Connaught Brass, winners of The Philip Jones Prize (1st)

Winners announced of the Philip Jones International Brass Ensemble Competition

24 Jul 2019

The inaugural Philip Jones International Brass Ensemble Competition took place at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester on 15-20 July, 2019.

The competition, which is supported by the Royal Philharmonic Society, saw 13 of the finest young brass quintets from around the world performing in a thrilling series of rounds and masterclasses. Those who took part came from the UK, Austria, Croatia, France, Germany, Italy and the USA.

Following the outstanding finals on Saturday 20 July, the jury of internationally acclaimed artists awarded first place (£10,000, The Philip Jones Prize) to Connaught Brass, formed of five final-year students studying at the Royal Academy of Music and Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.

Second place (£7500, The Marah Mahlowe Prize) was awarded to R.E.T. Chamber Brass from Austria, and third place (£5000, The Founder’s Prize) to London Metropolitan Brass, also from the UK.

Chris Brewster, trombonist with Connaught Brass said:

'We are so very grateful and excited to have won first prize and we are really looking forward to investing it back into the group’s development. We are really looking forward to taking every opportunity that comes from winning this fantastic competition and seeing how much we can develop further as a group over the coming years.'

The Philip Jones International Brass Ensemble Competition was founded by Ursula Jones and John Miller, with the aim of bringing together young brass quintets worldwide and showcasing excellence of this particular ensemble formation. It was established in memory of Philip Jones CBE (1928-2000), a trumpeter extraordinaire and true pioneer of the brass ensemble.