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The English Trombone Consort was formed in January 2014 by four highly experienced professional trombone players from the Midlands. Between them they have well over 100 years of professional performing experience, both in the UK and abroad, as soloists, orchestral players and with various chamber ensembles. The vast and diverse performing experiences of each of the four players brings together a mature and stylistic approach to the ensemble's equally diverse repertoire.

Adrian Taylor

Adrian divides his time between playing the trombone, teaching, conducting and composing/ arranging music. He teaches music at Twycross House School and at Repton School, conducting ensembles in both schools as well as the Birmingham Schools' Wind Orchestra. He has many arrangements and compositions published by Warwick music, including several for trombone quartet, four trombone study books and a Sonata for Bass Trombone. Adrian studied music at the University of Birmingham before embarking on a freelance career as a musician in the midlands. He spent two years playing trombone with the Natal Philharmonic Orchestra in Durban, South Africa before returning to the U.K. and has played with a number of professional orchestras and ensembles including the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, English Symphony Orchestra and for the Royal Shakespeare Company. 

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Ian Brailsford

Ian Brailsford, the founding member of the English Trombone Consort, has performed in many ensembles including the BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra, Royal Shakespeare Company, Orchestra Da Camera and the Black Dyke Mills Brass Band. He has also played regularly on both radio and television, including “Songs of Praise”, “Bandstand” and “Rusty Lee’s Christmas Special”. He was the founder and director of the University of Warwick Brass Ensemble and has conducted school ensembles, including the Wolverhampton Youth Wind Orchestra which he toured with throughout Europe. He taught music for over 35 years for the Wolverhampton City Council. As a graduate in Trombone and Conducting from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire of Music where he was known for his powerful upper register, silky smooth legato and unique tennis serve.

Bob Green

Bob studied Bass trombone at Birmingham Conservatoire where he won the brass prize in his final year. A Post graduate year was spent at Goldsmiths College London where he gained a distinction in Orchestral studies. His professional career has involved working with many of the UK's major orchestral, opera and ballet companies .He has made numerous recordings for both the BBC and commercial studios. Extensive work in London’s west end has also been complimented by periods touring abroad in North America, Europe and Africa.

Ken Shifrin

Prior to being appointed Principal Trombonist of England’s City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra by Sir Simon Rattle 1982 Ken Shifrin was Principal Trombone in the Stuttgart Radio Orchestra and the Jerusalem Symphony. Since 1994 he has been the artistic director of the baroque ensemble Posaune Voce Trio. Much in demand as a guest soloist, he has appeared with the U.S. Army’s Orchestra and Band, the Florida Sinfonia, at the Smetana Music Festival, the Edinburgh Festival, and the London Barbican, as well as presenting recitals in Vienna, Prague, Budapest,Bratislava, Kiev, Oxford and Washington, D.C. With a PhD in musicology from Oxford University, Shifrin was the recipient of the Oxford University Press Music & Letters Award, as well as being named the Halstead Scholar. In 2005 Dr Shifrin was appointed a Magistrate Judge for England & Wales.

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