Now in his 38th year as a member of the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra (A.O.B.O. resident opera orchestra of the Sydney Opera House), Brian Evans has played every chair in the trumpet section, covering most parts in a majority of the major opera and ballet repertoire. Principal 3rd trumpet/cornet since 1983, he has performed regularly with most major ensembles in Sydney and also appeared as soloist with Gosford Philharmonia, Waverley Bondi Beach Band, Ku-ring-gai Philharmonic and Honolulu Community Concert Band and in recitals. He toured China in 2006, Europe in 2009 and Southern Califronia in 2012, as featured soloist with the Hornsby Girls’ High School concert band. He is a regular performer with Opera Australia Brass, most often in its brass quintet configuration.
Starting his musical training at age 7, Brian began his brass experience in brass bands at age 12 and at 19, was appointed solo cornet with Australian Army Band Sydney. His trumpet teachers have included Arthur Stender, Gordon Webb and Daniel Mendelow. He has worked with many illustrious conductors including: John Pritchard; Mark Elder; Stuart Challender; Richard Bonynge; Sir Charles Mackerras; Richard Hickox; Christopher Hogwood; Willem van Otterloo; Patrick Summers; Jack Lanchberry; Carlo Felice Cillario; David Wilcox and Simone Young, covering over 140 complete works.
In recent years he has been involved in promoting and premiering many new works for trumpet in solo and ensemble situations. World, Asian or Australian premieres include: Concerto for Trumpet and Brass Band (Gareth Wood); Le Conteur (James Klages); Concertino for trumpet, trombone and piano (Gregory van der Struik); Concertstuck (Michael Irik); Uzuki for 8 trumpets (Paul Terracini); For now and then (Brass quintet - Larry Bitensky) premiere due late 2012; numerous New Year’s Eve brass fanfares, with Opera Australia Brass, as well as several operas and ballets through his membership of the AOBO. He is proud to have promoted around 32 world premieres at ITG2010 including ITG’s first opera premiere – Robert Bradshaw’s “trumpet opera” .Gabriel
Brian Evans is a highly sort after teacher and clinician, with a private studio (http://thebrassstudio.netfirms.com) which includes around 17 students, ranging from beginners to post graduate. He has presented master classes and lectures at International Trumpet Guild (ITG) Conferences (2003, 2005 and 2009) and the Australian Trumpet Guild (ATG) 2004 conference, as well as at the Beijing Central Conservatory (2006) and the China Trumpet Conference, 2008, where he was also a judge for the finals of the Asia, International Trumpet Competition. In May 2009 he presented lectures, master classes and recitals at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Wright State University and Ohio University. He is an adjuct lecturer in trumpet at the Wesley Institute (Australia’s first and leading Christian Arts college), and was adjudicator for the 20th Annual Ern Keller Band of the Year (2009).
Brian is a regular contributor of brass and trumpet-related articles and interviews to journals including the ITG quarterly journal, ATG’s Journal “Mouthpiece” and The Brass Herald.
In addition to his trumpet playing and teaching, Brian has extensive experience as a classical singer (lyric tenor). A former tenor soloist at Rockefeller Chapel, University of Chicago, he has performed both traditional and modern opera and oratorio with many companies in the Sydney Region, including Opera Australia and in the USA(Chicago and Minneapolis).
Brian Evans serves the ITG as director (2001-2007 and 2011-2015) and Secretary (2007-2011) and Australia/New Zealand membership co-ordinator. He is founding President of the Australian Trumpet Guild, ITG’s largest affiliate chapter and was the host of the 35th Annual ITG Conference, Sydney, 2010, which was awarded Best Conferenece at the 2011 Australian Event Awards.
Page last modified June 12, 2012
