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SOLID BRASS QUINTET

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SOLID BRASS QUINTET - South Africa’s finest ensemble of its kind! The Solid Brass Quintet combines a freshness of spirit and panache of presentation to liven up any occasion, whether it be a wedding reception, an anniversary, a birthday party, a company launch, SBQ means offering something different!

The SOLID BRASS QUINTET, comprising the principal players of the Cape Town Philharmonic, began in 1986 and has since then evolved into South Africa's foremost brass ensemble. Featured throughout the country on a regular basis, SBQ has also performed internationally in Taiwan, Norway, and in the USA. The SBQ performs concerts, as well as provides lecture demonstrations, television appearances and music for all functions. Their virtuosity and versatility make them one of the most sought after ensembles in South Africa.

Music education has been an integral part of the quintet, evident in the annual National Brass Congress, a week long seminar, which has been an important part of the music education of hundreds of South African brass players for the past eleven years. In addition SBQ has been important in the Genesis Project, a community based music education project designed to "teach the teacher" and, thus, to encourage the development of self-sustaining music projects in areas unaccustomed to this advantage.

MICHAEL BLAKE received his Doctorate from the University of Iowa in 1981. Earlier degrees came from Oklahoma and Northwestern Universities. For ten years he was Principal Trumpet for the Nurnberg Philharmonic Orchestra, during which time he also played with the Bamberg Symphony, Munich Philharmonic Suisse Romande and numerous radio orchestras. Since joining the CTSO in 1986 he has been the featured soloist several times.

DAVID THOMPSON began playing the trumpet at the age of nine, encouraged by his father, a trombonist in the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Having played in brass bands up to the age of 17, he left Glasgow to take a three-year music course (Jazz/Classical) at the Leeds College of Music. In London during 1983, he completed a course with distinction at the National Centre for Orchestral Studies. David began his appointment as Alternate Principal Trumpet in July 1986.

Born in San Diego, California in 1960, composer, arranger, trombonist WILLIAM HAUBRICH joined the Cape Town Symphony in 1982. A founder member of the Solid Brass Quintet, Mr. Haubrich has arranged jazz, carols and African music for the quintet. When in 1993 the Quintet combined with African musicians to form "Intsholo," Mr. Haubrich was given the task of directing, arranging and composing for this unique and dynamic ensemble. He has since arranged and composed for orchestra, concert band, jazz ensemble, brass ensembles, student groups, choirs, African groups and has been instrumental in combining Western and African music and musicians in Southern Africa. Mr. Haubrich is an active jazz and studio trombonist, composer and arranger.

NICHOLAS GREEN graduated with a B.Mus from the University of Cape Town in 1992, and joined the CAPAB Orchestra as Principal Trombonist in the same year. He is an active music educator, teaching at various schools and institutions around Cape Town, and has coached the low brass section of the National Youth Orchestra. Nicholas has been the Principal Bass Trombonist of the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, where he is also involved with a learnership training programme to develop the orchestral skills of young South African musicians.

PETER AMON was born near London in 1957 and started the French Horn at 15. After acquiring a BA from from York University, Mr. Amon received a post-graduate diploma in performance at the RNCM. He freelanced with the Liverpool Philharmonic, Ulster Orchestra, Halle Orchestra, and ENO North before taking up principal horn with the Capab (Cape Town) orchestra in 1982. In 1990 he joined the CTSO as principal horn, and now carries the same post with the CTPO.  Concerto performances include Strauss #1, Mozart #4, Britten Serenade and solo recitals with the SABC. Mr. Amon joined Solid Brass and Intsholo in 1997