Madras Brass is a unique Indian ensemble reinventing Tamil folk and film music through the vibrant medium of brass. The group is led by young musicians from The Sunshine Orchestra, an outreach project spearheaded by the A. R. Rahman Foundation in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
Blending the powerful sound of brass with the rich traditions of Tamil culture, Madras Brass presents a fresh, energetic take on beloved music. Created by Tamil musicians to celebrate and propagate Tamil folk and film music, the ensemble brings these traditions to life in a fun and engaging way.
The ensemble also specialises in a wider musical spectrum, including Tamil folk, Pop, Film, Bollywood, Jazz, Western Classical as well as regular film recording work. Madras Brass strives to entertain audiences of all ages through music, theatrics, and audience participation. Follow Madras Brass on Instagram
The ensemble has performed at notable events and venues including the Goa Jazz Festival, the Bangalore Jazz Festival, the Pune Music Society, Victoria Hall in Chennai, live concerts with A. R. Rahman, multiple film audio launches, and international appearances at the Aga Khan Museum and Living Arts Centre in Toronto, Canada, in addition to numerous private and corporate events. Madras Brass also offers interactive educational and outreach workshops for audiences of all ages, with a focus on Tamil folk stories reimagined through live musical performance.
A truly unique experience, Madras Brass proudly shares Tamil culture and heritage with audiences around the world.
Madras Brass is deeply committed to sharing music with the wider community. Since 2023, the ensemble has been delivering weekly interactive music workshops in partnership with Teach For India
During the 2025–2026 school year, the group partnered with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music Play On! program to provide 100 government school students with music sessions over the course of an entire academic year.
Members of Madras Brass have also participated in community music education training modules at the KM Music Conservatory to further develop their teaching skills. In addition, they serve as educators within the Sunshine Orchestra ecosystem, mentoring and guiding the next generation of young musicians.
Madras Brass provides engaging and educational music workshops tailored for schools, community groups, and cultural organisations.
Our workshops include:
Our core aim is to create meaningful musical participation, allowing students to experience the excitement of making music together with a professional ensemble.
For bookings or further information please contact Lisa on +91-7358196821 or Email: lisa@arrahmanfoundation.org