Brett Baker Bsc (Hons.) ARCM
Principal Trombone

Brett Baker is viewed as one of Europe’s leading brass players and teachers and now a clinician for Michael Rath Musical Instruments Ltd. Before the age of twenty-five he had won every major brass band competition. He is currently the most recorded trombone soloist in the brass band movement and was involved in eleven recording projects in 2006. He is a past trombone solo champion of Great Britain and an Associate of the Royal College of Music.

Brett is from the forest of Dean in Gloucestershire and was introduced to the trombone at the age of ten by his father. His first teachers were Bryan Nelmes, Robert Morgan and Ken Harmon. In 1989 he moved to the Polysteel (Flowers) Band, and the National Youth Brass Band where he served two years as principal trombone. His teachers at this time were Danny Hannaby, Steve Walkley and Lyndon Baglin.
In 1992 Brett became a finalist in BBC’s Young Musician of the Year, began studies at Salford University and joined the Fairey Band, Brett was British Open Trombone Solo Champion in 1993 and 1994. He was trombone tutor at SalfordUniversity from 1993-1996 and studied performance under David King. Brett’s first solo recording "Bone Idyll" with the Fairey Band was completed in 1996 his advisor at the time was Denis Wick.

As well as a hectic playing schedule Brett enjoys presenting workshops and lectures specializing in solo performance techniques and the education of younger players. Brett is trombone tutor of the National Children’s Brass Band of Great Britain and has been trombone tutor and course director of the Northern Brass Band Trust in Durham since 1992. In 2006 he became Chairman of the British Trombone Society and Secretary of the International Trombone Association.

Brett studied at the Royal Northern Conservatoire under Chris Houlding, John Iveson and John Miller, and consequently in 2000 joined Black Dyke. Under the Direction of Dr Nicholas Childs, Brett has played on over a dozen CD’s and winning the National Championships in 2001 & 2004 and the European Championships in 2005 and British Open Championships in 2005 & 2006.
As a brass clinician over the last twelve months Brett has toured from Brazil to Canada, and from as far as New Zealand to Western Europe. He has been a guest soloist with dozens of bands in Holland, Switzerland, Australia and New Zealand.

Brett has been involved with over thirty commissions including composers such as Robin Dewhurst, Philip Sparke, Philip Harper, Darrol Barry and Martin Ellerby. Brett lives with his wife Sarah in Cheshire and is increasingly popular as a conductor and adjudicator of brass bands.

"Brett is a trombonist who combines robust flair with delicacy, technical accomplishment with a warm audience personality. I have worked with him and thoroughly enjoyed the experience." Howard Snell.

“Brett Baker is surely at the pinnacle of his glittering career – his strength and depth of sound can give way in an instant to the most heart warming delicacy, and his phenomenally flawless technique is equally matched by an elegant ability to enhance a melodic line with musicianship and responsiveness.” Anthony Leggett Brass Band World