Carnyx Brass, directed by John Kenny, was founded in 2005. The group was originally a professional ensemble, comprising Paul Archibald on trumpet, Etienne Cutaja on horn and John Kenny on trombone. This trio enjoyed national and international success, commissioning new works and performing and broadcast throughout the UK and in Europe. This trio disbanded after several years when Paul Achibald became Head of Wind, Brass & Percussion at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London, and Etienne Cutajar returned to his native Malta to take up the position of principal horn of the Malta Philharmonic. However, the group re-formed in 2019 bringing together former members of Carnyx Youth Brass, who are now professional musicians working in a wide variety of styles internationally.
Carnyx Youth Brass was founded in 2006, based at St Mary’s Music School in Edinburgh, but also drawing in young players from across Eastern and Central Scotland. Many of the players have also been talented composers and arrangers, and in 2007 five members of the group were commissioned by the YouRopeTogether Festival in Germany to compose and première their own compositions in the Essen Philharmonic Hall, broadcast by Deutche Funk radio. From its inception, arranging and composing had remained a vital part of the group experience.
In 2015 the group recorded its first CD album, Stormchaser, combining original music by group members with brass classics. All the individual players who have passed through the group now pursue professional performing careers throughout the UK and Europe. In 2022 ten past members reunited to give the world premieres of three works by composers who members of the group from 2005 to 2008: Helen Beauchamp, Brendan Musk and Patrick Kenny. The project was a celebration of the end of the Pandemic, and took its name from an opening fanfare composed for the project by Matthew Rooke, Bright Horizons. Directed by John Kenny in collaboration with the London based choir Eclectic Voices and the choir of St Giles Cathedral Edinburgh, the programme played to capacity audiences in London and Edinburgh.
Carnyx Youth Brass offers talented and enthusiastic young brass players based in Scotland the opportunity to develop their skills in the art of brass ensemble performance at the highest possible level. A junior ensemble for younger, intermediate level players was initiated in July 2024.
Carnyx & Co gratefully acknowledges the financial support of The William Grant Foundation, Hope Scott Trust, the William Syson Foundation, Eclectic Voices new music fund, and Buffet-Crampon, without whose generosity, our work would not have been possible.
Initiated in July 2024, Carnyx junior brass offers enthusiastic younger players the opportunity to experience ensemble playing in an atmosphere that is both technically challenging and hufely enjoyable. The group is open to young people based in Edinburgh and Lothians aged 10 to 14 years, who have achieved approximately ABRSM grade 4 to 5 level. Rehearsals will generally take place on Sunday mornings in central Edinburgh.
