History of Sydney Brass

Sydney Brass is one of Australia’s oldest and most respected chamber music ensembles. Formed in 1958 as The Sydney Brass Ensemble by the late Cliff Goodchild (Principal Tuba, Sydney Symphony Orchestra) with four of his colleagues from the brass section of the SSO, the ensemble gained an immediate reputation as a dynamic group of fine instrumentalists.

Being members of the SSO offered exposure on ABC radio and television as well as through concerts and tours. Sometimes offering performances in regional New South Wales as an extension of an SSO tour or due to performances with Musica Viva. By the mid 80s, an increased concert schedule with the SSO combined with the retirement of Cliff from the SSO, led to a decrease in public activities by the ensemble.

In 1987 the was ensemble reformed by Cliff’s son Paul Goodchild (Associate Principal Trumpet, SSO). The newly energised ensemble was named Sydney Brass and comprises symphony and freelance musicians who perform regularly with the major orchestras of Australia.

This versatility enables Sydney Brass to perform music for quintet through to a ten piece ensemble from all facets and genres; from Renaissance (Gabrieli and Monteverdi) through to modern popular works such as Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story and hits from the Beatles.

Current Members of Sydney Brass

• Paul Goodchild^, Andrew Evans (Trumpet)
• Robert Johnson (French Horn)
• Scott Kinmont, Matthew Harrison (Trombone)
• Antonio Neilly, Duncan Spry, (Tuba)
• Richard Miller (Percussion)

^ Current Music Director

The evolution of Sydney Brass ensemble music

The brass quintet was new to the Sydney performance scene and initially relied on arrangements to add to the limited brass ensemble repertoire. Established string and woodwind ensembles already possessed a large repertoire of chamber music. The commissioning of new works for brass by Australian composers, together with overseas acceptance of the brass quintet,  saw many original compositions written for this exciting new chamber music ensemble.

Over the years Sydney Brass has premiered many new works by overseas composers such as Malcolm Arnold, Eugene Bozza, Bernstein and Lutoslawski as well as Australian compositions by Peter Sculthorpe, Ross Edwards, Barry McKimm, David Stanhope and Alan Holley.