Who?

Slide Action is a multi-award winning quartet, formed in 2018 by a group of friends with the aspiration of developing the trombone quartet into something different.

Passionate about creating a new voice for the trombone they regularly commission new music from composers, collaborate with other musicians and create their own arrangements.

Slide Action have just released their debut album RE:BUILD to critical acclaim. The CD entered the UK specialist classical charts at no.5 and won BBC Music Magazine’s Recording of the Month for December 2024.

Within a year of its conception the quartet won first prize in the International Trombone Association Quartet competition at the 2019 International Trombone Festival. In the following year, they achieved first prize in the prestigious Royal Over-Seas League Mixed Ensemble competition 2020, and were also awarded the Philip Jones Prize for Outstanding Brass Ensemble. Recent engagements include premiering their new show - ‘Rebuilding the Trombone’ at the 2022 Aldeburgh Festival, and a 7 concert tour of Switzerland in October 2023.

In Summer 2021 Slide Action were announced as 2021/22 Britten Pears Young Artists where they took part in a year long visiting residency at Snape Maltings, collaborating with other world class performers and composers, strengthening their commitment to new music.

During the summer of 2022 Slide Action performed the world premiere of Robin Haigh’s concerto for 4 trombones and orchestra ‘THE DREAMERS’ alongside the Britten Pears Contemporary Ensemble and conductor Jonathan Berman.

They recently made their debut for the Barber Concerts Society with their show ‘Rebuilding the Trombone’, and will be recording their first album in February 2024.

Aside from their own recent album release, Slide Action’s recording portfolio continues to grow, recently they featured on the the solo album release from James Fountain, Principal trumpet of the London Symphony Orchestra, and featured on Merton College Choir’s latest album recording of a major new work by Gabriel Jackson, conducted by Benjamin Nicholas.

The members of Slide Action are all professional trombonists; working with orchestras, bands and shows all across the UK and Europe.

Collectively they have worked with the Royal Philharmonic, Royal Opera House Covent Garden, London Philharmonic, London Symphony, Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Aurora, BBC Symphony, BBC Philharmonic, Hallé, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Opera North, City of Birmingham Symphony and Welsh National Opera Orchestras, to name but a few. Furthermore, they have also worked in the pits of the West End on shows such as Fiddler on the Roof and Phantom of the Opera.

Slide Action is very proud and thankful to be supported by Denis Wick Products Ltd. They perform exclusively on Wick mouthpieces and mutes.

“Their artistry and virtuosity is dazzling. I am reminded of the best vocal close-harmony groups in the precision of their ensemble, the balance of their sound, and the charm and intelligence of their presentation.”

-Michael Chance CBE

Artistic Director - Grange Festival