Biography

The group provides entertainment hire suitable for any occasion. The reasons to choose us are simple: we require no amplification, we can play a very broad range of styles from jazz to classical, we have our own unique arrangements and we’re something slightly different from the usual jazz trio or string quartet.

Although based in London, we have performed throughout the UK, with engagements as far reaching as East Anglia, Pembrokeshire & even India! Highlights have included playing for Lord Coe and Olympic athletes in collaboration with Eurostar, the unveiling of Chopin’s statue in the presence of HRH The Duke of Gloucester at the Royal Festival Hall and providing matchday entertainment at Saracens RFC for Premiership and Heineken Cup matches. Looking forward, we are very excited to have been announced as Ensemble in Residence for The Young Music Makers of Dyfed‘s ‘Young Composers’ programme 2014-15.

Riverside Brass Quintet has also played at a number of weddings and parties, from 50th birthdays to Christmas events at London’s famous Venn Street Records. In March, we were announced as semi-finalists for the prestigious Royal Over-Seas League Competition.

The group comprises experienced professional musicians: individually, our players have performed with some of London’s top ensembles, including the London Philharmonic, London Symphony, Philharmonia and Royal Philharmonic Orchestras in venues as diverse as The Royal Albert Hall and Glastonbury Festival. Members of Riverside Brass Quintet have also worked with acts such as The Hoosiers, Gavin & Stacey’s Comic Relief band and Professor Penguin, while some of our number have even been featured on a number 1 hit, both in the UK and abroad!

On a seasonal basis, we pride ourselves on our Christmas Entertainment concerts, suitable for private functions, corporate parties, or even in the laid-back atmosphere of a bar. Here we feature 100s of carols as well as bespoke arrangements of pop classics from Fairytale of New York to Wham!’s Last Christmas, often with the addition of a classically trained singer. This led us to create our acclaimed debut album, Riverside’s Yuletide, available from our online shop.

Ultimately, we are the UK’s most current brass ensemble: mixing our eclectic repertoire with versatility and professional experience we can cater for all types of events and occasions, whether it be background music, fanfares for a wedding (or other prestigious event), live wedding music (up-tempo and/or ceremonial), a concert recital or even an education workshop.