Chief Juror TBA  Byron ‘Buzz’ Newton is one of the world’s top euphonium performers with many prestigious solo awards to his name, including the 2008 Brass Prize at the International Gisborne Competition, the Best Euphonium and Baritone title at the 2010 British Open Solo Competition, and several best soloist awards including the 2011 Scenic Hotels Band of the Year, the 2012 Welsh Open, 2012 Wychaven Contest, and the 2013 Besson Band of the Year. In 2010 Buzz set sails for Wales to do a Master of Arts degree at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff, learning from the father-and-son combination and euphonium legends Robert and David Childs. During his time in Wales, Buzz was the principal euphonium and featured concert soloist with the famous Tredegar Town Band, performing at many prestigious concert halls around the world, including London’s Royal Albert Hall. In 2012 he became the first brass student to win the RWCMD Concerto Competition and in his final Masters recital Buzz was awarded a mark of 100% making him the first student in the college’s history to do so. His return to Wellington and New Zealand in 2012 has seen Buzz in high demand as a soloist, teacher, and freelance musician throughout Australasia. Buzz has taken up the position of Principal Euphonium and Assistant Musical Director with the current New Zealand and Australian champion band Wellington Brass. He is the solo euphonium in the Royal New Zealand Air Force Band, and is the euphonium and baritone tutor at the New Zealand School of Music. In 2014 Buzz released his debut solo album Kiwi Dragon featuring music from his 100% recital. Buzz has been a member of the National Secondary Schools, National Youth, and National Brass Bands of New Zealand, and his versatility has seen him perform with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra, and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. Buzz is a Besson artist and performs exclusively on a Besson Prestige Euphonium with an Alliance DC3 mouthpiece.  Born in New Plymouth, David began his early musical studies on cornet and euphonium under the tutelage of his father. After moving to trombone he went on to graduate with honours from Victoria University of Wellington studying with Marc Taddei. He was awarded the prestigious Patricia Pratt Scholarship to study at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and graduated with a Master of Music degree studying with Mark Lawrence. During this time he was placed 3rd in the Gisborne Music Competition, 3rd in the NZ Young Musicians Competition, and won the Shenson Young Musicians competition in California. As a soloist, David has performed concertos with the NZSO, including the world premier of Gareth Farr's trombone concerto, and recorded Lyell Cresswell's concerto 'Kaea' for Naxos Records. He has also been a featured soloist with the Auckland Philharmonia, many New Zealand and Australian bands, the National Youth Brass Band of NZ on their international tour of 2003, and with the National Brass Band of New Zealand on their 2005 European Tour. A versatile musician, David has recorded with the New Zealand rock band Crowded House, performed with the Fodens Richardson and Desford Brass Bands in the UK, and the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra and Bay Brass, as well as being a founding member of New Zealand's Bonanza Trombone Quartet. He is Music Director of the Wellington Brass Band and is seen regularly on television as a member of the 'Dancing with the Stars' band. |
|
|
Copyright © 2016 NZBF Young Brass Musician of the Year | all rights reserved
