One of Aotearoa New Zealand's leading french horn players, Alex Morton is in demand as a soloist, chamber, and orchestral musician, performance coach, brass teacher, and musical director.

Upon finishing his Bachelor of Music at the New Zealand School of Music in Wellington, Alex moved to Melbourne after successfully auditioning for the Australian National Academy of Music where, during his six years in Melbourne, he studied with and performed alongside some of the greatest musicians alive today. Immediately after finishing his studies at ANAM, Alex auditioned for and won a contract with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. Since then he has held contracts as Principal Horn with Orchestra Victoria, as Associate-Principal with the West Australian and Christchurch Symphony Orchestras, and has guested with every major symphony orchestra across Australia and New Zealand.

Alex is also a founding member of the internationally-acclaimed Morton Trio, who, after multiple tours throughout Aotearoa and the UK, recorded their debut album with Atoll Records in 2024.

Alex is currently the Music Director of 50s Up Brass Band and the Middleton Grange School Orchestras, and has seen tremendous success in the development of these wonderful ensembles, with both groups experiencing major growth in membership and quality alike.

As a performance coach, Alex has worked with musicians and athletes, helping them to develop a mindset that will enable them to perform at their best under pressure. His clients have won professional orchestral jobs in New Zealand and as far away as Europe, and placed in prestigious universities across the globe.

Ryan Peni is a tuba soloist with a passion for expanding how people experience low brass. From concert halls to community stages, Ryan’s music speaks to movement, story, and soul. With a creative voice shaped by Aotearoa, his work is helping redefine what the tuba can be in today’s musical landscape. This is the tuba, reimagined.

Based in North Canterbury, Ryan is a dynamic presence in modern brass performance, drawing on influences from classical, cinematic, jazz, and funk traditions.

Alongside his performance career, Ryan is a passionate educator who works with brass students of all levels through lessons, workshops, and masterclasses, both in person and online.

Originally from Rotorua, Ryan picked up the tuba at age 14 through a school music programme. Within a few years, he had earned national titles, principal chairs in New Zealand’s top youth ensembles, and toured internationally. A pivotal time with the New Zealand Army Band followed, before he moved into freelance music and eventually extended his creativity into business ventures, spanning facilities management, shared workspaces, and SaaS.

Today, Ryan continues to elevate the tuba’s profile celebrating its richness, versatility, and expressive range through performance, education, and collaboration. His work invites audiences to see the tuba not just as support, but as a compelling lead voice with something to say.

Ryan is an Eastman Performing Artist and plays a EBE853 Tuba and a Laskey Mouthpiece.

Tyme Marsters is a proud Kiwi and Cook Islander who began his musical journey on cornet at the age of 10 years old in the South Island town of Westport. 

As a young 17-year-old Tyme moved to Christchurch to join the New Zealand Army Band. During his 20-year career with the New Zealand Army Band, Tyme held many positions including acting Bandmaster and enjoyed an array of musical experiences around the globe. After his military career, Tyme became the founder and tutor of Brass Factory Canterbury. Here, Tyme utilises his extensive experience and passion for teaching as a full-time brass educator. Tyme was Music Director of Woolston Brass from 2015-2024 and is very proud of the band’s success at multiple contests as well as the many special concert performances during his tenure.

As a soloist Tyme has an impressive record of success, including winning twelve national titles with nine of those on flugelhorn, along winning the coveted Champion of Champions title in 2008. Tyme has also represented New Zealand as a cornet and flugel horn player in two National Youth Bands and seven National Bands. Most recently, Tyme has just finished a three-year term as the Music Director of the National Youth Band of New Zealand. 

Outside of music, Tyme enjoys spending quality time with his wife and children and takes a keen interest in the arts and all things sport.

Tyme is privileged to be involved in this year’s Brass Blast and is very much looking forward to tutoring all who participate.