Connaught Brass

A “thrilling young ensemble at the start of what is sure to be a major international career” (Great Birmingham Brass Fest), Connaught Brass are quickly making a name for themselves as a fresh talent in the chamber music world. Having already made their debut at the Lucerne Festival and London’s Wigmore Hall, the ensemble’s ability to manipulate and unify sound earned them 1st Prize in the Inaugural Philip Jones International Brass Ensemble Competition (2019) and the Royal Over-Seas League Mixed Ensemble Competition (2022). Vibrant, spirited and bold, Connaught Brass place emphasis on their friendship with one another to showcase their individual musical personalities within a unique collective sound.

Through brand-new commissions, audience-favourite arrangements and a commitment to originality, Connaught Brass breathe new life into tradition, offering a unique and engaging concert experience with the ultimate goal of bringing brass chamber music to the forefront of today’s musical world.

The Connaughts have shared their music-making widely across the UK and Europe at venues

including London’s Wigmore Hall, the Lucerne Festival, De Doelen Rotterdam, Societá Filarmonica Trento, Snape Maltings, Kings Place, St George’s Bristol, Hidden Doors Arts Festival Edinburgh and Music for Wexford Ireland. Additional highlights include performing live on radio from the Concertgebouw’s Spiegelzaal and regularly on BBC Radio 3’s In Tune programme. The 24/25 season will see the group make debut performances at the Barbican Centre in London and in Wales at Cowbridge Music Festival, return to Ferrandou Musique Festival in France and undertake an exciting collaboration project with pianist Zeynep Özsuca, alongside an extensive performance schedule across the rest of the UK.

In previous years, the quintet have become artists of the Tillett Trust, City Music Foundation, Kirckman Concert Society and Britten Pears Chamber Music Residency. They also take great pride in undertaking masterclasses at conservatoires and education work in primary and secondary schools across the UK and Europe, including that supported by the Cavatina Chamber Music Trust and the Musicians Company.

Having been principal players and members of the European Union Youth Orchestra, Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester and National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, members of Connaught Brass perform regularly on the professional orchestral circuit. This includes playing with the London Symphony, Philharmonia, Royal Philharmonic, BBC Symphony, BBC Philharmonic, London Sinfonietta, Royal Opera House, English National Opera, Opera North, Welsh National Opera and Ulster Orchestras, as well as recording with and supporting artists such as Bruno Mars, The Jonas Brothers, Stormzy, Lil’ Nas X, Jamie Cullum, Rag‘n’Bone Man, Dave, Giggs and Gregory Porter.

About the musicians…

Aaron Akugbo (Trumpet)

Born in 1998 and of Nigerian-Scottish descent, Aaron Akugbo hails from Edinburgh and is poised as a future leading exponent of his instrument. He brings a wide-ranging musical taste to his artistry and despite being classically trained, cites Louis Armstrong as his biggest musical inspiration. He is a charismatic performer with an abundance of natural humour which translates into an effortless engagement with people and audiences.

A graduate of the Royal Academy of Music and an ex-principal of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, Aaron can often be seen freelancing in the principal chairs of some of the most prestigious orchestras in the UK including the Philharmonia, BBC Philharmonic, BBC Symphony and Royal Philharmonic Orchestras.

In 2020, as part of the Southbank Centre’s ‘Behind Closed Doors’ concerts series, Aaron made his London debut at the Royal Festival Hall playing the Haydn Trumpet Concerto with Chineke!, Europe’s first Black and Minority Ethnic orchestra. His performance received glowing reviews, with the Arts Desk describing him as “a refined soloist… His sound was sweet, often lyrical… with perfect clarity and intonation”. Within the orchestra, Aaron has played in the UK’s top concert halls including Chineke’s BBC Proms debut. Aaron made his Wigmore debut playing Saint-Saëns Septet Op. 65 for trumpet, piano and strings with members of Chineke! as well as participating in the orchestra’s tour of Europe playing in halls such as the Royal Concertgebouw Amsterdam and Kölner Philharmonie.

In early 2019, Aaron was a finalist in the ‘Girolamo Fantini’ International Trumpet Competition whilst also being awarded the special prize for best performance of Vulcano Club by Piergiorgio Ratti. Aaron was subsequently invited by competition panellist and trumpet soloist, Tine Thing Helseth, to the Risør Kammermusikfest in Norway where he received masterclasses from Tine herself whilst also performing as a soloist.

Harry Plant (Trumpet and Flugel Horn)

Originally from Eastbourne, East Sussex, Harry earned first-class honours from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 2020 and graduated with a distinction in a Master’s degree from the Royal Academy of Music in 2024, where he studied on a scholarship. He has built a flourishing career as a freelance musician, with a musical journey spanning the UK, Europe, and the US. Collaborations include internationally acclaimed artists such as Stormzy, Jonas Brothers, Bruno Mars, Dave, and Jamie Cullum.

Classically, Harry has performed at the BBC Proms, Classic FM Spectacular, and played for several TV and radio broadcasts, alongside numerous international tours at some of Europe’s most coveted concert venues. In addition to live performances, contributions to studio and film sessions have taken place at renowned studios like Abbey Road, Sarm West, Air, Angel, Rockfield, and Electric Lady Studios.

Most recently, he was featured on the screen and soundtrack of the Apple TV hit Masters of the Air, produced by Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Gary Goetzman, as a member of the Century Bombers Band in several episodes across the series.

In addition to musical pursuits, Harry served as the Student Union President at Guildhall for two consecutive years (2020-2022), earning widespread acclaim for remarkable achievements during his tenure. Efforts included revamping the Union’s social media presence, orchestrating over 100 inclusive events, and championing initiatives to promote diversity awareness and training among students and staff. Working closely with the safeguarding officer, he helped create a new protocol to enhance the welfare and safety of the Guildhall community. Amidst the challenges of transitioning from hybrid to in-person learning during the pandemic, he ensured a smooth experience for peers. During his time at the SU, he also acquired certifications in Health & Safety, Mental Health First Aid, and obtained his security license (SIA), leaving an enduring legacy that fostered a more vibrant and inclusive community at Guildhall.

Zoë Tweed (French Horn)

Zoë grew up in Wells, Somerset and began playing euphonium at age six before switching to the trombone, then settling on the French horn at age nine. She was taught by Simon de Souza at Wells Cathedral School before moving to London in 2017 to study at the Royal Academy of Music for both her undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, where she was supported by the Elton John Scholarship.

Zoë was awarded her first trial at 20 years old with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra for their Principal Horn position, and won subsequent Principal trials with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. She continued to freelance with various orchestras throughout the UK during and after finishing her studies, including the Philharmonia Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonia of London, BBC Concert Orchestra, London Sinfonietta, and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. She accepted the position of 3rd Horn with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra a year after finishing her studies, in December 2023, becoming the youngest member of the Orchestra.

As a soloist, Zoë has performed concertos with the Hereford Symphony Orchestra, Oxford Sinfonia and Surrey Philharmonic Orchestra, and as a Countess of Munster Recital Scheme Artist she performs solo recitals across the UK.

Zoë has recorded music for film and TV, and performed instrumentals on albums by artists such as Alison Sudol and Cody Fry. She enjoys a wide variety of musical genres and this is reflected in the music she writes and arranges for solo horn and piano, wind quintet, brass quartet and quintet. In 2024, Zoë joined the brass faculty at the Royal College of Music as a Horn professor.

Outside of the horn Zoë is an avid DIY-er from crocheting to haircutting, and is currently knitting herself a sweater vest.

Chris Brewster (Trombone)

Chris grew up in Woking and began his musical journey on the euphonium before transitioning to the trombone at the age of 12. His early musical education took place at the Junior Department of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he studied from ages 10 to 18. Chris then pursued both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at the Royal Academy of Music in London, studying trombone under Matt Gee, Peter Moore, Dudley Bright, and Ian Bousfield, as well as euphonium and bass trumpet with James Maynard.

During his studies, Chris served as a principal trombonist and member of several prestigious youth orchestras, including the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester, the European Union Youth Orchestra and the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain.

As a freelance musician, Chris frequently performs across the UK, most recently with the Orchestras of Opera North, Welsh National Opera and the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra. His career has taken him to some of the world’s most renowned concert halls, such as The Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Konzerthaus Berlin and The Royal Albert Hall. He has played under the baton of conductors including Edward Gardner, John Wilson, Vasily Petrenko, Kristjan Järvi, Sir Mark Elder, François-Xavier Roth, and Jukka-Pekka Saraste.

In addition to his performance career, Chris is a dedicated teacher, with both individual students and as an artist with the Cavatina Chamber Music Trust. Outside of his professional life, Chris enjoys travelling, drinking coffee, learning German, and spending time with his family dog, Isla.

Aled Meredith-Barrett (Tuba)

Aled, originally from Pembrokeshire, is a tuba player. He recently graduated with MA (Dist) and a DipRAM from the Royal Academy of Music and was an associate of the London Philharmonic Orchestra’s Foyle Future First Scheme. Aled is an awardee of the Cherubim Music Trust, using their ‘Charles Steer’ B&S F Tuba.

Aled started playing the tenor horn at the age of seven and quickly joined the Goodwick Brass youth band. Aled progressed through the ranks and joined the senior band in 2009, winning the 1st section national title in 2015. Aled has also been a part of the Welsh national ensembles, joining the National Youth Brass Band of Wales in 2014 and the orchestra in 2018. Aled was also a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain in 2016, as the orchestra’s principal tuba, playing in venues such as the Royal Albert Hall and Symphony Hall, Birmingham.

During his time at the Academy, Aled studied with Patrick Harrild, Lee Tsarmaklis and Rex Martin and was also a member of the Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Brass and Manson Ensemble.

Aled is now starting to work as a freelance musician, having performed with the Orchestra of Opera North, BBC Philharmonic, London Philharmonic Orchestra and is now on trial for Principal Tuba for Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Away from the tuba, Aled can be found working as assistant manager at The George IV, Chiswick and also enjoys supporting the Llanelli Scarlets, watching football and drinking coffee.

Connaught Brass have a Website .