Brett Baker

"The name Brett Baker has become an established, household name in the world of brass, not least for the level of commitment and focus that this outstanding musician has given to his craft. Brett has always combined ‘Nature with Nurture' in an ever evolving quest for personal fulfilment in and through his music making. His outstanding musical accomplishments are testament to his ‘can do' attitude combining his talent with tenacity and his desire with determination. Brett was always destined to fulfil his personal goals and aspirations and I believe the future ‘new generation' of British brass enthusiasts have much to glean from seeking to emulate the formulae and foundation principles that Brett continues to share with those that search to live their own dream and draw on the resource of his knowledge and experience." Professor David King

Brett Baker is well established as one of the finest trombonists in Europe and has been described as being at the pinnacle of his glittering career. As principal trombone in Black Dyke Band - one of the most famous brass bands in the world - and as a guest soloist who has appeared with many other bands in Europe, America, Canada, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, together with his many solo recordings, technical accomplishments and warm personality, Brett's fame and popularity is truly world-wide. Add to this his commissioning of new works for trombone, teaching, conducting and adjudicating skills (he is a clinician for Michael Rath Trombones) and his reputation as an exceptional all-round musician is assured.

Brett hails from the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, and was introduced to playing the trombone at the age of 10 by his father. His first bands were at Bream and Lydbrook, where his teachers were Bryan Nelmes, Robert Morgan and Ken Harmon before, in 1989, he moved to the then Flowers (now Polysteel) Band and the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, in which he was principal trombone for two years. Under the guidance of his teachers at that time, Danny Hannaby, Steve Walkley and Lyndon Baglin, his solo career was also showing early promise, with wins at the Cheltenham and Bath Festivals. He became Junior Slow Melody Trombonist of Great Britain in 1988 and 1989 and a finalist at the British Open Solo Championships in 1990, 1992 and 1993. In 1992 he was a Brass Finalist in the BBC's Young Musician of the Year, the year in which he also entered Salford University (reading economics) and joined the Fairey Band. Further solo success came when he was British Open Trombone Solo Champion in both 1993 and 1994. From 1993 - 1996 he was the trombone tutor at Salford University, also studying conducting and performance skills there with Professor David King.

Whilst with the Fairey Band, Brett's reputation as one of the brass band movement's leading trombonists was firmly established and, with them, he won every major brass band contest, including the fabulous ‘triple' of National, British Open and European Championships in 1993/4, as well as the All England Masters at Cambridge in 1996 and 1997 and the 1996 Brass in Concert Championship. His first solo CD, Bone Idyll, was completed with Faireys in 1996, when his adviser was the renowned symphonic trombonist, Denis Wick. Returning to Gloucester and Flowers Band in 1996, Brett recorded two further CDs before, in 2000, he began post-graduate studies in performance under Chris Houlding, John Iveson and John Miller at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. He is also an Associate of the Royal College of Music, London.

Brett joined Black Dyke Band in 2000 and, with them, has to date won two National Championships (2001 and 2004), two British Open Championships (2005 and 2006) and the European Championship in 2005. In addition to contests and numerous concerts, broadcasts, recordings and TV appearances, he has been featured as soloist on over 40 CDs, including 10 solo CDs, and is, today, the most recorded trombone soloist in the brass band movement.

As a soloist and brass clinician, Brett has played and conducted workshops around the world (from Brazil to Canada and from New Zealand to Europe) and regularly performs in some of the best concert halls in the UK, including the Royal Albert Hall and the Royal Festival Hall, London, Symphony Hall in Birmingham and Manchester's Bridgewater Hall. He is constantly seeking to expand the solo repertoire for trombone and has been involved in a joint project for this with Leeds University and the commissioning of over 40 new works from composers such as Rodney Newton, Robin Dewhurst, Philip Sparke, Philip Harper, Darrol Barry, Martin Ellerby, Derek Bourgeois, William Broughton, Barry Forgie and Paul Lovatt-Cooper. He has performed as a guest player with many bands, including famous names such as Grimethorpe, Fodens, Yorkshire Building Society (YBS) and Leyland.

Brett enjoys teaching players (especially younger players) in performance techniques and, in 2001, created the Musicians Resource Network and the White River Brass ensemble to support this. He is trombone tutor of the National Children's Brass Band of Great Britain, the International Brass Band Summer School, the Swiss Youth Band and the Northern Brass Band Trust in Durham and has been a guest tutor at the Salvation Army's famous Star Lake Music Camp near New York. In 2006 he became Chairman of the British Trombone Society and Secretary of the International Trombone Association.

Brett lives with his wife, Sarah, in Barnton, Northwich, Cheshire. Typical of the welcome and response to Brett around the world is this from Mark Ford, Musical Director of Kew Band in Australia: "It was great to see Brett Baker in Melbourne again as he won over many brass band enthusiasts with his wonderful playing skills and his kind friendly nature."

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