News

Paul Richards joins BBE board

Tuesday 19 October, 2021 The board at Brass Bands England has welcomed Paul Richards as a trustee, following the organisation’s Annual General Meeting. Read full article

Sunday 17 October, 2021 Talented young brass and percussion players are invited to apply for the 2022 National Youth Brass Band of Scotland (NYBBS) summer course at Strathallan School in Perthshire. Read full article

Pastures new for Wilkinson

Sunday 17 October, 2021 The busy musical life of conductor and arranger, Keith Wilkinson, has taken a new turn following an invitation to work with Central Ohio Brass Band, as it regroups following the COVID-enforced break. Read full article

Carlton Main thanks Kirsty Abbotts

Saturday 16 October, 2021 The Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band has heaped praise on former principal cornet player, Kirsty Abbotts, who recently stepped down from the top chair with the Yorkshire band. Read full article

North Skelton ready for memorial concert

Friday 15 October, 2021 The life of a much-missed musician is to be celebrated by members of North Skelton Band as part of a charity memorial concert. Read full article

Lane and Mead to celebrate sounds of cinemas past

Thursday 14 October, 2021 A new pop-up performance in Bristol is to celebrate the sounds and memories of the cinemas of years gone by – and will have brass at its core. Read full article

Brass Band Archive seeks volunteers

Wednesday 13 October, 2021 Volunteers are sought to help make the National Brass Band Archive accessible to the public ahead of its move to a new home in Huddersfield. Read full article

Final call for Scottish Open and Challenge

Sunday 10 October, 2021 Bands thinking about taking part in the Scottish Open or Band Supplies Scottish Challenge contests are being urged to submit their entries. Read full article

New solo horn at Whitburn

Saturday 9 October, 2021 There’s a new solo horn player at Whitburn Band, following the appointment to the seat of Andrew McMillan. Read full article

Easington's joy at sponsorship boost

Saturday 9 October, 2021 The Easington Colliery Band has enjoyed an exciting couple of weeks, following up a win at the recent Bolsover Festival of Brass with news that its sponsorship deal is to be extended. Read full article

Brass for Africa intern in support bid

Saturday 9 October, 2021 Following a recruitment drive in summer 2021, cornetist Verity Flood has been selected as the first Brass for Africa (BfA) intern – now she needs support to make the programme a reality. Read full article

Joyous return for Borders youngsters

Friday 8 October, 2021 Music and laughter filled the air recently as the Scottish Borders Brass Band Association (SBBBA) hosted its first brass and percussion workshop in two years. Read full article

Kirsty Abbotts leaves Carlton Main

Thursday 7 October, 2021 Cornet star and Geneva artist, Kirsty Abbotts, has stepped down from her seat as principal cornet of Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band. Read full article

Review: Bram Gregson and Friends

Thursday 7 October, 2021 Bram Gregson and Friends | London Citadel Band, Intrada Brass, Brassroots | Conductor: Bram Gregson | Doyen Read full article

Crowdfunder to help festive fundraising

Wednesday 6 October, 2021 Following the success of its 2020 #SaveOurBrassBands campaign, Brass Bands England is to run a new large-scale crowdfunder for the banding community. Read full article

Features

Composer Cast: Liz Lane

Friday 15 October, 2021 Christopher Bond delves into Liz Lane's impressive musical experiences as a child and finds out more about some of her recent and current projects Read full article

How to impress in your audition

Sunday 10 October, 2021 Amos Miller, head of brass at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, shares advice and tips on getting it right in the audition room. Read full article

Russell Gray and Mark Wilkinson on Foden's Band's Nationals victory

Thursday 7 October, 2021 Conductor Russell Gray and cornet player extraordinaire, Mark Wilkinson, look back on an impressive performance and victory for Foden’s Band at the 2021 National Brass Band Championship of Great Britain in London’s Royal Albert Hall. Read full article

A brotherly bond

Thursday 7 October, 2021 British Bandsman editor Mark Good speaks to Edward Gregson about his late brother Bram and the new double album which celebrates his considerable musical legacy. Read full article

The brass band time capsule - Simon Gresswell

Tuesday 5 October, 2021 Martyn Ramsay speaks to Bb bass player, Simon Gresswell, about his memories of the build-up to the 1993 National Brass Band Championship – and the momentous result which followed. Read full article

2021 National Brass Band Championship of Great Britain: live

Saturday 2 October, 2021 Live coverage of the 2021 National Brass Band Championship of Great Britain. Read full article

Heroes: A heads-up

Friday 1 October, 2021 As brass bands prepare to return to the Royal Albert Hall on October 2 for the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain, Christopher Bond lifts the lid on test-piece Heroes and the inspiration behind the major work. Read full article

From the silver screen to the brass band stage

Thursday 30 September, 2021 Multi-Emmy winning composer, Bruce Broughton, chats to British Bandsman editor, Mark Good, ahead of his work, Heroes, featuring as the set test at the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain. Read full article

A rising star - Luke Barker

Wednesday 29 September, 2021 Cornet player Luke Barker has enjoyed a meteoric rise and currently forms part of the solo cornet team at Flowers Band. Read full article

2021 Nationals back with a bang

Sunday 26 September, 2021 After a COVID-enforced absence, the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain returned to the stage on September 18-19, with First to Fourth Section bands pitting their musical wits against each in The Centaur, Cheltenham. Read full article