DAVID BREMNER

David Bremner is Principal trombone of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, a position he has held since 2002. Prior to this appointment, he was principal trombone of the Auckland Philharmonia.
Born in New Plymouth, David began his early musical studies on cornet and euphonium under the tutelage of his father. After moving to Trombone he went on to graduate with honours from Victoria University of Wellington studying with Marc Taddei. He was awarded the prestigious Patricia Pratt Scholarship to study at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and graduated with a Master of Music degree studying with Mark Lawrence. During this time he was a finalist in the Gisborne Music Competition, placed 3rd in the NZ Young Musicians Competition, and won the Shenson Young Musicians competition in California.
As a soloist, David has performed concertos with the NZ Symphony Orchestra, including the world premier of Gareth Farrs trombone concerto, and recorded Lyell Cresswells concerto ‘Kaia’ for Naxos Records. He has also been a featured soloist with the Auckland Philharmonia, many NZ and Australian bands, the National Youth Brass Band of NZ on their international tour of 2003, and with the National Brass Band of NZ on their 2005 European Tour.
In 2009 his debut solo CD Gung-Ho, featuring the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and the National Brass Band of NZ, received the Classical Music Award at the Vodafone NZ Music Awards.
A versatile musician, David has recorded with the New Zealand rock band ‘Crowded House’, performed with the Fodens Richardson and Desford Brass Bands in the UK, and the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra and Bay Brass, as well as being a founding member of ‘Bonanza’ Trombone Quartet.
He is the Trombone tutor at the New Zealand School of Music, Music Director of the Pelorus Trust Wellington Brass Band and was a member of the ‘Dancing with the Stars’ band.

ADAM CHALABI

Adam Chalabi is Concertmaster of Orchestra Victoria, Melbourne, Australia- a position he has held since August 2009. He is also first violinist of the Tinalley String Quartet which has performed to critical acclaim all over the world. Adam was recently appointed to the faculty of the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) and is also faculty member at the University of Melbourne and Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School.

Born in 1977 Adam Chalabi began his violin studies at the age of 4 with the Suzuki Method. He subsequently attended the junior department of Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the Purcell School of Music before completing his studies at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester under the tutelage of Maciej Rakowski.

In 2001 Adam won a position in the Zuerich Chamber Orchestra 1st violin group and in 2004 moved to the position of Principal 2nd violin. In Switzerland he also worked as Principal 2nd violin in Camerata Bern and Orchestre de la Suisse Romande and more recently as Guest Concertmaster of Symphonieorchester Vorarlberg in Austria and Suedwestdeutsches Kammerorchester Pforzheim in Germany.

Adam has appeared as soloist with the Zuerich Chamber Orchestra in performances of Bach, Vivaldi and Schnittke Concerti and has given performances of Nielsen Violin Concerto in England and Sweden and the Alban Berg Chamber Concerto.

Adam plays on an 1805 Joseph Panormo violin purchased from Sotheby’s auction house with considerable luck and very little judgement! He is also very grateful to have been supported by the Countess of Munster, Ian Fleming and Lawrence Atwell Charitable Foundations.