About Derventio Brass

Derventio Brass is a brass ensemble of amateur musicians with high standards of musical ability, knowledge and appreciation, who approach their performances in a professional manner. They strive continually to provide concerts that are both enjoyable and a little different for their audiences.

Several of the members of Derventio Brass have played together in various groups for many years prior to Derventio Brass forming, giving a long overall history to the group.

Derventio Brass was formed to visit Venice in 1994

David Blackwell formed the ensemble in 1993 to accompany the Ockbrook Moravian choir on a musical tour of Venice in 1994. Their performance in the mass at St. Mark’s Basilica included works by Giovanni Gabrielli and Charles Hubert Parry.

Derventio Brass is based in Derby, England – Derventio being the ancient Roman name for Derby. They continue to perform in the local area (acclaimed concerts in Derby Cathedral and also Littleover, Duffield, Allestree and Ticknall), and have also given concerts in Gloucestershire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire, Warwickshire, Holland and Normandy, France.  Recently they performed at Derby Cathedral in the presence of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The musical repertoire of Derventio Brass ranges from works written specifically for brass ensemble through to arrangements of major classical works, well known light music, film scores and jazz. Derventio Brass is happy to perform at formal concerts or for less formal occasions and are able to prepare varied programmes from their wide repertoire to suit the event.

Visit our concert dates page or sIgn up to our mailing list for details of concerts.