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the late rnian Evans - Trumpeter and Lyric Tenor
Brian Evans is rare in musical circles, having attained a professional standard as both a trumpeter and lyric tenor. For example, few musicians could boast having performed as solo trumpet and solo tenor in performances of Handel’s Messiah – sometimes in the same performance. Nor would it be common for an orchestral musician to work as both trumpeter and singer for the same company in the same season, but he has done both of these things Brian began his music study at age 7 and commenced his brass playing in brass bands aged 12. Before joining the Australian Opera Australia Orchestra(OAO.), he was solo cornet with the Australian Army Band Sydney(1973), leaving after 12 months to spend the next 14 months with the ABC National Training Orchestra. During 45+ years with the OAO. he performed for extended periods in all chairs in the section playing most standard and major opera and ballet repertoire and specialising as Solo Cornet, working with conductors including: John Pritchard; Mark Elder; Stuart Challender; Richard Bonynge; Sir Charles Mackerras; Phillipe Augin; Richard Hickox; Christopher Hogwood; Willem van Otterloo; Jack Lanchberry; Carlo Felice Cillario; David Wilcox and Simone Young. His teachers include Alan Mann; Arthur Stender; John Battersby; Gordon Webb and Daniel Mendelow. In 2020 his position was eliminated by Opera Australia, along with 15 other occupied positiosn and 13 unoccupied chairs, using Covidd-19 pandemic as an excuse. with the return to performances in January 2021, Opera Australia engaged him as a short-term contact musician As well as time spent with the OAO, Brian has performed with most major ensembles in Sydney and has also been involved in commercial, jazz and chamber music throughout his career. Brian studied voice (high lyric tenor) in Sydney with the late Hector P. Tinkler and in Chicago with the late Professor Norman Gulbrandsen at De Paul University. His vocal experience includes opera, oratorio and concerts in Australia, with Opera Australia; Opera Mode; Contemporary Singers; Sydney Philharmonia; Gosford Philharmonia; and Opera Ensemble and in the United State of America with: Chicago Opera Theatre; Lincoln Opera; The Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Chicago and he held the position of Tenor Soloist at Rockefeller Chapel, University of Chicago. His repertoire ranges widely from the Oratorios of Handel, Bach and Haydn through German lieder and Britten Song Cycles to opera and operetta roles from all eras including Tamino (Magic Flute); Marco (The Gondoliers); The Magician (The Consul) and Male Chorus (The Rape of Lucretia). Brian Evans is founding and current President of the Australian Trumpet Guild, a director of the International Trumpet Guild (ITG) (2001- 2019) including secretary (2007-2011) Vice-president 2013-2015, PRESIDENT (2015-2017), Past President (2017-2019) He was ITG Australia-New Zealand Membership Co-ordinator and Australian news correspondent. He also chaired the ITG membership committee, and was a member of the 2015 Conference Artists Committee and ITG Rules Committee. Brian served as chair of the 2005 ITG Conference Orchestral Excerpts Competition. Brian is a regular contributor to the ITG and ATG quarterly journals and has been published in a number of other music journals including the Brass Herald. Brian delivered the lecture “The Operatic Trumpeter" at Fort Worth (2003) and “A Singer’s approach to Trumpet Playing” at the 2005 ITG conference in Bangkok. In 2009 he co-hosted the Comeback player session at the Harrisburg ITG Conference. Brian also enjoys taking part in Festival of Trumpets each year and was honoured to conduct for the first time at Denver 2004. 2013, he presented a recital of Australian Works for Trumpet and trombone, with Tom Burge, trombone and Miriam Hickman, Piano. http://www.trumpetguild.org/2013conference/ITG%202013%20-%20Thursday.pdf In 2006, he delivered a master class at the Beijing Central Conservatory and presented his lecture-recital “The trumpet and cornet in Western Opera – An Introduction” at the 2008 China Trumpet Guild Conference in Guangzhou. He was host of the 35th Annual ITG Conference - Sydney July 6-10 2010 http://www.trumpetguild.org/2010conference/2010conference/index.html Brian is listed in Das große Buch der Trompete (Schott) by Friedel Keim, Trumpet Greats by David Hickman (Hickman Music Editions) and is currently working on brass quintet projects with Opera Australia Brass as well as planning a solo CD of trumpet and cornet solos. Brian will receive the International trumept Guild's Award of Merit at its 2023 conference in Minneapolis and will present a lecture recital sharing his vocal approach to trumpet playing and performing 2 world and one USA premieres. TEACHING Brian has taught for many years with students ranging from beginners as young as 4 years of age to “come-back” players in their 70’s. Brian currently maintains studio of around 13 private brass students, at The Brass Studio®. Previously he has taught brass at Wahroonga Public, Sydney High ; Newington; Scots and Kings Schools. see students page for this year's "bright bunch" As well as the ITG sessions, he has presented a master class for advanced students at Beijing Central Conservatory (2006) and presented a lecture/recital at the 2008 China Trumpet Guild Conference, in Guangzhou China as well as being a finals judge for the 2008 Asian Trumpet Competition, in Guangzhou and was artist in Residence at Griffith university, Queensland Conservatorium of Music October 2016 where he performed a recital, delivered lectures and taught private lessons to tertiary students In 2009, when in Ohio USA, he lectured and presented recitals at Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Wright State University and Ohio University starting 2010, he was a tutor in trumpet at Excelsia College excelsia.edu.au/ Other... Previous positions Opera Mode (Vice president) AOBO Players’ Committee – Chairman; treasurer; union delegate. Arts Training New South Wales (Director) Arts Training Australian Capital Territory (Director) Sydney High School Old Boys Union Executive Council. (Director)1994-1997 NSW State Secretary, Musicians Union of Australia Advocate and lobbyist for School Child Travel Safety 1996 – present (forever!) https://www.facebook.com/In-Memory-of-Eric-Evans-28-March-1991-to-19-December-1996-566589506748583/ Married to Debbie Dietz – children Kerstin (16) Eric born (1991deceased 1996) Brian endorses Gard Bags www.gardbags.com |
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