass Ensemble Competition between 15 and 20 July, welcoming 13 young brass quintets from around the world to compete for a £10,000 prize.

In a three-hour showcase final, the UK’s Connaught Brass walked away with the top Philip Jones Prize, with Austria’s R E T Chamber Brass taking the £7,500 Marah Mahlowe Prize, and London Metropolitan Brass winning the £5,000 Founder’s Prize.

Chris Brewster, trombonist with Connaught Brass said: ‘We are so very grateful and excited to have won first prize and we are really looking forward to investing it back into the group’s development. We are really looking forward to taking every opportunity that comes from winning this fantastic competition and seeing how much we can develop further as a group over the coming years.’

Established by Ursula Jones and John Miller, the aim of Philip Jones International Brass Ensemble Competition is to bring together young brass quintets and to showcase excellence and enterprise in brass chamber music performance, building on the legacy of Philip Jones CBE (1928 – 2000).

Artistic Director John Miller added: ‘My strong impression was that this initial international event really ‘raised the game’ for the brass quintets who participated. These emerging groups convince me that future development will be in safe hands.’

24 July 2019