Yamaha NEO Ensemble

Sponsored by Yamaha

A group of eight internationally-endorsed performing artists, led by acclaimed long-standing Yamaha cornert artist Russell Gray.

Based all around Europe, the star-studded brass and percussion Yamaha NEO Ensemble come together to perform a range of repertoire from Debussy to Piazzolla.  

For their appearance at Perth Festival of the Arts, the top musicians will be joined by brass students from local secondary schools for part of the programme. This follows two days of workshops and recitals in local schools, as part of this year's Festival's youth outreach activity.

The Artists 

Russell Gray Cornet/Trumpet (Musical Director) Scotland 
 
Stanley Westh Cornet/Trumpet Denmark
 
George Thackray Eb Horn/ French Horn England
 
Margaret Antrobus Baritone Norway
 
David Thornton Euphonium England
 
Armin Bachman Trombone Switzerland 
 
Eirik Gjerdavik Tuba Norway
 
Hans-k Wergeland Percussion Norway 
 

About the Musical Director  

Russell Gray's career as a conductor began in 1998 when he was appointed as the resident musical director of the Stavanger Brass Band (Norway). Since then, his reputation as an authorative interpreter of brass band music has been acknowledged at home and abroad. Since 2008, he has been principal conductor of Molde Brass Band (Norway) and since 2012, of the North of England's leading band Reg Vardy Brass Band.
 
Russell is a Yamaha endorsed artist and is much in demand as a leader of workshops, clinics and seminars. He has appeared to great acclaim in the Royal Albert Hall, Symphony Hall Birmingham and the Sydney Opera House. He has produced six solo albums, including two acclaimed releases featuring historic cornet repertoire from the celebrated Arban collection of solos and studies.