*
banner

4BR Monday Interview with Frank Mathison

The great brass musician Frank Mathison performs his final chord aged 93 as he retires from playing...

Mathison
  Frank Mathison has enjoyed a remarkable musical career.

Can't see the audio player below? Visit soundcloud.com/4barsrest

4BR Editor Iwan Fox chats to 93 year old Frank Mathison, who has decided to retire from playing after enjoying a truly remarkable musical career.

He talks about how he started playing somewhat by accident — and on cornet — before he got fed up in the army and decided to change instrument. Given the choice of a bassoon or an old G Trombone — he chose the latter.

And with that he went on to enjoy performing with the City of Birmingham and the London Symphony Orchestra — the latter for 30 years under some of the greatest orchestral conductors of the century — including Georg Solti.

He looks back on his career as well as the future, which he hopes will include coming to listen to the bands at the Yorkshire Regional Championships in 2022.

Image: Lorne Campbell

Become a supporter and help make our future secure.

4barsrest continues to be a proudly independent voice. There are no paywalls to overcome to be able to enjoy what we do to keep our journalism at the heart of the brass banding world. Support us with a one-off donation or subscribe from just £2.50 per month.

Support us    


Imogen Whitehead

Interview with Imogen Whitehead

June 11 • 4BR catches up with the trumpet and flugel soloist ahead of her appearances at the Ryedale Festival — which includes the world premiere of a new flugel concerto with the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.


Open

Demand high for British Open tickets

June 11 • Tickets for the 2026 British Open are being snapped up well ahead of the event in September.


Fodens

Jeffers takes horn lead at Foden's

June 11 • Grace Jeffers makes the solo horn seat her own at the North West champion.


Cory

Cory add Hutcherson experience to cornet section

June 11 • The experienced Jeff Hutcherson has joined the Welsh champion from BTM Band.


Regent Hall Concerts - Take 5 Brass Quintet

Friday 12 June • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Sherborne Town Band - Celebrating the Music of Malcolm Bennett

Sunday 14 June • Venue-Mark Village Hall, Vole Road, Mark-TA9 4NY. . TA9 4NY


Barnsley Brass - Black Dyke Band

Thursday 25 June • St Mary's Church. Church Street. Barnsley S70 2AH


Regent Hall Concerts - Junior Guildhall Brass Band

Friday 26 June • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - The Royal Sackbut Collective

Friday 26 June • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Linthwaite Band

June 11 • We are currently looking for a flugel horn player to help complete our team. We are a 4th section contesting band, with a busy schedule of contests and engagements coming up throughout the year.


Linthwaite Band

June 11 • We would like to find a tenor trombone player, position negotiable, to fill a current vacancy we have. As a 4th section contesting band, we have a various programme of contests and engagements to fill this year, and keep us busy.


Linthwaite Band

June 11 • We are a friendly 4th section contesting band with a vacancy for a front row cornet player. Our diary is filling up with various engagements and contests for the year, so we are keen to fill the position.


Stephen Phillips

MA, BA (Homs), PQSI, NPQH, PGCE
Conductor, Band Trainer, Educator, Compere


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd