Brass Weekend 2023
Friday 27 October to Sunday 29 October 2023
Applications are now open – apply below
Our brass weekend is aimed at experienced orchestral brass players with good sight reading ability. We aspire to play to a high standard, but above all the aim is to have a fun weekend, playing in different sized ensembles and making good music with like-minded people.
The weekend starts at 5pm on the first day and ends at 4pm on the last day.
We will rehearse three repertoire works with a final play through at the end of the weekend. Participants will also play in two octets, sight reading a wide range of repertoire. Details of music to be played in the octets will be circulated to participants nearer the time.
The Orchestral Brass ensemble is made up of:
- Six trumpets – to include players doubling on flugel horn, piccolo and D/E-flat trumpets
- Four horns
- Three trombones
- Euphonium doubling trombone
- Two tubas
- A timpanist/percussion player
The addition of a percussionist is an innovation this year and we are particularly keen to receive enquiries from percussionists.
The programme has become very popular and we are expecting considerable interest from players. Applications will be considered (subject to the agreement of the Musical Director) strictly in application date order.
The subscription for the 2023 weekend is £220, which includes accommodation and full board at Ellesmere College.
Early application is encouraged. Apply below.
The weekend is led by Shaun Matthew – see below.

Shaun Matthew
EOS Brass Musical Director
A musician who strives for all members of the public to find something in all forms of classical music; tuba player, conductor and animateur, Shaun Matthew was awarded the Mortimer Furber Prize for conducting contemporary music and has worked with some of the UKs finest orchestras, including the BBC Philharmonic and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and Chineke Orchestra.

2023 Repertoire
Study works:
- Edward Gregson – Symphony in Two movements
- John Ireland (arr. T Cross) – The Downland Suite
- Wagner (arr. R Malmstrom) – Parsifal: Vorspiel
There will be opportunities to sightread a wide range of repertoire in brass octets.
