Bram Gay

Who is Bram Gay?

Bram Gay born 1930 in Treorchy, Glamorgan was an important trumpet player and brass band enthusiast. He was the youngest ever principal trumpet player in the UK, and also the shortest man ever to play in the Scots Guards band. He played at the funeral of King George VI and the coronation of Elizabeth II. Went on to the CBSO as first trumpet, then to the Halle as first trumpet under Sir John Barbirolli.

Barbirolli died in 1970 and all the principals cleared out. Gay went to Covent Garden as 3rd trumpet, which he played for four years, after which he was offered the position of orchestra director, working with Sir Georg Solti, Colin Davis and finally Bernard Haitink. He was published extensively by Novello Music Publishing Ltd.

He has also done some extraordinary work for Brass bands in the UK, not least arranging the entire score of Mozart's "The Magic Flute" and Beethoven's 3rd symphony for brass band, as well as frequently conducting bands in Wales and Sweden.

Further to the above, he also arranged the music for the wedding of Charles and Diana.