The Ensemble
Since its founding in 1995 World Brass has grown to become one of the most renowned and well-respected brass ensembles on the European Continent. Continuing in the tradition of the Jeunesses Musicales World Orchestra, out of which the ensemble grew during an orchestra tour in South-East Asia, the members and musicians who perform with World Brass originate from many countries including Argentina, Belgium, Canada, England, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Scotland and the Ukraine.
A number of times each year the musicians assemble together to rehearse and perform concerts within a context of international understanding. A unique quality of World Brass is its group spirit - there are no fixed positions within the ensemble, nor is there a single "star" player. All members are free to contribute their own ideas in rehearsals and are committed to each other and the making of chamber music of the highest level. The varied musical and cultural backgrounds of the musicians further enhances the ensemble's musical flexibility and resourcefulness. All of these factors contribute to making the well-rounded, thoroughly interesting and entertaining performances that World Brass is known for.
During its relatively short history, World Brass has toured throughout Canada, Germany, Italy, Poland, Belgium and Luxembourg presenting a repertoire that is as vast as it is diverse.
One of the intentions of the ensemble is to expand the range and scope of brass-ensemble music by commissioning new pieces and arrangements. The music of "Duke" Ellington and Dmitry Shostakovich has been the most recent focus of the ensemble and indeed all of the pieces on the ensembles' most recent CD have been arranged exclusively for World Brass.