The death has been reported of Bram Gregson, the highly respected British born conductor, trainer, educator and adjudicator, who emigrated to Canada in 1964.
Naturally gifted
Speaking to 4BR, his younger brother Edward Gregson said. "My brother, Bramwell Logan Gregson, or just 'Bram' as he preferred to be called, was a naturally gifted and intuitive musician.
He was a self taught to a degree, although of course his three years spent in the Band of the Coldstream Guards as Principal Euphonium in the middle to late 1950s gave him a solid grounding in the basic rudiments and theory of music.
It also gave him a wide knowledge of the core wind band repertoire, including many transcriptions of orchestral classics, as well as an understanding of what a quality wind ensemble sounded like.
After he emigrated to Canada in 1964 his work as the Bandmaster of the London Citadel Band (LCB), Music Director of Intrada Brass (which he founded together with brass playing friends in 1995), and the ten-piece brass ensemble Brass Roots, quickly established him as a leading and much respected figure in Canada, and beyond."
After he emigrated to Canada his work as the Bandmaster of the London Citadel Band, MD of Intrada Brass, and the ten-piece brass ensemble Brass Roots, quickly established him as a leading and much respected figure in Canada, and beyondEdward Gregson
Great significance
He added: "Besides our extensive family lives together, my musical relationship with him was of great significance.
I made early trips to Canada to appear as guest conductor and soloist with his band, and in 1976 when Bram asked me write a new work for the LCB's tour of the UK, which culminated in a concert at the Royal Albert Hall with the International Staff Band it resulted in 'Variations on Laudate Dominum'. I have to thank Bram for the impact of that work over the following years.
Bram's sudden passing came as a great shock to the family, but also to the wider community of brass musicians in Ontario and beyond. I will miss him terribly on a personal level (especially as he was a fervent Liverpool supporter and myself a Spurs man), but also a musical confidante and friend."
He concluded: "He knew all the music I had written and we would discuss this and that about a new work. He travelled over to be present at many of my important brass band premieres and was in Vancouver with me in 2016 when Bramwell Tovey conducted the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra in the North American premiere of my Mahlerian inspired 'Dream Song' — an unforgettable experience.
May he rest in peace."
