Favela Brass

Favela Brass is a free music school for underprivileged children from the Pereira da Silva favela and neighboring public schools in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Founded in 2014 by British trumpeter Tom Ashe, the school provides instrumental music classes (wind and percussion) and early childhood music education to 150 students between ages five and 15. Favela Brass focuses on the study of both Brazilian and American music, namely traditional samba from Rio and New Orleans’ jazz. In concert, Favela Brass regularly features two groups: the Fanfarra Collective, composed of 15 intermediate students playing popular Brazilian tunes, and the Favela Brass Band, consisting of ten advanced students playing samba and second line music (often performing Rebirth Brass Band and Hot 8 Brass Band arrangements from New Orleans). The Favela Brass Band was featured on BBC News coverage of the 2016 Olympics opening ceremony in which it performed its own version of “Chariots of Fire.” Favela Brass has also been featured extensively in international mainstream media, including The Guardian, AJ+, O Globo, The Rio Times, and more. Classes at Favela Brass take place three times per week in the early afternoon and evenings. The instruments used at the school have been supplied by a generous group of local and international donors. Favela Brass’ teaching staff includes accomplished professional musicians such as percussionist Carlos Henrique da Silva “Mangueirinha” from the renown Vila Isabel Samba School, as well as a range of volunteers from Rio and around the world.