DATE OF LAST EDIT 16 February 2008

1986

"L'heure espangole (Ravel) 

"...Brian Evans was absolutely spot on in his characterization of the forgetful Torquemada, the clockmaker..."

David Gyger (Opera Australia)

1987

"The Rape Of Lucretia" (Britten)  Opera Mode

"...Brian Evans was an exemplary male chorus, using his splendid tenor  to great effect both musically and to covey emotional involvement in the unfolding drama."

David Gyger, Opera Australia

1992

"Le Roi David"  Contemporary Singers St Mary's North Sydney

"...tenor Brian Evans sang with flair and stylish voice control"

Fred Blanks, Sydney Morning Herald

2003

ITG Conference Fort Worth

Brian Evans lecture entitled “The Operatic Trumpet, Life in the pits…” began with a short history of his experiences as a member of Opera Australia and The Australian Ballet. He shared with his audience a wealth of experience and insight regarding equipment, playing in the orchestra pit, and ballet and opera orchestra performance demands.

2004

Fanfare by Carolyn Johns provided the energy to keep the program moving forward. Scored for 10-piece brass ensemble, this work was written in a heroic style and received an energetic performance that was rhythmically secure and well balanced. (GM)  (ITG 2004 Conference - BE conducting

2005

Thursday, June 23
3:00 pm - PRESENTATION: Brian Evans
“A Singer’s Approach to Trumpet Playing”
with Sandra Arndt, piano
Grand Hotel Grand Ballroom

Kari Brooks, reporter

From “ta, ta, ta” to “fa, la, la,” every musician searches for ways to make playing and singing easier. But what if you could find similarities in both, therefore creating one universal approach and killing two birds with one stone? That has been Brian Evans’ angle of attack for years. Having been blessed with both a powerful tenor voice and a beautiful trumpet sound, Evans definitely received the good end of the gene pool. He now teaches others his voice techniques and how to apply them to playing the trumpet in order to improve sound, breathing, and fluidity.

Brian swaps trumpet for voice in some Donnizetti

Evans starts out by singing an excerpt from Caro mio ben by Tommaso Giordani, in which he displayed his wonderful diction and style. Singing, he explained, is nothing more than simply speaking and breathing on a pitch. The only thing about a voice as opposed to a trumpet is that you only get one!

When we were younger our teachers told us to sing through our instruments. With this in mind, Brian showed the audience how when he sings, he focuses his sound through the resonant point, or “mask,” which is in the eyes and nose area of the skull. The same applies to playing trumpet…one should focus on putting sound through the horn’s resonance, not just into it.

As the lecture continued, Evans discussed how to emulate the smoothness of a voice through the trumpet and also how to seamlessly transition from one note to the next, without the “flup” in between. He also talked of how to find the sweet spot in your playing/voice.

Playing Charlier 2nd study with Nick Reefman

Brian Evans proved that there is much to be gained by thinking outside of the box. By incorporating different techniques and approaching things in a new light, immediate progress and insight is sure to be found.

"Brian’s presentation on a Singer’s Approach to Trumpet Playing at the 2005 conference in Bangkok was quite informative and helped myself and the others attending to approach our instrument in a new and exciting manner."

Jeff Piper, ITG President 2005-2007

2008

China Trumpet Guild Conference

   " Over 300 trumpet performers, teachers, exhibitors and students gathered on the campus of the Xing Hai Conservatory of Music in Guangzhou, China from May 14- 18, 2008 to participate in this third annual trumpet conference.  Sponsored by the China Trumpet Guild, this event included the premier of a major trumpet competition featuring competitors from several Asian countries. 
    "Artists at the event included Zhonghui Dai (China), William Pfund (USA), Bai Lin (China),  Zhu Yaozhou, (China), Steven Leisring (USA), Joseph Bowman (Thailand), Brian Evans (Australia), Gene Aitken (USA) Vincent DiMartino (USA), Chen Rui (China), and Rebecca Wilt (USA).
    "Master Class sessions were held by all of the artists in attendance, and provided student participants with an opportunity to perform and receive feedback.  Of particular note was ITG Secretary Brian Evans' presentation on the role of trumpet in Opera, featuring sound files from operas recorded at the world famous Sydney Opera House. "

Joseph Bowman - ITG Journal

Le Conteur (James Klages) gets its Asian Premiere.  Yuanyuantu is the fabulous pianist

Brian with others judges of the 2008 Asian International Trumpet Competition

Premiere - Concertstuk for trumpet and Piano (Michiel Irik)  (Opera Australia Brass Concert Nov 30 2008)

"THANK YOU for your kind words about the piece. I have no doubt in my mind that you would have rendered a most inspired musical performance of the highest standard. (And I don't say this lightly, because I have heard you play on SO MANY OCCASIONS since our Sydney University days and you have always been aware and musically intuitive, technically fluent and intonationally and articulation secure.)"  Mikiel Irik, on missing the performance

"Another brass playing composer, Michael Irik composed Concertstuk for Trumpet in 1997.  Brian Evans and John Martin opened this dramatic piece in phenomenal fashion.  I believe that this piece should be in every trumpeter’s repertoire.  Brian was brilliant and the conversations between the trumpet and the piano were outstanding"    Julie Simonds - ATG and ITG Journals

Opera Australia Brass L-R  Joshua Clarke; Gregory van der Struik; Brett Page;

Victoria Chatterley; Brian Evans

For More Information Contact:

THE BRASS STUDIO
1 Chifley Close Wahroonga NSW 2076
Tel: 61-2-94896940
FAX: 61-2-94896940
Internet: evansdietz@optushome.com.au