This quintet was founded in Toronto, Canada, in 1970 by Charles Daellenbach, Stuart Laughton and Gene Watts. The founders had looked upon the ensemble as a challenge and over time they became an established and acclaimed group of performers.
The quintet are known for wearing black suits and white gym shoes while performing on gold plated instruments and being able to cross over classical and jazz styles. They are said to have “an affinity for Baroque” and their works include pieces by Vivaldi, Bach, Purcell and Beethoven.
They have recorded over 60 albums and hundreds of transcriptions for brass quintet that they have commissioned.
The quintet spends the majority of its time touring and has often performed with international symphony orchestras. They have made appearances on the TV shows Today, Entertainment Tonight and The Tonight Show. They also guested on Evening at Pops with John Williams and the Boston Pops Orchestra and numerous PBS specials.
Aside from their performances they are quintet-in-residence at the Eastman School of Music and often asked to perform for visiting heads of states by the Canadian Government.
In 2006 they also added their trumpet “dream team” which is made up of previous member trumpeters.
Members:
- Charles “Chuck” Daellenbach (tuba) (1970-present)
- Eugene “Gene” Watts (trombone) (1970-present)
- Graeme Page (French horn) (1970-1983)
- Stuart Laughton (trumpet) (1970-1971, 2003-2005, 2006-Present)
- Ronald Romm (trumpet) (1971-2000)
- Frederick Mills (trumpet) (1972-1996)
- Martin Hackleman (French horn) (1983-1986)
- David Ohanian (French horn) (1986-1998)
- Jens Lindemann (trumpet) (1996-2001)
- Christopher Cooper (French horn)(1998-2000)
- Ryan Anthony (Trumpet)(2000-2003, 5006-Present)
- Jeff Nelsen (horn) (2000-2004)
- Josef Burgstaller (trumpet)(2001-2004, 2006-Present)
- Bernhard Scully (horn) (2005?-Present)
Adolphe Charles Adam Recordings
O Holy Night
RCA 0 7863 54132 2 (CD – Christmas with the Canadian Brass)
Organist – John Grady, St. Patrick’s Cathedral Organ
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