We are passionate about sharing our brass instruments and enthusiasm for music with as many young people as possible.
Kensington Brass consists of a team of the finest Brass educators in the UK holding teaching roles at Bradfield College, Charterhouse School, Winchester College and The National Children’s Orchestra of GB to name a few. With a strong enthusiasm for outreach work, the group have performed numerous workshops and education concerts. Highlights include: Minehead First School, Charterhouse School, St. George’s Windsor, St. Aubyn’s Preparatory Woodford, The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Children’s Choice event, Aldro Preparatory School in Surrey, The Marist Schools Ascot, Colville Primary Notting Hill, Roman River Festival Essex brass band community projects and Skipton Music Society’s annual primary concert.
Our Recital:
Kensington Brass presents an engaging and interactive recital designed for family concerts, schools, and educational settings. With a flexible programme that can be adapted to suit different age groups, key stages, and audience dynamics, every performance is tailored to create the most rewarding and enjoyable experience for participants.
The recital can be shaped around three core themes:
A. Discover the Brass Family
An entertaining introduction to brass instruments, beginning with the humble hosepipe and progressing through each member of the brass family, demonstrating how sound is created and exploring the unique character of every instrument.
Clip: Ryan demonstrates the hosepipe before performing a Trumpet Voluntary!
B. Interactive Music-Making
A highly participatory concert experience that gets audiences actively involved through conducting, movement, singing, rhythm activities, and plenty of opportunities to join in the fun.
Clip: KB perform the skater’s waltz, while Ryan helps the audience conduct in 4
C. Exploring the Elements of Music
An educational journey through the building blocks of music, featuring specially selected repertoire that brings key concepts to life, including pitch, rhythm, silence, tempo, dynamics, structure, and timbre.
Clip: KB perform ‘O I do Like to Be Beside the Seaside’ as an encore, while the audience dance and march
As always, the recital is delivered with the trademark energy, humour, and charisma of Kensington Brass animateurs. Led by presenters with exceptional collective teaching experience, these performances are designed to inspire curiosity, encourage participation, and foster a lifelong enjoyment of music.
Educational Repertoire Specifics:
Introductory Fanfare – 20th Century Fox
March along with Dynamics (Loud and Quiet) – Beethoven’s Turkish March
Hosepipe Showcase – Baroque Trumpet Tune
French Horn Showcase – Black Beauty Theme
Trombone Slide Showcase – The Acrobat
Trumpet Showcase – Star Wars
Tuba Showcase – The Elephant
Tempo getting faster – Grieg – In the Hall of the Mountain King
Calm Quiet Moment – What a Wonderful World
Plunger Showcase – Cruella Devill
Teach Conducting or Skating – The Skater’s Waltz
Skeleton Dancing and Straight Mute Showcase – Danse Macabre
Ballet Dancing – Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy
Call and Response “Ribena!” – Tequila
Encore/Gallop around – William Tell
Clip: KB open the family show with a well-known movie fanfare from 20th Century Fox
Pricing
Kensington Brass have the capability to scale visits to 3 group sizes: trio, quintet and dectet, and prefer the quintet in educational settings.
The following prices exclude travel.
Half-day starting rates ( maximum 2 class performances)
Trio visit: £600
Quintet visit: £1000
Dectet visit: £2000
Full day rate (3 or more engagements) + 50%
Popular Add-On Capabilities:
Charged at full day rate + 20%
Masterclass for school’s brass students
Sectional Coaching for School Orchestra/Big Band
One on one teaching (DBS checked players only)
Performance with a School Ensemble
Evening Parents Concert