Ashley Brown Photo: RNZ/Tim Dodd
Ashley Brown is saying goodbye to NZTrio, but he hasn't bid farewell to all music just yet.
Brown has been the cellist with the ensemble - which he helped to found - since its beginning in 2002.
Now, 23 years later, he feels it's the right time to move on, although as Section Principal of the Auckland Philharmonia cellos, he'll remain a big part of the New Zealand classical music scene.
Brown looked back on his time in NZTrio with RNZ Concert host Bryan Crump, starting with the decision to set it up with fellow Auckland Philharmonia player, violinist Justine Cormack.
They were joined by pianist Sarah Watkins, then recently back from living in the United States.
The original line-up: Justine Cormack, Sarah Watkins and AshleyBrown. Photo: Supplied
Right from the start, Brown says, the group wanted to play work by fellow New Zealanders, and he shared a selection of NZTrio recordings of mostly Kiwi composers during his conversation with Crump.
They included works by Gareth Farr, Alex Taylor, and Brown's partner in life, Victoria Kelly.
He also talked about the search for a new violinist and pianist when Cormack and Watkins themselves moved on - a search which eventually lead to the current line-up of Brown, violinist Amalia Hall and pianist Somi Kim.
NZTrio 2025, Somi Kim, Amalia Hall and Ashley Brown. Photo: Jen Raoult-ClairObscur
Brown's last performance with NZTrio will be next month, but he'll continue leading the Auckland Philharmonia cellos.
In the meantime, you can see Brown performing with the trio this month in Hamilton, in Auckland (including a gig at the Auckland Arts Festival) and at Womad Aotearoa where NZTrio will join forces with the indie pop group, The Veils.
Brown's last public performance with NZTrio will be at the Wanaka Festival of Colour in early April.
