Profiles 

Benjamin Barby

Bass Trombone
Benjamin is a third-generation trombone player who grew up in Hamilton, Ontario. He started playing the violin and the trombone at age eight. He later switched from violin to viola, studying with Peggy Hill. He played with the Hamilton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra for nine seasons, the first year playing viola and the remaining eight playing tenor and bass trombone. He studied privately with Antol Dvorak and Larry Issacson. While still in grade 12, Benjamin spent the summer playing with the band of Ceremonial Guard for the changing of the guard in Ottawa. That fall he moved permanently to bass trombone. During his final year of high school, Benjamin auditioned for the Armed Forces. He passed the audition but as there was a hiring freeze he decided to study music at Mohawk College. He attended classes at Mohawk for one day when he got a call from the Armed Forces saying there was now a space for him. He accepted the position and studied for one year at the Armed Forces music school in Victoria BC. He was then posted to the Vimy Band in Kingston for six years where he was a featured soloist, teacher and clinician.

After a brief interlude, Benjamin joined the Georgian Bay Symphony for the 2002-2003 season. This is his third season with GBS. In addition to playing with GBS, Benjamin has performed with the Stardust Big Band, the Georgian Sound Big Band and the Chapel Winds. When he is not playing his trombone, Benjamin is a talented web designer, who created GBS’s website. His own website is www.bbarby.com.


Brian Neve

Brian Neve was born in England. At the age of five, his father began to teach him how to play a cornet. Raised in the Salvation Army, Brian joined the Young Peoples Band, learning to play a variety of brass instruments. At age thirteen, he began to focus on the trombone. Guided and encouraged by various musicians in the Salvation Army, he honed his skills, practicing endless hours and researching different techniques suggested by professional trombone players (e.g. Don Lusher, J.J. Johnson).

He arrived in Canada in 1974 and joined the Owen Sound Salvation Army Senior Band, and eventually became leader of the Youth Band. Some years later, he found himself leader of the Senior Band, directing this group for two and a half years. Never losing his joy of teaching children, Brian continued to encourage and guide young students. He still gives lessons, participates as a teacher at the Salvation Army Music Camp at Camp Newport, conducts the Youth Band and supports his students as they learn to play a brass
instrument.

Joining the Georgian Bay Symphony has given Brian the opportunity to play the music he so enjoys. As a lover of classical music, Brian is enjoying this opportunity to explore the orchestral repertoire he has enjoyed for so many years. For this, he is most grateful.