Gareth Brown began playing the piano at the age of 4, trombone at the age of 7 and drums and percussion at the age of 10. Also at the age of 10 he wrote his first piece of music (a duet for flute and trombone to play with his sister), and began playing in the National Children's Orchestra. Throughout his teenage years, he also played in the Stockport and Cheshire Youth Orchestras.
He went on to study music at Goldsmiths' College, University of London, graduating in 1994, and whilst he was there, he obtained a diploma in trombone teaching from the Royal College of Music.
Since then, Gareth has had a career as a brass teacher, something which he has done for over 20 years now. He teaches at the King's School in Macclesfield, Altrincham Grammar School for Boys, Eaton Bank Academy in Congleton and the Macclesfield Music Centre. He also runs and assists in the running of various brass and jazz groups at the King’s School in Macclesfield. He has been the principal trombonist in the Wilmslow Symphony Orchestra since 1996, and plays in a number of other orchestras in the area on a more occasional basis, along with various brass quintets and 10-piece brass ensembles. In 2014, Gareth joined the VBS Poynton Brass Band (a Championship Section band), where he now holds the Solo Trombone position.
Gareth is a committed Christian, and had the wonderful opportunity of being able to bring his faith and musicianship together when he found himself in the position of being able to start a marching band in the town of Jinja in Uganda, with frequent trips there between 2002 and 2006 taking out brass instruments. The Jinja Nile Brass Band is still going strong to this day.
Gareth lives in Handforth and attends his local church, St. Chad's, Church of England, where he is the Director of Church Music, and can usually be found playing the piano on a Sunday morning. He also organises an annual Chamber Music Concert there, as well as assembling a Brass Ensemble in the centre of Handforth every Christmas Eve to accompany a Churches Together in Handforth Carol Singing event (“Carols in the Paddock”).
Over the years, Gareth has composed and arranged music on an occasional basis for various groups, including jazz-style arrangements and worship songs. It is an area of his musical life which he is looking to develop, particularly as he has access to a wide variety of groups in which to try out new pieces.
Gareth is married to Tracy and they have a white West Highland Terrier dog named Mackintosh, and a horse called Walter, who is stabled close to where they live.
