Contest Adjudicators

Surrey Brass is delighted to announce a panel of three distinguished adjudicators for the Golden Jubilee Fanfare Contest. They have an interesting variety of musical backgrounds as you will see below!

Roger Argente (President, Surrey Brass)
Dr. Tim Ewers Councillor
Nigel Cooper (Vice President, Surrey Brass)

Roger Argente

Roger Argente was born in Neath, South Wales, and started playing the trombone at school. On graduating from the Royal Northern College of Music on Bass Trombone he joined first the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra in 1985, then the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in 1992, (with whom in April 1991 he gave the European premiere of Concerto for Bass Trombone by Chris Brubeck at the Royal Albert Hall. Roger teaches at Trinity College of Music in the capacity of Brass Co-Ordinator and Professor of Bass Trombone in the Wind, Brass and Percussion Faculty, and is frequently invited to give recitals and master classes throughout the UK as well as Italy, Spain, France, the USA and Taiwan. He is in great demand as a trombone tutor, having worked closely with a variety of organisations such as The National Children's Orchestra, The National Youth Brass Band of Wales and The National Youth Orchestra of Spain and has given solo recitals and masterclasses in Italy, France, Spain, Taiwan and the USA. He is well known for his interest in brass education having worked closely with a variety of organisations such as The National Children's Orchestra, The National Youth Brass Band of Wales and The National Youth Orchestra of Spain and has given solo recitals and masterclasses in Italy, France, Spain, Taiwan and the USA Roger has run the famous "BONELAB" series of seminars for young trombonists at Dartington and other places. He is an officer of the British Trombone Society. In June 2002 Roger went to Japan to play with "The Super Orchestra", an orchestra of hand picked professionals from across the Globe! Roger is President of Surrey Brass.

Dr. Tim Ewers

Tim Ewers - composer, lecturer, researcher - is one of the most interesting of that generation of English composers born in the late 1950's. His works, large scale or for small forces, steadfastly display to the ear an exciting blend of intuition and intellect. One element that reiterates itself in his music is melos - an element that nowadays is often ignored or abused. It is difficult to recall a period in the history of West European classical music when melos has not played a predominant rôle in a piece whether its inflection is contrapuntal, harmonic or rhythmic. Proof of what is here claimed for Ewers may be witnessed in two examples of his composition, chosen at random. First, Altiplano for Orchestra, inspired by a visit to South America. This tone poem expresses feelings at the sight of the Bolivian Andes with the sweep from plain to jagged mountain peak. Second, and in contrast, Following On for oboe and piano. A highly imaginative exploitation of the attributes of the oboe, happily in partnership with its keyboard companion. If one knows that Ewers is a consummate oboist of concert platform standard, such a work is no surprise. Ewers' experience as creator, administrator, fixer, player and composer of the much praised Varèse Ensemble, which flourished in the 1980's has enabled him to particularly appreciate the needs of both player and listener. Simply examine the score or listen to ...blue, indigo, violet for brass quintet or Blackheath Counterpoint for small orchestra." Stanley Glasser Emeritus Professor of Music at the University of London and broadcaster on Classic FM Radio. Councillor

Cllr. Nigel Cooper

A trumpet player for 40 years, Nigel has a lifelong love of brass music. Nigel played for many local village Brass Bands and Salvation Army bands in Yorkshire and moved on to playing for Dance Bands and Orchestras in the Leeds area. He had a long career as an Education Administrator, including a spell in Australia where he played lead trumpet for a Polytechnic Big Band whilst also being Director. His other passion, sport, led him to become CEO of the British Athletics Association for 8 years. Nigel was also one of the professional staff organising the Wimbledon Tennis Championships. Nigel is currently a local councillor in the Borough of Elmbridge. He is Vice-President of Surrey Brass and one of our most enthusiastic supporters.