A4 Brass
Jamie Smith cornet/flugelhorn
Jonathan Bates tenor horn
Mike Cavanagh baritone horn
Chris Robertson euphonium
A4 Brass Quartet comprises principal players from some of the UK’s top brass bands, including Black Dyke, Grimethorpe Colliery and Brighouse & Rastrick. With “technical virtuosity in abundance” (Brass Band World), these four astonishing musicians come together to perform both lyrical and high-octane works, forming a distinctive and new take on chamber music.
The Quartet’s unique blend of instruments creates an exclusive sound that stands out from the standard brass quartet. With this unusual instrumentation, A4 Brass has actively developed their repertoire, commissioning new music, composing and arranging music themselves.
Formed in 2013 at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), A4 Brass Quartet is a multi-award-winning chamber ensemble at the forefront of British brass chamber music. They have performed widely throughout the UK appearing at major venues and festivals. Overseas engagements include the Osaka Festa (Japan), residencies at the Lieksa Brass Week (Finland), Ceresio Estate Festival (Switzerland), Sibelius Academy (Finland), and two appearances at the Trakai Fanfare Week (Lithuania). In 2020, A4 Brass Quartet became the first ever ensemble to be awarded Associate Members of the RNCM (ARNCM) in recognition of the Quartet’s success in the music profession.
The Quartet has featured on national television and radio, appearing multiple times on both ITV’s Christmas Carol Concerts and BBC Radio 3’s ‘In-Tune’ with Sean Rafferty and Katie Derham. In 2016 they released their debut album, Mists of the Mountains featuring new, original music composed for them. In 2021, they released their second studio album, Mosaic and their latest album, Classic, was released in 2026.
Programme
Strauss Festmusik der Stadt Wien
Mozart Overture from The Marriage of Figaro
Doss Moskito
Vaughan-Williams English Folk Song Suite
i. March – Seventeen Come Sunday
ii. Intermezzo – My Bonny Boy
iii. March – Folk Songs from Somerset
Bruckner Locus Iste
Gregson Brass Quartet No. 2
Grainger Molly on the Shore
Gounod Finale from Faust
Sponsored by Alison Wilkinson
Venue: The Bridgewater Hall
Box Office
Tickets can be purchased in advance and on the day of the concert from the Bridgewater Hall Box Office:
The Bridgewater Hall
Manchester
M2 3WS
Tel: 0161 907 9000
Mon – Fri 10am – 5pm (8pm on concert nights – in person only)
Sat – Sun 2pm – 5pm (concert nights only)