The bright sound of brass

THE THIRD MAN: Trombonist Andrew Yorkstone will be accompanied by trumpeter Toby Pringle and euphonium player Luke Spence for their Sunday concert. Picture supplied

A trombonist, trumpeter and euphonium player were invited last year to perform in a band-stand series at the National Library. They have since raised their sights and will now appear in concert at Tairawhiti Museum. Made up of Andrew Yorkstone (trombone), Toby Pringle (trumpet) and Luke Spence (euphonium) The Wellington Brass Trio will perform in Gisborne as part of the museum’s concert series on Sunday.

Although the musicians have known each other for more than a decade they formed the trio just this year.

The National Library concert earned such good feedback, the trio continued to rehearse together. They also developed a small library of string and saxophone quartet music they arranged themselves to suit their instrumentation and continued to perform in the Wellington area.

The peak of the brass players’ year was when they gained entrance to a heavily contested Pettman Royal Overseas League chamber music competition in Christchurch. They prepared a 50 minute programme and landed tutelage from the Ferio Saxophone Quartet.

Yorkstone has competed as a finalist in two national young brass musician of the year competitions, three New Zealand School of Music brass player of the year competitions, and the Gisborne International Music competition.

He has also featured as a soloist with the Royal New Zealand Air Force and Army Bands.

Pringle began to play the trumpet as a nine year old and is now in his third year at the New Zealand School of Music where he studies classical trumpet performance, and cello as a second instrument.

He has been involved in national representative brass bands and orchestras such as the National Youth Brass Band, and the National Youth Orchestra.

Recent NZ School of Music graduate Spence has been a member of five national secondary school brass bands, a national youth jazz orchestra, 10 national youth brass bands and now performs with the Royal NZ Air Force band.

Tairawhiti Museum’s Sunday concert series presents The Wellington Brass Trio, Sunday, 2pm.