Brian Evans celebrates 40 years with the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra

Brian Evans hits 40!  That’s not years of age but years with the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra(AOBO). 

 

ITG’s Vice-President/President elect started with the AOBO as second trumpet on April 19 1975, progressing to principal 3rd trumpet/cornet in 1983.  In that long time he has accumulated a huge repertoire of opera and ballet since the AOBO is the orchestra of Opera Australia (OA) and performs fulltime for OA and The Australian Ballet at the Sydney Opera House (SOH).  His full repertoire list includes well over 140 works, not including solos and concert work, many on all parts and he has worked with over 50 conductors (that he can remember).   Brian has had long periods on all chairs in the trumpet section, including 1st trumpet in major works such as “Der Rosenkavalier”, “Die Meistersingers von Nuremburg”, “Turandot”, Britten’s “Dream” (his favorite piece) and, of course played many big Principal Cornet roles. 

 



The milestone was marked on April 18, at TAB’s Giselle.  The Ballet Company arranged complimentary seats for his wife for the performance and also listed the milestone in the evening’s cast list, noting that Evans has performed well over 1400 times with TAB.   Evans’ area in and the stairs leading up to the OH pit were decorated by his colleagues with stars and other paraphernalia, creating a very festive mood.   Following the performance, an informal reception was held in the SOH Green Room where members of the AOBO offered many kind words led by Principal Trumpet, Joshua Clarke’s formal “roast” and covering subjects ranging from collegiality, professionalism and Evans’ work as an industrial advocate on behalf of the players for many years, through to his work championing new Australian music for brass and involvement with ITG.

 

Source: Brian Evans

 

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