ABBA

Arranger, conductor, educator and tubist whose father Denis was the principal trombonist for the London Symphony Orchestra, as well as an author and innovator in the creation of mutes and mouthpieces. Stephen began by following in his father’s footsteps, but gravitated to the tuba when he was about thirteen years old. He attended the University of Surrey in Guildford, England, and studied under the watchful eye of John Fletcher. The sight-reading acumen he honed at university aided him in becoming a sought-after session musician, as well as a popular fellow to have in your orchestra.

Groups with whom he has worked include the Academy of Ancient Music, Les Arts Florissants, the City of London Sinfonia, der Freiburger Barockorchester, the King’s Singers, the London Jazz Composers Orchestra, the London Gabrieli Brass Ensemble, the London Serpent Trio, the London Symphony Orchestra, the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, the New Orchestra, Orchestre des Champs Elysees, Orchestre de Paris, Orchestre Revolutionaire et Romantique, the Oslo Philharmonic, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

In addition to a busy performing and recording schedule, Stephen has become something of an historian when it comes to the tuba, and has been known to play a mean serpent and ophicleide, which were early forms of the instrument. He has passed his knowledge on to a new generation of tubists at the Birmingham Conservatoire, the Purcell School, and the Royal Academy of Music.

Several of his arrangements for brass quintet are available online and include re-workings of William Boyce’s “Trumpet Tune in D”, John Dowland’s “Dances from Lachrimae”, George Frideric Handel’s “Water Music”, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Sleigh Ride”.

His discography is extensive, and much too long to list, but here are some highlights: From the Steeples and the Mountains by the London Gabrieli Brass Ensemble; Hooked on Classics 2: Can’t Stop the Classics by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; A Little Christmas Music by the King’s Singers; The Louis Armstrong Connection by Kenny Baker & the New Orchestra; Off the Ground! by Paul McCartney; Portraits: NYJO Plays the Music of Harry South; Zappa by the LSO; and, the soundtracks of Alien, Atlantis, Batman, Gladiator, The Man Who Would Be King, The Peacemaker, The Prince of Egypt, and Star Wars.

For several years, Stephen has also served as an adjudicator at the Newport Brass Festival in Nottingham, England.

The King’s Singers recordings

Patapan and Farandole (Bernard De La Monnoye/Georges Bizet/Jeremy Jackman)

EMI 49909 (CD: A Little Christmas Music)

Countertenor and composer - Jeremy Jackson

Countertenor - Alastair Hume

Tenor and Arranger - Bob Chilcott

Baritone - Bruce Russell

Baritone - Simon Carrington

Bass - Stephen Connolly

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