Brass Fusion offers a unique musical experience for senior brass players, welcoming those from grade 4 to grade 8+ along with additional members as needed. This dynamic ensemble blends brass instruments with drums, keyboards, bass guitar, and occasional vocals to explore genres like Funk, Jazz, Blues, Rock, Pop, Ska, and R&B, allowing players to expand their musical horizons.
Brass Fusion runs on Saturday mornings, 10.45am-12.15pm, at Brookfield Community School
The group also performs at external engagements, providing valuable real-world experience that enhances stage presence and builds confidence. With its collaborative atmosphere, Brass Fusion encourages experimentation and growth, making it an exciting and enriching part of the CNEDMC community.
Meet the director: Ian Batley

Ian is a professional trumpet/cornet player, conductor, arranger and educator. He completed his training under brass luminaries including Phillip McCann and Major Peter Parkes. As a player he has performed in all the major brass band competitions at Championship level including the British Open, English Masters and National Championship finals. He has also recorded and broadcast work on BBC Radio 2 (Listen To The Band) and live on BBC Radio 3 and ITV. A veteran of nearly 150 theatre productions he is a well known face in pit orchestras across the East Midlands And beyond. His specialised musicological area is big band history and development, spending a number of years as a member of professional bands including the Memphis Belle Swing Orchestra and Harry Bence’s Squadronaires. Currently he is Head of Music at Chilwell School in Nottingham as well as tutoring A level, GCSE and music theory online. In 2009 he was part of the team that founded the Peak Wind Orchestra and still serves as principal trumpet and co-musical director. He has been involved in ensemble opportunities for young people in Chesterfield since the 1990’s where he attended music centre as a student, and later as a staff member. He has two children who currently attend CNEDMC.
Learn more about Brass Fusion!
Read more about the group or if you want to come and try it for a rehearsal, please get in touch with us!