Top Brass

Wormshead Top Brass is an orchestral Brass Quintet comprising some of the top freelance brass players in Wales today. It was the inspiration of trumpeter Bob Ferriman and trombonist Jonathan Pippen, who founded it in 2004 together with Terry Lax, trumpet, Nick Smith, french horn and Wilf Driscoll, tuba.

Wormshead Top Brass has already made an impression on the Wales music scene with its incredible versatility. It has provided recitals at music festivals and in Wales Millenium Centre and has appeared on S4C’s Dechrau Canu Dechrau Canmol. It has appeared as guest artist for local brass bands and choirs and provided a special Christmas celebration at Swansea's Brangwyn Hall. It has accompanied brides walking down the isle in St Paul's Cathedral and provided back ground music to society events in Wales and corporate entertainment for a London business event with Gordon Brown. In schools it has inspired literally hundreds of children with its education concerts and has developed a special relationship with the charity, Friends of Caerphilly Music.

Wormshead Top Brass thrives on the varying and vastly differing experiences of its members. All members are professional musicians at different stages in life and career. This diversity strengthens the group and enriches it with a wide musical experience.

Bob Ferriman has played on film soundtracks such as Man in the Iron mask and GI Jane. He is the Former principal trumpet of both the BBC Concert Orchestra and the BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra. Terry Lax was a founder member of the Gabrielli Brass Ensemble and is the former Principal Trumpet of the orchestra of Welsh National Opera. Jonathan Pippen is the former principal trombone of the Remix Ensemble ( Porto), and the Brighouse and Rastrick band. Nick Smith was a founder member of the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra and is now a busy freelance player, soloist, teacher and arranger. Wilfred Driscoll is the former principal tuba with the Cory band and has worked with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

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