ONYX BRASS


According to a recent review on BBC Radio 3, Onyx Brass is a ”wonderful, virtuosic brass quintet.” Established in 1993, and soon to be celebrating their 30th Birthday, they have changed audience perceptions of what the brass ensemble is. Equally at home commissioning new music to performing the classics, or directing workshops in primary schools to delivering masterclasses at The Juilliard School, Onyx Brass is truly the brass ensemble of its generation.


Latest News

  • Holocene Live Recording Released

    16th July 2025 sees the release of NMC Recordings’ live recording of Holocene, our New Music Biennial 2025 collaboration with Ailís Ní Ríain. Recorded live at Bradford Cathedral, Ní Ríain describes it as ‘an evocative and unconventional work for professional brass quintet, community brass and…

  • Transatlantic Reviewed in Gramophone

    Its always good to receive reviews from the press and we are especially humbled to receive glowing praise from the Gramophone Magazine, one of the premier music publications.

  • Onyx Brass at the Aldeburgh Festival 2025

    What a great time we had at the Aldeburgh Festival. Not only did we give the world premiere of Benjamin Britten’s Funeral completed by Bernard Hughes, we were joined by students of Royal College of Music on both days, raising it to another level. This…


“the playing is peerless”

Gramophone Magazine


Our Recordings


“exemplary playing and ensemble”

Gareth Malone, Inside Music, BBC Radio 3



Education Work

  • A Day Trip to Repton Schools

    November saw us having a day coaching and performing with the pupils of Repton College and Prep schools in Derbyshire. We spent the daytime working with two very fine brass groups taken from each school, playing such eclectic pieces as Handel’s Music for the Royal…

  • A Day at Repton School

    In November, the group resumes its educational activities with a visit to Repton School in Derbyshire for a day of work with the brass students in ensembles and solo settings. Then we all join together in the evening for a concert of music by the…

  • Onyx Brass Announces Three Day Chamber Music Course at Benslow Music

    News hot off the press, we are delighted to announce that the group will be giving a three day chamber music coaching course at Benslow Music this spring. Situated in rural Hertfordshire and covering the multi-faceted world of playing in a brass chamber group, there…