Player Biographies
Our players are among the most experienced in the business.
It would be our pleasure to put our talents to work for you.
Noel Barr
Trumpet/Cornet
Darren Barr
Trumpet/Cornet
Darren began playing cornet at the age of 6 and within a few years began to play with the local town band, St. Joseph's Brass Band. He quickly realised his passion for the band and began to excel until he reached the position of principal cornet within the band. Over the past decade he has played with Orchestras and bands alike at a prestigious level. Darren has had the great oppurtunity to play trumpet with the Ulster Youth Orchestra and more recently last year, when he played with the European Youth Brass Band in Oostende, Belgium, for the opening of the European Brass Band Championships. Darren is currently studying for a maths degree but still plays reguarly and is hoping to obtain his Diploma in performance in the coming months.
Gavin Barr
Eb Horn
Gavin Barr was born in Strabane, Co. Tyrone and began his player career with St. Joseph’s brass band at the age of eight. At the age of thirteen Gavin became the principal horn player of the band. St. Joseph’s brass band and the WELB music service is where Gavin learnt and developed his musical talent, he received his grade 8 music at the age of fifteen. At the age of eighteen he successfully auditioned for the prestigious Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, where he currently studies with tutor Lesley Howie.
Since arriving at the RNCM Gavin has concentrated and put much of his effort into his solo playing, this has resulted in him receiving high performance marks as well as being highly commended for his interschool concerto auditions. He has received lessons from some of the world’s greatest brass musicians, Roger Webster, Owen Farr, John Miller, and Steven Mead among many others. Gavin has played principal horn with the College band on many occasions over the last year, with the festival of brass in January 2009 being a highlight.
In his first year of college Gavin joined Pennine Brass where he enjoyed two successful years with the band, starting on 2 nd and moving up the ranks. In March of 2008 Gavin accepted an invitation to audition for the world famous Brighouse and Rastrick band and has now held the seat of 1 st Horn for over a year. During his time with the band Gavin has performed in most of the UK’s major concert venues and even as far as Switzerland, and is looking forward to performing at the Royal Albert Hall, London in October. Gavin has also recorded two CD’s along with the band.
Outside of College Gavin has achieved many successes. In December 2006 and 2007 he entered himself for the ABRSM diploma exams, passing both exams successfully and he hopes to undertake his Fellowship of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music in the next year. Next year Gavin plans to return to the RNCM to complete a Masters qualification after being awarded a £4000 entrance scholarship from the college, after which he wants to return to Ireland and become an instrumental teacher.
Markus Michel
Trombone
Markus was born in Arnsberg Müschede, Germany. At the age of 6 he started playing Trombone and by the age of 13, he was a member of a local band in Germany. Markus started playing organ at the age of 14. Between the years of 1984-1997 he held the position of part-time organist in various villages close to his home. In 1989 Markus sat his Bandmaster exam with great success. Leading on from this he became
Bandmaster of a wind band in Sudern-Hagen between 1995-1997.In 1999 Markus moved to N.Ireland. From 2001-2008 he was a trombonist with the Britannia Band and during this time he also played Trombone with the University of Ulster Big Band. In 2008 Markus joined St. Josephs Brass Band, winning various competitions. He is presently a student with the Open University where he is studying Music.
Noel Barr Snr
Tuba
