INTERNATIONAL TOURS & COLLABORATIONS
Brass for Africa’s colourful, vibrant and unique performances – featuring brass, percussion and traditional African song and dance – has led to international tours and collaborations on some of the world’s greatest stages.
Recent highlights include performances at the Royal Albert Hall, Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club and Cheltenham Music Festival in the UK; Verbier Festival, KKL Lucerne and Ernen Music Festival in Switzerland; the Gasteig in Germany; the WMC in The Netherlands and the Forbes 30 Under 30 summit in Botswana with renowned musicians such as Wynton Marsalis, Alison Balsom OBE and Guy Barker MBE. In addition, Brass for Africa’s story is portrayed in an award-winning documentary, TOPOWA! Never Give Up – winner of the Best Documentary at the London Raindance Film Festival, Berlin International Film Festival, and Cleveland International Film Festival.
In the 2023/24 season, following its recent success in Europe, Brass for Africa will tour its first ever orchestral project. Kisoboka (Everything Is Possible) – a concerto grosso for African brass ensemble and orchestra, composed by Guy Barker MBE and Alan Fernie – will make its debut in Spain in April 2023. It will premiere in Valladolid with the Orquesta Sinfónica de Castilla y León conducted by Thierry Fischer, followed by performances in Murcia and Cartagena with the Orquesta Sinfonica de la Region De Murcia conducted by Yaron Traub, and in Bilbao with the Orquesta Sinfónica de Bilbao conducted by Erik Nielsen.
All of our dynamic performers are also Music & Life-Skills teachers at Brass for Africa, working in our programmes across Uganda, Rwanda and Liberia. They began their journey with us as participants benefiting from our music programmes, in environments such as informal settlement areas, orphanages and rehabilitation centres. Their talent and dedication led them to be recruited and trained as teachers, and in their daily work as Music and Life-skills teachers, they inspire the next generation of disadvantaged children and young people in sub-Saharan Africa. They are a living testimony of the power of music to transform lives.
2022/23 SEASON
KISOBOKA – (EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE)
In April 2023, six Brass for Africa musicians from Uganda will travel to Spain to premier Kisoboka – (Everything Is Possible), a specially commissioned concerto grosso for African brass ensemble and orchestra, composed by Guy Barker MBE and Alan Fernie.
The piece will premier with the Orquesta Sinfónica de Castilla y León conducted by Thierry Fischer; followed by performances with the Orquesta Sinfonica de la Region De Murcia conducted by Yaron Traub and the Orquesta Sinfónica de Bilbao conducted by Erik Nielsen.
Comprised of five movements, each will portray the reality of life in sub-Saharan Africa, and the power of music to transform lives.
2021/22 SEASON
EUROPEAN TOUR: THE NETHERLANDS, SWITZERLAND & GERMANY
In July 2022, Brass for Africa toured an ensemble of 12 brilliant and vibrant brass and percussion musicians from sub-Saharan Africa across The Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany.
Highlights included performances at Verbier Festival, KKL Lucerne and Ernen Music Festival in Switzerland; the Gasteig in Germany and the WMC in The Netherlands.
Audiences were wowed by the colourful programme presented by the touring ensemble, featuring popular music from sub-Saharan artists, traditional East African song and dance, and african-inspired brass band classics.
2019/20 SEASON
UK TOUR: ARTIST RESIDENCY AT CHELTENHAM MUSIC FESTIVAL WITH WYNTON MARSALIS & RONNIE SCOTT’S JAZZ CLUB (LONDON)
In July 2019, Brass for Africa toured 11 of its brightest talents from sub-Saharan Africa to perform their brilliant, bold and beautiful brass music at the renowned Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London, whilst holding an Artist Residency at the prestigious Cheltenham Music Festival, performing with jazz legend Wynton Marsalis and virtuoso trumpeter Alison Balsom OBE.
The tour culminated in the making of the award-winning documentary, TOPOWA! Never Give Up, directed by Philip Sansom & Inigo Gilmore and produced by PHIX Films. Highlights include being awarded Best Documentary Feature at Raindance Film Festival, Berlin International Film Festival and Cleveland International Film Festival.
