Luca Benucci studied at the Luigi Cherubini Conservatoire in Florence. After gaining his diploma in 1987, he continued his studies with Dale Clevenger and Arnold Jacobs in Chicago. Other key figures in his artistic development include Roger Bobo, Guelfo Nalli and Stefan Dohr. Currently he is studying breathing techniques with Professor Andrea Pegna Lopez, Head of Pneumology at the Careggi-Firenze Clinical Hospital. Prizewinner in many national and international competitions, between 1989 and 1992 he was principal horn at the Teatro San Carlo, Naples and from 1992 to 1995 principal horn of the M.D.R. Orchestra of Leipzig. He is currently principal horn of the Maggio Musicale di Firenze. In addition to his frequent concert commitments throughout the world, he gives master classes throughout Italy, Germany and Japan. He was recently invited to participate in both the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra's European tour, conducted by Zubin Mehta and the Deutsche Oper Berlin's tour of Italy, conducted by Christian Tielemann. He has deputised for Stefan Dohr as principal horn in the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. As soloist, his appearances include performances at the Tateshina Musica Festival, Japan, Swiss Brass Week and the M.D.R. Sommer Festival, Germany.

Barry Tuckwell's multi-faceted career in music spans more than sixty years. During this time he has performed throughout the world as soloist, chamber musician, teacher and conductor. Born into a distinguished Melbourne family, he joined the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra at the age of 15, and a year later the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, before leaving for England. After playing with the Hallé , Scottish National and Bournemouth Symphony orchestras, Mr Tuckwell was appointed as Principal Horn with the London Symphony Orchestra. During his 13 years with the orchestra, which is a co-operative orchestra, run entirely by the players, he was elected to the Board of Directors and was Chairman of the Board for six years. He resigned from the Orchestra in 1968 to pursue a career as soloist and conductor, and in January of 1997 gave his farewell concerts as a horn soloist with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Barry Tuckwell was Chief Conductor of the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra for four years, and the founding Conductor and Music Director of the Maryland Symphony Orchestra for sixteen years. He continues to have an active career throughout the world guest conducting, teaching as well as broadcasting, giving lectures and master classes. He currently holds the position of Professorial Fellow at the University of Melbourne and Honorary Patron of the Melbourne International Festival of Brass. During his residence in the United States he was Distinguished Visiting Faculty at the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, and for six years served on the executive committee of the Maryland Humanities Council. Among the many awards Barry Tuckwell has received are Companion of the Order of Australia, Officer of the Order of the British Empire, Honorary Doctor of Music from the University of Sydney, Fellow of the Royal College of Music, Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts, the George Peabody Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Music in America, the Andrew White Medal from Loyola College, and the Harriett Cohen International Music Awards Solo Instruments Prize. He is also an Honorary member of both the Royal Academy of Music and the Guildhall School of Music in London. He has made over fifty recordings and received three Grammy Nominations.

Jonathan Williams, born in England, studied with Sydney Coulston at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. He joined the COE as Principal Horn in 1982, and with them has worked as soloist with many conductors including Claudio Abbado, Paavo Berglund, John Eliot Gardiner, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Yehudi Menuhin, Roger Norrington, Alexander Schneider and Sandor Vegh. He is a founder member of the Wind Soloists of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe and of the Gaudier Ensemble, and is Co-Principal Horn of the BBC Symphony Orchestra. He is also active both in teaching young musicians and working with youth orchestras in Italy and in England.

In only his thirties, trumpeter Jens Lindemann is easily one of the most celebrated soloists in his instrument's history. Jens has played in every major concert venue in the world; from the Philharmonics of New York, London, Manchester, Munich, Hamburg, Lucerne and Berlin to Tokyo's Suntory Hall and even the Great Wall of China. His career has ranged from appearing internationally as an orchestral soloist, recording with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, being heralded as an official trumpeter for the N.H.L. Stanley Cup finals to playing lead trumpet with the renowned Canadian Brass. Jens has also won major awards ranging from Grammy and Juno nominations to winning the prestigious Echo Klassik in Germany as well as receiving an honorary doctorate. He has won first prizes in the most important classical trumpet competitions in the world, made numerous television and film appearances and performed at London's 'Last Night of the Proms' for over 40,000 people. In addition to his concertizing, Jens has also performed in football and baseball stadiums in the United States for over 70,000 fans! Classically trained at the renowned Juilliard School in New York, Jens' proven ability to perform as a diverse artist places him at the front of a new generation of musicians. He has performed as soloist and recording artist with classical conducting stars such as Sir Neville Marriner, Charles Dutoit, Gerard Schwarz, Eiji Oue, Bramwell Tovey, Mario Bernardi and Jukka Pekka Saraste. Having recorded with BMG, EMI, CBC and the BBC, Jens is helping to redefine the idea of the concert artist by transcending stylistic genres and the very stereotype of his instrument by performing with "impeccable attacks, agility, and amazing smoothness" (The Clarin, Buenos Aires). A prodigious talent, Jens Lindemann performed as a soloist with orchestras and won accolades at numerous jazz festivals while still in his teens. A prizewinner at numerous competitions including the prestigious ARD in Munich, Jens also placed first, by unanimous juries, at both the Prague and Ellsworth Smith (Florida) International Trumpet Competitions in 1992. Since then, he continues to perform with orchestras including, the London Symphony, Philadelphia, Beijing, Auckland, Bayerischer Rundfunk, Buenos Aires Chamber, Atlanta, Washington, Seattle, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Montreal, Toronto, National Arts Centre, Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Warsaw, Welsh Chamber, I Musici de Montreal, I Virtuosi di Roma, St. Louis, and Mostly Mozart at Lincoln Center.

He graduates at the Bologna Conservatory, then he improves himself in Germany at the Hochschule in Detmold studying with M° Max Sommerhalder. He started a carrier as 1° trumpet first in the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma, then with the San Carlo di Napoli, going on with the most important orchestras in Italy and in the world, among with: Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Roma, Teatro alla Scala di Milano, Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale RAI, Teatro Verdi di Trieste, Orchestra della Fenice di Venezia, Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, M.D.R. Simphonie Orchestre Leipzig. Winner of many international prizes and competitions for 1° trumpet, he joined the professional experience with the didattica, teaching at the Conservatory "A. Buzzolla" in Adria. He's a teache at the Santa Fiora in Musica in the High Formation Courses and in the special brasses Master. He's soloist in a large number of concerts with important associations and orchestras in Italy and abroad, mostly in the trombino repertory. He's coordinator for Brasses Masters at the Adria Conservatory.

Giancarlo Parodi completed his musical studies at the Conservatorio di Alessandria under the tuition of Prof. Renato Cadoppi (former first trumpet with the Orchestra RAI di Torino). Later, he studied with various teachers, including Luciano Cadoppi (first trumpet at La Scala) ang obtained his diploma in trumpet in 1981. In the academic year 1984-84, he studied at the Northwestern University of Chicago, training under Vincent Cichowicz (former trumpet with the Chicago Symphony. Orchestra), Arnold Jacobs (former tuba with the CSO) and he attended the lessons of Bud Herset (first trumpet with the CSO) and Dale Clevenger (first horn with the CSO). During his stay in the USA, he played in various chamber ensembles within the university and elsewhere. He has played with leading Italian orchestras and since 1985 has also enjoyed a successful career in teaching. Many of his pupils are members of the most famous Italian orchestras: Marco Pierobon, first trumpet with the Orchestra di S. Cecilia and winner (September 2003) of the auditions for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra; Roberto Rossi, first trumpet with the Orch. Sinfonica Nazionale della RAI di Torino; Davide Simoncini, first trumpet with the Orchestra di Trieste; Massimo Longhi, first trumpet with the Arena di Verona; Alberto Brini, first trumpet with the Orchestra Haydn; Fabiano Maniero, first trumpet with the Orchestra Fenice di Venezia; Gianluigi Petrarulo, first trumpet with the Orchestra Verdi di Milano; Mirko Bellucco, Orchestra Fenice di Venezia, etc. Others are successful conservatoire teachers in their own right. He regularly holds courses in various Italian conservatoires, at the Scuola di Musica di Fossano, at the Scuola Civica di Gorla Maggiore (VA) and also holds masterclasses with teachers of the calibre of Roger Bobo, Dale Clevenger, Andrea Conti, Andrea Dell’Ira, Luca Benucci and so on. From 2002 to 2005, he was teacher of the trumpet and trombone at the Conservatorio di Adria, and currently teaches a two-year specialisation course at the same institute.

Andrea was born in Viareggio (Lucca, Italy) on July 26, 1965 and began to study music and trumpet in 1976 with some musicians close to Dean Benedetti, the famous italo-american jazz saxophonist follower of Charlie Parker. In 1979, at the age of 14, Andrea started working with some local semi-professional big bands and commercial music groups, and in 1984 he began performing professionally in the classical music field, while simultaneously attending the Conservatory at the "Istituto Musicale Pareggiato L. Boccherini" in Lucca (Italy). In 1987 Andrea finished his Conservatory studies with highest full marks, graduating cum laude. That same year he attended a Master Class given by Armando Ghitalla (Boston Symphony Orchestra trumpet soloist and teacher at the University of Michigan) and started his first jazz studies with O. Valdambrini and S. Fanni, trumpet soloists of the RAI network Big Bands in Rome and Milan. In the jazz music field, Andrea has performed with great jazz musicians like MAYNARD FERGUSON (in Italy, London and United States 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006), Peter Erskine (Italian tour 1996), Randy Brecker and Claudio Roditi (Luxemburg 2007), Denis DiBlasio, Paul Jeffrey, Carl Anderson, Lee Konitz, John Taylor, Palle Daniellson, Ernie Hammes, Wayne Bergeron, Roger Ingram, Eric Miyashiro, Carl Fischer, Reggie Watkins, Lew Soloff, Walter White, Jon Crosse, Craig Woods, Kenny Wheeler, as well as the greatest italian jazzmen like Bruno Tommaso, Enrico Rava, Gianni Basso, Stefano Bollani, Giorgio Gaslini, Gianluigi Trovesi, Henghel Gualdi, Paolo Fresu and many others. He performed as soloist also with the Atlanta Seventeen Big Band (First Baptist Church of Decatur, Atlanta USA, 2005), and in Luxemburg with the Luxembourg Jazz Orchestra at the Musek Am Syrdall, XVIIe Saison Musicale de Mensdorf and with the Harmonie Bascharage, On September 20, 2006, he has been invited to perform as soloist at the “Maynard Ferguson Tribute” at the Touhill Performing Arts Center in St. Louis (Usa). The tribute will be released in dvd (2007). Starting from 2006 he collaborates also with the PAUL ANKA orchestra for the European tours. In 1999 Andrea recorded his first solo CD entitled "Mattia's Walk & Tribute to Maynard Ferguson" released by the Italian label Splasc(H) Records. His second solo CD, "Ricordo di... Napoli" a tribute to Neapolitan Italian music, was released by the Italian label, Fonotecnica, in 2001. During his USA 2005 Tour he recorded with the Artisan Brass the “Romantic Celebration” Suite for jazz trumpet and brass quintet, composed by the Grammy-Nominated composer Brent Pierce. About videos and movies, Andrea appeares as a trumpet player in the Italian movie “Le ragazze di San Frediano”, and in the pop music videos “Lorenzo, Raccolto 1997” (Polygram), “Pavarotti & Friends 2000, For Cambodia and Tibet” (Decca) and “Ti Adoro” by Pavarotti, 2003. (Next future dvd: the Maynard Ferguson Tribute Concert, on 2007). He also has been performing in Italy in many MEDIASET, RAI, LA7, TMC and SKY networks TV shows (60 to date) and recorded several cinema soundtracks and TV commercials for some of the most elite recording studios in Italy. In Italy, Andrea has accompanied many famous artists from all over the world including big names such as George Michael ("Pavarotti & Friends for Cambodia and Tibet 2000," released on video and CD by Decca), Joe Cocker, Tom Jones, Michael Bublè, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Carl Anderson, Randy Crawford, Matt Bianco, Kid Creole & The Coconuts, Gloria Gaynor (2003/04/05 Italian tours), The Gibson Brothers (2003 Italian tour), Samantha Fox, Imagination, Patrick Hernandez, Tony Hadley and Paul Young. He has also performed and/or recorded as lead trumpet and soloist with a rainbow of very famous Italian artists such as Luciano Pavarotti, Jovanotti (1997 tour), Fiorello, Adriano Celentano, Claudio Baglioni, Gianni Morandi, Renato Zero, Elio e le Storie Tese, Toto Cutugno, YuYu, Irene Grandi, Fausto Leali, Articolo 31, Gino Paoli, Tullio De Piscopo, Ivana Spagna, Andrea Mingardi, Francesco Baccini, Dirotta su Cuba, Rossana Casale and Jenny B. About classical music, in 1988 Andrea won the national auditions for the European and Italian tour of the "Orchestra Giovanile Italiana" (Italian Youth Orchestra) as well as the "Teatro Comunale del Giglio" of Lucca, and he was selected as a finalist in Rome for the ECYO (European Community Youth Orchestra). In 1989/90 he fulfilled his military compulsory service playing in the Italian Air Force Band in Rome. He still collaborates with some prestigious Italian symphonic orchestras as the “Orchestra Regionale Toscana”, the “Orchestra Sinfonica dell’Emilia-Romagna A. Toscanini”, the “EUR Spettacoli” and the “Orchestra da Camera Lucchese.” From jazz to classical to pop music, Andrea has performed in the United States ("Making Waves" Festival, San Francisco 1987, Blues Alley in Washington DC, 2003, Fullerton College in Los Angeles, First Baptist Church Of Decatur in Atlanta, 2005, Touhill Performing Arts Center, 2006, Rowan Jazz Festival 2007), Inghilterra (Ronnie Scott’s, London, 2005), Luxemburg (Musek Am Syrdall 2004, XVIIe Saison Musicale de Mensdorf, Printemps Musical Festival 2007), Malta (Malta Festival 1997), Finland (Oulu Jazz Festival 1999), Germany (Hannover Expo 2000 and Ludwigshafen Theatre, 1988), France (Radio France in Paris 1988, and Chateau de Castries in Montpellier, 1988, Nice 2007), Lichtenstein (Little Big One Festival 1997), Austria (Wien Festival 1997), Switzerland (Out in the Green, Winterthur Festival 1997, “Blue Balls Festival” in Luzern, 2005), Holland (Concertgebow of Amsterdam, 1988), Belgium (Abbaye de Floreffe in Namur, 1988), Scotland (Usher Hall, Festival di Edimburgo, 1988), Greece (Rodhes), Spain (San Sebastian Jazz Festival 2003, 38th Jazz Aldia), Portugal (Estoril Casinò, 2006) and Principato of Monaco (Sporting Club, 1996, 2007). As a teacher, Andrea is Professor of Trumpet and Jazz Workshop at the "Orazio Vecchi" Musical Institute in Modena and he is also the conductor of the "L. Boccherini" Musical Institute Jazz Orchestra in Lucca. Moreover, he was an assistant at Maynard Ferguson's seminar during the Vicenza Jazz Festival 2003. Andrea also gives seminars for YAMAHA and collaborates with Santa Fiora International Festival (Grosseto), Sardegna Brass Academy of Ploaghe, International Campus of the Gallodoro Municipality, supported by the Government Culture Ministry and Sicily Region, as well as the Florence International Music Campus, Summer Seminars for the "Artemixta" Musical Association in Barberino Val D'Elsa, the "N.C.D.M. School of Music" in Milan and the "Minale School of Music" in Naples. Andrea is currently consulting with Clint "Pops" McLaughlin on the first American draft of "Embouchure - The Pros Talk" and for an instructional video on trumpet playing. He is the Artistic Director of the "Dean Benedetti Jazz Festival" in Torre del Lago Puccini.

Andrea Conti studied at the Music School "G. Verdi" in Prato with Giulio Gabbiani and Giuseppe Mangione. He graduates as a privatist in 1985, when he was 18 years old, at the Musical Institute "P. Mascagni" in Livorno. Then he studied at the Music School of Fiesole with Vinko Globokar and William Cramer, teacher at the Florida State University. He continued this kind of experience with americans teachers studying in Chicago and through Masterclasses in Italy, Suisse and Germany, attending, among others, Arnold Jacobs, E. Kleinhammer, C. Vernon, F. Crisafulli, R. Martin and Joseph Alessi. He's the winner of auditions with the Orchestra Sinfonica dell'Emilia Romagna "A. Toscanini", the Orchestra dell'Accademia di Santa Cecilia, the Orchestra Giovanile della Comunità Europea "E.C.Y.O.", as well as competition at the Teatro San Carlo di Napoli (1° Trombone from February 1987 to April 1988), at the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma, at the Teatro alla Scala di Milano, the Teatro Comunale di Firenze "Maggio Musicale Fiorentino" (1° Trombone from 1988 to 1997), the Teatro dell'Opera di Monaco di Baviera "Bayerische Staatsoper" (1. Solo Posaunist from 1997 to 2003). In October 2002 he was the winner of the selection (Competition under invitation) for the 1° Trombone at the Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, position that he still holds. He cooperated, as 1° Trombone, with some institutions, like the RAI Orchestres of Napoli and Roma, the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome, the Teatro alla Scala, the Orchestra della Radiotelevisione di Lipsia (Mittel Deutscher Rundfunk Sinfonie-Orchester), the "Solisti Veneti", the "Gustav Mahler Jugend Orchester", the Orchestra Filarmonica della Scala, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (where he was invited as 1º Trombone in the European Tournee in 2001), working with conductors like C. Abbado, L. Maazel, M. W. Chung, C. M. Giulini, Z. Mehta, G. Pretre, R. Muti, S. Bychkov, C. Scimone, W. Sawallisch, G. Sinopoli, A. Pappano.

Michel Becquet, born in 1954, is a French trombonist and professor at the Conservatoire de Lyon. From a young age he played piano and horn, taught by his father, a professional horn player, until he turned to the trombone, aged 10. After several years of studies at the Conservatoire de Limoges, aged 15 he entered the Conservatoire de Paris where he quickly obtained his diploma. He went on to win all the international contests open to his instrument (Geneva, Munich, Prague and Toulon). At 18, he became solo trombone of the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande under the direction of Wolfgang Sawallisch, before some years later joining the orchestra of Opéra National de Paris. In 1989 he left the Paris Opera for the Hochschule für Musik (Cologne) where he spent time teaching and composing. In 1990 Gilbert Amy invited him to become Head of Brass at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique where he directed the 18-strong ensemble Cuivres Français. Since then he has joined the Conservatoire de Lyon where he is Professor of Trombone and Head of Brass.

Andrea Bandini è nato a Poggibonsi nel 1964; nel 1973 inizia a suonare il trombone con il Maestro Enzo Conti e nel 1975 continua con il Maestro Francesco Bernabei alla scuola di musica "Rinaldo Franci" di Siena. L'anno seguente prosegue gli studi con il M° Mauro Bianchi, docente di tromba e trombone, con il quale ottiene nel 1980, come privatista, il diploma di trombone al conservatorio "Luigi Cherubini" di Firenze. Nel 1978 vince il concorso d'ammissione come secondo trombone all'Orchestra Giovanile Italiana sotto la guida di uno dei più grandi direttori d'orchestra italiani Franco Ferrara. Nel 1979, segue la master class all'Accademia Chigiana di Siena con Vinko Globokar, dove incontra la trombonista americana Abbie Conand che gli suggerisce di continuare gli studi all'estero. Ed è così che dopo aver vinto l'audizione al Maggio Musicale Fiorentino nel 1980, l'anno seguente vince il concorso d'ammissione al Conservatorio Superiore di Musica di Ginevra nella classe del M° Roland Schnorhk, primo trombone solista dell'Orchestra della Suisse Romande già ai tempi di Ernest Ansermet, fondatore della stessa orchestra. Termina i suoi studi nel 1985, ottenendo un primo premio di "virtuosita'" con felicitazione della giuria e una borsa di studio attribuita dal conservatorio. Essendosi distinto fra i tutti i laureati, viene scelto dalla direzione ad eseguire, per la prima volta in Svizzera, il concerto per trombone e orchestra di Nino Rota., accompagnato dall'orchestra della Suisse Romande Nel maggio del 1986 vince all'unanimità il primo premio al concorso nazionale di Riddes (Svizzera) e il terzo premio al concorso Internazionale di Markneukirchen (exDDR), la prima volta per un italiano nella disciplina del trombone. Lo stesso anno ottiene la medaglia di bronzo al Festival dei giovani solisti di Bordeaux in Francia. Sempre nel 1986 vince il concorso come trombone solista all'Orchestra della Suisse Romande sotto la direzione del M° Armin Jordan. Con l'orchestra della Suisse Romande effettua numerosi concerti come solista : Nino Rota, Darius Milhaud, Jan Koetsier e partecipa a varie tournée in Belgio, Francia, Germania, Inghilterra, Corea del Sud, Cina, Giappone, Stati Uniti eseguendo il concerto di Frank Martin per sette Strumenti, timpani e orchestra d'archi. Ha collaborato, sempre come 1° Trombone, con varie Istituzioni, fra le quali l'Orchestre de Chambre de Losanna, l'Orchestre de Chambre di Ginevra, Berner Symphonie Orchester, l' Orchestra Filarmonica "Arturo Toscanini", Gulbenkian orchestra (Lisbona),collaborando con direttori quali M Janoswki, G. Pretre, W. Sawallisch, F. Luisi, Z. Mehta, H. Stein, S. Bychkov, C. Thielemann, K. Masur, K. Sanderling, C. von Dohnànyi, Sir Charles Mackerras, C. Dutoit. Sempre con l'OSR effettua numerose registrazioni dal vivo, oggetto poi di dischi, fra cui tutto il repertorio di musica francese e con i più noti "a solo" per trombone fra i quali spicca la sinfonia numero 3 di Gustav Mahler con Armin Jordan sulla quale un articolo di recensione citava "…il grande recitativo del trombonista Andrea Bandini, vale lui solo l'acquisto del disco ". Con l'Orchestra da Camera di Ginevra esegue il doppio Concerto per tromba e trombone di Jan Koetsier e con la banda dell'esercito del Cantone di Ginevra la "Landewehr" registra dal vivo il concerto di Nino Rota. Nel 1984 entra come membro permanente dell' Ensemble di musica contemporanea "Contrechamps" con il quale ogni anno esegue numerose tournée in Svizzera e in tutta Europa nei più importanti festival di musica contemporanea, tra cui i più famosi Lucerna, Basilea, Zurigo, Edimburgo, Parigi, Bruxelles, Amburgo, Amsderdam, Rotterdam, Copenaghen e altri ancora. Andrea Bandini è stato spesso sollecitato da Michel Corboz, uno dei piu' famosi direttori di musica corale, a partecipare a varie tournée in Portogallo, Francia, Germania, Argentina e a registrazioni discografiche. Regolarmente invitato a far parte delle giurie dei piu' importanti concorsi nazionali e internazionali per trombone, Porcia, Riddes, Markneukirchen, Andrea è anche docente della WYO (World Youth Orchestra) fondata nel 2001 per iniziativa dell'Associazione MusicaEuropa. Grazie alla sua vasta esperienza musicale, alla sua partecipazione alle giurie di concorsi internazionali e alle sue ricerche sul repertorio classico e contemporaneo, viene nominato nel 1999 Professore di Trombone al Conservatorio Superiore di Musica di Ginevra. Grazie a questo ruolo, organizza annualmente master class con i piu' illustri colleghi: M. Becquet, J. Vaisse, A. Conti, C. Sanchez, D. Bonvin, A. Faure, S. Leger per la sacqueboute. Andrea Bandini è anche membro fondatore del "Quatuor de Trombones de Genève con cui esegue numerosi concerti e master class, e dell' "Ensemble Gesualdo" formato dai solisti dell'Orchestra de la Suisse Romande. Andrea Bandini suona con un Bach 42B dotato del sistema Free-flow Valve TTB42/135 e doppio "0" tipo Wrap con l' opzione "VIBRABELL" progettato da René Hagmann proprietario del negozio " Servette Musique " a Ginevra e di cui è anche consulente.

Alessandro Fossi was born in Jesi Ancona, Italy in 1975. He formal music studies were at the B. Maderna Conser-vatory in Cesena with Renzo Brocculi, and, in addition, he later studied with Roger Bobo, Gene Pokorny, Patrick Sheridan, and Rex Martin. Since 1994 he has performed with major Italian orchestras that include the Florence “Maggio Musicale” Orchestra, the La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra (Milan), and the Santa Cecilia National Academy Orchestra. He has performed under such conductors as Georges Pretre, Wolfgang Sawallisch, Zubin Mehta, and Eliau Inbal. Since 1997 he has served as solo tuba with the San Carlo Theatre Orchestra in Napoli. In April 2001 he was a semi-finalist for solo tuba with the Bayreuth Festival Orchestra and in March 2002 he was invited to audition for principal tuba with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. In June 2002 he was a tuba finalist for the Vienna Philhar-monic. As a soloist, he won third prize in the 2000 Markneukirchen International Instrumental Competition, and, in 2001, he won first prize at the Lieksa International Solo Tuba Competition, becoming the first Italian tubist to win these prizes. He is a solo artist and clinician for Yamaha.

James Gourlay was born in Scotland where, at the age of ten, he was ‘volunteered’ to play in his school brass band. Being tallest in class, he was serendipitously given the tuba, an instrument loves and continues to promote all over the world. After much success as a solo champion, James entered the Royal College of Music but left after a short time to become, at eighteen, the Principal Tuba of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Four years later, he took up the same position with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, with which he performed for ten years. He then performed for a further ten years with the Orchestra of the Zürich Opera. James’s career as a chamber musician has been extensive. He has been a member of the Philip Jones and English Brass Ensembles with which he has toured the world. As a soloist, he performs extensively. He has recorded five solo CDs, the latest, British Tuba Concertos, recorded for the Naxos label, with the Royal Ballet Sinfonia, has received international critical acclaim. James Gourlay’s work within the Brass Band movement forms a vital component of his creative output. After early success with the Brass Band Berneroberland, he became music director of the Williams Fairey Band with which he won the English Masters and British Open Contests. James has also been professional conductor of the Grimethorpe Colliery and the Brighouse and Rastrick bands and has recently won the Swiss Open Championship conducting the fantastic Brass Band Treize Etoiles. James Gourlay’s commitment to music education is a continuing passion. He has been Head of Wind and Percussion at the Royal Northern College of Music and Deputy Principal and Music Director at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Scotland’s International Conservatoire. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree from Salford University, a Masters Degree from Leeds University, a Fellowship of the Royal Northern College of Music, a Fellowship of the London College of Music and is a recipient of the Iles Medal, presented by the Worshipful Company of Musicians for services to the Brass Band Movement. Currently, James is Director of Music of the world famous Grimethorpe Colliery Band.