Introducing
Neoteric Ensemble
Neoteric Ensemble is a dynamic, original group of the UK’s leading brass and saxophone players founded by Toby Street and Adrian Miotti, also including James Fountain, Rob Buckland, Sarah Field and Richard Watkin. Our players have performed with many of the UK’s finest ensembles including the BBC Big Band, John Wilson Orchestra and have recorded with many world renowned Jazz Pop and Film artists and in November 2023 the group launched their debut album at Pizza Express Jazz club, London.
Neoteric offers a fusion of Jazz, African and Latin influences through its distinct line-up of brass and saxophones, performing new and original music. Our rules are simple: we seek out to perform new and exciting compositions and projects that inspire both us and our audiences.
Neoteric’s first album Volume 1 landed in November 2023 and has been described as “A feast for the ears” and “One of the most successful and convincing projects of its kind” and has been described by James Morrison (Trumpet/Presenter) as “a truly unique and outstanding band”
The album has featured already on Jazz FM, Scala Radio, BBC Radio 3's Record Review, Breakfast and live on InTune.
Our group is deeply committed to both performance and education, and we are passionate about sharing our expertise with the next generation. We aim to inspire and engage students by offering a masterclass which explores various aspects of the music, including:
Approaching chamber music
Navigating the music industry
Performance techniques and guidance
Developing individual technique/musicality on instruments
Creating new compositions and works
Effective communication within music
Our ensemble features accomplished musicians, including professors from leading music conservatories and experienced educators with extensive backgrounds in secondary school music teaching.
We offer a range of tailored workshops designed to meet the unique needs of your students, and we would be happy to collaborate with you to create a program that aligns with your school’s needs. More details on our workshop options are provided below.
We can also link our project to current A level or GCSE criteria as all our music can be arranged specially for each project.
Our Workshops
We have a number of different workshops/masterclasses that we can provide for your educational establishment details of which are listed below.
Compositional Workshop
A unique workshop aimed at writing compositions for this specific ensemble with the object to have compositions rehearsed and played through by Neoteric Ensemble.
The ensemble is made up of a Tuba, Trombone, 2 Trumpets and 2 saxophones. Composition students will be required to write short pieces in advance of the workshop for our instrumentation with a maximum length of 5 minutes.
We choose 6 compositions and run a 3 hour workshop taking them a part
20 mins for each composition
Play through piece, talk about how the writing process could be improved.
Discussion points:
Idiomatic writing
Correct markings for dynamics, articulation and expression
Harmonic voicing
Structure
Conversations about our instruments and including extended techniques.
Masterclass
A 3 hour masterclass for instrumentalists. Students will get the opportunity to perform repetoire of their choosing in both a solo setting or in a chamber music setting. Two or more of our group will be able to give guidance into many different areas of music performance including:
Correct Preparation
Performance Anxiety and Fears
Stage presence
Advance Technique for instruments
Chamber Music
A 3 hour workshop for instrumentalists where students get the opportunity to play some of our own music either side by side with Neoteric Players or on as an ensemble of students.
Discussion points:
Approaches to learning new music
Sight reading brand new parts
Creating your own take on music that has been played before
Taking rehearsal to the next level
Providing feedback to composers
This workshop would require a minimum of two of our players depending on the standard of the students and the amount of students on
Combined Neoteric Concert Performance
Any of these workshops can be can be followed by a concert on the same day where students will get the opportunity to play alongside our world class musicians. The group are able to offer music which has been specially composed to feature students and has a wide range of ability levels covered.