Yamaha have marked the completion of their contest-winning Neo brass range of instruments by forming the Neo Brass Ensemble. The group, comprising nine top musicians selected from throughout Europe, is led by the acclaimed, long-standing Yamaha cornet artist Russell Gray.
The Neo Brass Ensemble will make their debut at the Butlins Mineworkers Open National Brass Band Festival to be held in Skegness from January 16th–18th. The performance celebrates a major milestone for Yamaha as it becomes the only manufacturer able to fully equip a brass band by providing a complete range – at the highest level – of both brass and percussion instruments.
Yamaha’s Stephen Adcock comments, “We are very pleased that Yamaha has achieved the position of becoming the only company that can offer the full range of instruments for an entire brass band – from the most professional artists to aspiring beginners, where it all starts. We are committed to developing our Neo range and have invested in ensuring that our instruments meet the demanding standards at the top level. We’re looking forward to showcasing the Neo brass ensemble at the Open Brass Band Festival in January and we hope this debut performance will be the first of many throughout Europe.”
Russell Gray has provided valuable advice to Yamaha in developing the Neo Cornet, and many other Neo ensemble members have contributed to the design of the entire range. The group represents a truly international mix, with a passion to help develop the best possible brass instruments.
The complete line up is as follows:
Russell Gray – Musical Director & Cornet (UK)
Stanley Westh – Cornet (Denmark)
George Thackray – Tenor Horn (UK)
Margaret Antrobus – Baritone (Norway)
Steve Walsh – Euphonium (UK)
Armin Bachmann – Trombone (Switzerland)
Eirik Gjerdevik – EEb Bass (Norway)
Simon Gresswell – BBb Bass (UK)
Craig Farr – Drums, Percussion (Norway)