This series documents students from Favela Brass, a free music school based in the Pereira da Silva favela in Rio de Janeiro.

Founded in 2014 by British trumpeter Tom Ashe, the school provides instrumental music education to young people from the local community and neighbouring public schools, offering training in wind and percussion instruments alongside early childhood music programmes. Drawing influence from Rio’s traditional samba and the improvisational spirit of New Orleans jazz, Favela Brass creates a space where musical education becomes a tool for confidence, discipline, and collective identity.

The portraits were made around the school and throughout the surrounding neighbourhood, placing the students within the environments that shape their daily lives. Rather than isolating the subjects from their surroundings, the work seeks to reflect the relationship between place, community, and personal growth. Stairways, alleyways, balconies, and streets become extensions of the classroom, spaces where practice, performance, and belonging intersect.

For Ron Timehin, the project carries a personal resonance. Having grown up playing trumpet, music formed an early foundation for his creative development and ultimately shaped his pathway into photography. Returning to a music-led environment allowed him to explore this connection while documenting a new generation of young musicians finding their own voices.

Created in collaboration with the students, teachers, and local community, the series reflects both individual presence and collective experience. The work celebrates the transformative power of arts education and the importance of access to creative opportunities within underrepresented communities.