4BR Review podcast: Episode 2
February 17
The second episode is now out with at look at what has been, and what is going on in the banding world.
Key appointment at Milton Keynes for 2025 season
February 20 • Milton Keynes Brass has welcomed the arrival of the experienced trio of Neil Brownless, Ben Smith and John Kinsella.
Radio: Touch of Brass
February 20 • There is a great programme to enjoy with Martin Upfold this weekend.
Transitions and dualities to test European contenders
February 19 • EBBA has released further details of the works by Norwegian composers Fredrick Schjelderup and Ingebjorg Vilhelmsen that will face the bands in the Championship and Challenge Sections in Stavanger.
EBBA provide details of Euro Youth Championship test-pieces
February 19 • Works inspired by the Nordic landscape and activities will challenge the competitors at the European Youth Championships in Stavanger.
Results: 2025 French National Championships
February 17 • Haut-de-France claims a fifth consecutive French National title in Metz, with section wins for Brass Band De Gones, Brass Band Musicalis Algrange, Brass Band Lorient Bretagne Sud and Brass Band Brassaventure.
Report & Results: 2025 NEMBBA Contest
February 17 • Pre-regional boosts for Marsden, Lindley, Barnsley Brass, Rode Hall Silver and Matlock as Long Eaton's youngsters also enjoy their spotlight moment.
Results: 2025 UniBrass Championships
February 16 • The students of University of Birmingham and Universities of Sheffield & Sheffield Hallam claim the UniBrass Trophy and Shield honours in Cardiff
Report & Result: 2025 Welsh Open Entertainment Championship
February 16 • Ebbw Valley are crowned hat-trick of winners in Newport.
Odyssey Debut Flugelhorn
£449.00
Odyssey Debut Cornet
£359.00
Odyssey Premiere Tenor Horn
£849.00
Interview with Dr David Thornton
February 4 • 4BR Editor Iwan Fox talks to RNCM International Brass Band Festival Artistic Director Dr David Thornton at the end of the 2024 event in Manchester.
Interview with James Gourlay and Emily Nicolas
February 3 • 4BR Editor Iwan Fox talks to conductor James Gourlay and presenter Emily Nicolas after the performance of the RNCM Brass Band at the recent RNCM International Brass Band Festival
Interview with Ian Porthouse and Matthias Hofs
January 31 • 4BR Editor Iwan Fox talks to Tredegar MD Ian Porthouse and soloist Matthias Hofs at the RNCM International Brass Band Festival
Interview with Simone Rebello
January 31 • 4BR Editor Iwan Fox talks to Simone Rebello about this weekend's RNCM Day of Percussion
2025 Regional Championships: Preview
February 19 • Stoicism and stubbornness still defies change, but there is still much to admire about the 80th anniversary of the Regional Championships this year.
2025 Regional Championships: Test piece reviews
February 18 • 4BR Editor Iwan Fox finds out more about the works from Derek Bourgeois, Morley Calvert, Oliver Waespi, Jacob de Haan and Andrea Price that will test National Final qualification aspirations over the next few weeks.
Wilfred Heaton: His Life - His Music (Part 2)
February 17 • In the second extract from his critically acclaimed biography, Paul Hindmarsh charts Wilfred Heaton's musical apprenticeship.
The Howarth Legacy: 2025 RNCM International Brass Band Festival
January 23 • Whilst the banding movement says it owes Elgar Howarth a debt of gratitude, it is a good job the RNCM Festival has been run by people who actually shared his vision.
Concert: RCM Brass Band
February 15 • A renewed strengthening of the historical connections between between brass banding and the Royal College of Music is impressively embossed by the current crop of performing talent.
Concert: Brighouse & Rastrick Band
January 31 • Conductor David Bremner imbues the West Riding band and its performers with a fine sense of musical assuredness to close the RNCM Festival.
Concert: Cory Band
January 30 • Cory draw on the real and the imagined for a substantive appearance at the RNCM Festival.
| # | Band | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Foden's | 1,265.59 |
| 2 | Brass Band Treize Etoiles | 1,202.20 |
| 3 | Cory | 1,135.50 |
| 4 | Flowers | 989.86 |
| 5 | Black Dyke | 861.38 |
| 6 | Eikanger-Bjørsvik | 750.86 |
| 7 | Brighouse and Rastrick | 652.77 |
| 8 | Tredegar | 633.57 |
| 9 | Valaisia Brass Band | 533.32 |
| 10 | Brass Band Willebroek | 288.84 |
Regent Hall Concerts - Royal College of Music Sackbut Ensemble
Friday 21 February • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ
Regent Hall Concerts - The Band of the Welsh Guards
Friday 21 February • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ
Newstead Brass - Midlands Championships Preview Evening
Sunday 23 February • Summit Centre . Kirkby in Ashfield . Nottinghamshire NG17 7LL
Contest: North West Regional Championships
Sunday 23 February • Winter Gardens Complex, Church Street, Blackpool FY1 1HU
Regent Hall Concerts - Royal Greenwich Brass Band
Friday 28 February • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ
Reading Spring Gardens Brass Band
February 20 • Reading Band still needs LOWER BRASS for the 4th section contest at Stevenage on Saturday 15th March! Rehearsals in Woodley (RG5) on Thursday evenings.
Boarshurst Silver Band
February 17 • Boarshurst Silver Band, NW Championship Section, requires a BBb player, flugel, and front row cornet player. Under MD Jamie Prophet, the band have an ambitious and varied calendar for 2025, including NW Area, Spring Festival and Whit Friday.
Mid Rhondda Band
February 14 • Mid Rhondda Band are looking for the following players : Front Row Cornet, Solo Trombone, Eb Bass, Kit and Tuned Percussionists. The band will be competing in the 3rd Section at the Welsh Area. Contest & concert engagements in the diary for 2025
Alan Fernie
DRSAM, Dip.NCOS
Arranger, composer, adjudicator, conductor