Eminence Brass is a new brass ensemble recently formed by four of today’s leading brass musicians:
David Childs was born in the Yorkshire village of Grimethorpe in 1981. He played his first notes at the age of three and today is widely regarded as one of the finest euphonium soloists in the world. He has given recitals in some of the United Kingdom’s most prestigious venues and regularly gives solo performances with various ensembles throughout Europe, Asia, America, and Australia.
David has appeared as a soloist with the BBC Philharmonic, Royal Philharmonic, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Sinfonia Cymru and BBC Concert Orchestra. However, he still gets a great deal of satisfaction from performing with the British style brass band, a genre very close to his heart, and is currently Principal Euphonium with the Cory Band.
As a consultant to York Musical Instruments David is in demand as a soloist and educator at home and abroad. Having made appearances at the BBC Proms, Cheltenham Festival and Harrogate International Festival, David is looking forward to giving the world premiere of Karl Jenkins’ Concerto for Euphonium at the Last Night of the Welsh Proms 2009.
Philip Cobb is establishing himself as an outstanding player on both cornet and trumpet. He is the youngest member of a highly respected family of Salvationist musicians, with both his father and grandfather having previously occupied the Principal Cornet position in The Salvation Army’s International Staff Band.
Philip is currently a student at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, where he is taught by the Principal Trumpet player of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Paul Beniston, and renowned trumpet soloist Alison Balsom.
Philip has already won several prestigious awards including the Most Promising Performer at the 2006 Maurice André International Trumpet Competition and the ‘Candide Award’ at the London Symphony Orchestra’s Brass Academy in 2008.
As well as his solo work Philip also enjoys orchestral playing and in recent years has featured with many orchestras including the London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, London Chamber Orchestra and the European Youth Orchestra. Last September Philip released his debut solo CD entitled Life Abundant with the Cory Band and Ben Horden on Organ.
Owen Farr began his involvement with brass music in Wales at the age of six when he joined the Pontypool Brass Band. Having played with the Tredegar Town Band and the Williams’ Fairey Band, Owen now occupies the position of Solo Horn with the principality’s leading brass band, Cory.
Owen teaches at the Royal Welsh College of Music, Birmingham Conservatoire, Royal Northern College of Music and is dedicated to improving teaching methods for the instrument he loves. Recognised as the United Kingdom’s leading tenor horn clinician, Owen is a Performing Artist and Consultant for York Musical Instruments.
Owen has a busy schedule as both soloist and chamber musician. His performances have taken him throughout Europe and have been heard on S4C television, BBC Radio 2’s Listen to the Band and the world’s longest-running live music radio programme, Friday Night is Music Night. Owen is constantly raising awareness for the tenor horn; lyrical tone quality and stunning technical precision have become his trade mark.
Richard Marshall is one of the finest cornet players of his generation and began playing the cornet at the age of nine. It was in 1996, whilst at the age of 19 that Richard became Principal Cornet of the Grimethorpe Colliery Band, a position he held for 10 years. During his time at Grimethorpe Richard gained a BA (Hons) in Band Studies and an LRSM in Bandmastership.
As a soloist Richard has released three CDs, all of which have been received with critical acclaim. As a regular tutor with the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, Yorkshire Youth Brass Band and the International Brass Band Summer School, Richard is a respected educator. He is also a cornet tutor at the Royal Northern College of Music and Birmingham Conservatoire and a York Performing Artist and Consultant. Richard is currently Principal Cornet of the world famous Black Dyke Band, a position that is known as the ‘hottest seat in banding’.