Three Manx brass musicians played their part in the reconfigured and socially-distant BBC Proms concerts.

Among the enforced changes to the annual series of classical concerts three well-known local trumpet players, Jason Evans, Russell Gilmour and Sam Kinrade, played their parts in the last week of the event.

Jason, in particular, played a prominent role on the evening of Wednesday, September 9, when he took centre stage to perform the strongly-featured trumpet part in Dmitri Shostakovich’s Concerto for piano, trumpet and strings (Piano Concerto No. 1) with the Philharmonia Orchestra and noted British concert pianist Benjamin Grosvenor.

Russell and Sam played first trumpet with the Aurora Orchestra the following night, performing a new piece by the British composer Richard Ayres. After an educational ’guided tour’ of the final piece of music, both performers picked up the ’natural trumpet’, a trumpet without valves, for a performance of Beethoven’s rhythmic Seventh Symphony.

Russell said that performing Beethoven’s Seventh is a challenging role for a first trumpet player and that a customary practice is to have two players in the first role, with one acting as a ’bumper’, someone who can take up the piece while the principal trumpet player takes a moment to catch his breath.

’I recommended Sam Kinrade to the conductor as he can play both modern trumpet and natural trumpet to a very high standard,’ said Russell.

’He played the modern piece by Richard Ayres in the first half, I played in the presentation, and then we both played in the Beethoven. We were both playing first trumpet in the Beethoven as, particularly the fourth movement, is relentless.’

He said the experience of performing at the iconic event and playing at an empty Albert Hall was unusual but he did feel that he was taking part in a unique event which is unlikely to be repeated.

’It is the fifth time I have appeared at the proms with the Aurora Orchestra and normally I would liken to being in a nightclub when you walk out with the orchestra, with all the ’prommers’ chatting while you set up.

’This time it was more like a recording session, with it being slightly more organised and everyone in set places.

’You do miss the audience reaction, especially with such an emotional and driven piece as Beethoven’s Seventh.

’I think this year’s proms are a fascinating piece of social history and it is certainly an experience I’ll remember for a long time.’

by Mike Wade

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