In October, Stockholm Chamber Brass returns to Konserthuset Stockholm with the concert series New Friday, as well as a celebration of the musical connection between Scotland, Ireland, Sweden and Estonia, presented via The Night With… series in Scotland.

Since the group’s formation in 1988, by five young musicians who simply envisioned playing chamber music together, Stockholm Chamber Brass have led the way in brass chamber music.

With funding from the Royal Swedish Academy of Music, the musicians travelled to Narbonne in France to perform at the International Competition for Brass Quintets. To their surprise, the group won. This was the start of a successful career as one of the world’s leading brass ensembles.

Over the years, the quintet has developed new and original repertoires, and commissioned over 60 compositions, many of which have gone on to become amongst the most frequently performed original works for brass quintets around the world.

Stockholm Chamber Brass: Innovative sound from a world-leading brass quintet

Festivals and critically acclaimed albums

To date, Stockholm Chamber Brass have recorded seven critically acclaimed albums, including the classics of the quintet genre, a collection of renaissance songs and dances, and their latest album OPEN, a selection of their latest commissions. The group regularly performs around the world, including at major festivals such as Bad Kissingen Sommer and Schleswig-Holstein Festival, both held in Germany.

“What probably makes us stand out is that we’ve maintained a different kind of profile to other brass groups,” says Jonas Bylund, one of the founding members who is also trombone professor at the Hochschule für Musik Theater und Medien in Hannover, as well as at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo. “The brass ensemble culture originated in England in the 19th century and spread through industrial communities. As there hasn’t been a lot of new original music for brass, we wanted to take a different stance in creating our own repertoire, and we often perform with completely new pieces.”

Stockholm Chamber Brass: Innovative sound from a world-leading brass quintet

New Friday at Konserthuset Stockholm

True to its pioneering approach, Stockholm Chamber Brass will make a highly anticipated return to Konserthuset Stockholm on 3 October with a programme of contemporary music. In the concert series New Friday (Ny fredag), the group explores the innovative music of today, with no less than two world premieres in store for audiences.

“This is a concert series for the curious listener,” says Bylund. “We open with British composer Piers Hellawell’s Sound Carvings from the Bell Foundry, which is a melodically exploratory, quite meditative, and at times explosive work.”

Hellawell will be followed by Swedish composer Jenny Hettne’s Mycorrhizal Network, with new sounds from traditional instruments, and trombone soloist Ivo Nilsson’s Pneuma, a spectacular piece composed with humour – both will be world-first performances. “If you haven’t heard classic brass before, New Friday will be a different kind of music experience with new and intriguing sounds.”

Stockholm Chamber Brass: Innovative sound from a world-leading brass quintet

The Night With… in Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh

Also in October, Stockholm Chamber Brass will take part in a special evening celebrating the musical connections between Scotland, Ireland, Sweden, and Estonia.

Presented by The Night With… in collaboration with Glasgow Life, the programme has a similar set up to New Friday, with another brand-new work by Matthew Whiteside alongside Jenny Hettne’s and Piers Hellawell’s works, and Eino Tamberg’s dynamic Music for 5. If you happen to be in Scotland, head to Glasgow on 6 October, Aberdeen on 7 October, or Edinburgh on 8 October.

Stockholm Chamber Brass has a busy schedule lined up, with concerts in Singapore, Malaysia and Germany awaiting, and the group is also planning to release another record next year. “What drives us? It probably has a lot to do with independence,” reflects Bylund. “We decide ourselves what concerts to do, which programme to play, and how we play. There’s a massive sense of freedom in that – we’re like our own rock band.”

Renowned for being some of the leading brass educators in Europe, the group decided to establish their own academy in 2016. Bringing brass students and existing brass ensembles to Sweden, Stockholm Chamber Brass Academy offers an opportunity for performers to develop their skills with one of the world’s leading brass quintets during a series of masterclasses, workshops, and concerts. The dates for the 2026 Academy are still to be confirmed.

Stockholm Chamber Brass: Innovative sound from a world-leading brass quintet

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Upcoming concerts with Stockholm Chamber Brass:

New Friday, Konserthuset Stockholm, 3 October

The Night With… Glasgow 6 October, Aberdeen 7 October, Edinburgh 8 October

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