Articles /2024
The Brass Band Conference 2024 — A new measurement of success
October 21, 2024
The Brass Bands England Conference spoke of an organisation confident in its creative approach to the communal challenges of the brass banding movement.
The right National number — What options now for the Royal Albert Hall?
October 11, 2024
Kapitol is faced with a balancing act conundrum to solve as it reduces the number of competitors to increase the appeal of the top section National Championship of Great Britain.
Take 5 — A quintet of talking points from the Royal Albert Hall
October 8, 2024
There were plenty of talking points that bubbled away at this year's National Final in London...
2024 National Championship of Great Britain Final — Adjudicator remarks
October 7, 2024
The three judges, Dr Stephen Cobb, Prof Rob Wiffin OBE and Arsene Duc made their opinions clear in their remarks on 'Harrison's Dream' for the podium finishers.
2024 National Championship of Great Britain Final — Championship Section preview
October 3, 2024
The National Final remains strong in spirit and contesting intrigue, but is age finally catching up with it at the Royal Albert Hall?
2024 National Championship of Great Britain Final — Harrison's Dream
October 2, 2024
Peter Graham's millennium work remains an evocative test of finding John Harrison's 'Deux ex machina'.
The wrong Allen key — Addressing the National Finals' core problem
September 26, 2024
Why laying the blame on Cheltenham as a venue misses the point in addressing the fundamental issue of National Final representation.
Young Performer Spotlight — Morgan Bland
September 24, 2024
In the first of a new series 4BR finds out more about some of the rising stars of the brass band and wider brass playing world.
2024 National Championships of Great Britain Final — First Section preview
September 12, 2024
Who will pull out the type of performance from the stone dead acoustic of Cheltenham to win over the judges with their version of Jan Van der Roost's myth inspired test-piece?
2024 National Championships of Great Britain Final — Second Section preview
September 12, 2024
A work inspired by a 17th century Lutheran chorale and given a typical Swiss twist of modernity will test the 19 contenders long into Sunday night.
2024 National Championships of Great Britain Final — Third Section preview
September 11, 2024
A work written at a time when Britain still ruled the waves in nautical construction will test their ability to build a title winning performance.
2024 National Championships of Great Britain Final — Fourth Section preview
September 11, 2024
18 bands will want to spark title winning interest in the adjudication box at Cheltenham this weekend.
2024 British Open Championship — Images from The Lost Circle
September 10, 2024
Photographers Craig Chapman and Connor Redmond captured the action for 4BR at Symphony Hall on the weekend
Take 5 — A quintet of talking points from the 170th British Open
September 9, 2024
The 2024 British Open marked a new era at the event - one that has new challenges as well as opportunities to consider for the future.
2024 British Open Championship — Adjudicator remarks
September 9, 2024
Dr Stephen Cobb, Anne Crookston and Dr Luc Vertommen had plenty to ponder and analyse in the box on 'The Lost Circle' with the podium finishers at Symphony Hall.
2024 British Open Championship — The Lost Circle preview
September 6, 2024
A work of questioning and doubting, speculating and reappraising will test the bands to the full if they wish to claim the 170th British Open title.
2024 British Open Championship — Contest preview
September 5, 2024
Which band will band will come up with the answer to a millennia old question at Symphony Hall this weekend?
2024 British Open Championship — The day the Open changed forever
August 30, 2024
Brass band historian Tim Mutum looks back exactly 100 years to a contest win that sent shock waves around the world.
2024 British Open Championship — Memories of 2023
August 29, 2024
Photographer Craig Chapman will once again be on hand at Symphony Hall to capture the action as it unfolds - just as he did with these memorable shots from 2023.
New Korea move for Foden's — Open Champion at the Jeju International Wind Ensemble Festival.
August 24, 2024
Foden's Band has just returned from a memorable trip to perform as part of the Jeju International Wind Ensemble Festival in South Korea.
Nordic links — Manger Musikklag enjoy a mini Euro tour
July 16, 2024
Manger Musikklag recently enjoyed a short tour to France, Netherlands and Belgium to link up with new musical friends.
Positives and negatives — The need to make foundation connections in Wales
July 15, 2024
In the latest of our opinion series, Alun F Williams argues that there is a bright future for grass roots banding in Wales if proactive action is taken.
Taking Pride — Why banding needs to both talk about as well as show solidarity
June 23, 2024
In the latest in our opinion series, player Emily Peart argues that the banding movement must talk as well as show solidarity with Pride Month
Images of Champion inspiration — 2024 Black Dyke Band Festival
June 22, 2024
Photographer John Stirzaker was on hand at the recent Black Dyke Brass Band Festival to capture plenty of images of a great day of inclusive music making.
History lessons — Learning from the past to meet future challenges
June 21, 2024
Brass band historian Tim Mutum asks whether banding in the UK can survive another elemental challenge if we are not prepared to change.
2024 Whit Friday — Images from Delph
May 28, 2024
Photographer Aaron Haynes was out and about at Delph on Whit Friday to record the action and entertainment.
In the spirit of a Grand Day out? — Personal thoughts for debate
May 24, 2024
Paul Gomersall wonders if we are only really interested in paying lip service to the true spirit of contest banding...
2024 Whit Friday — Celebrating a unique tradition
May 21, 2024
The popular and lucrative Whit Friday contests will hopefully bring the very best out of bands, participants and visitors this year.
Generator AMPS — Katrina Marzella-Wheeler leads inclusive support for conductors
May 16, 2024
Katrina Marzella-Wheeler recently spearheaded a conducting workshop aimed at getting everyone playing together under a baton.
2024 European Brass Band Championships — Test piece review: A Road Less Travelled By
May 1, 2024
Philip Sparke takes on the role of a musical anatomist with his latest major test piece work.
2024 European Brass Band Championships — Own choice works
April 30, 2024
New as well as familiar blockbusters will be on show in both the Championship and Challenge Sections in Palanga.
2024 European Brass Band Championships — A road worth travelling
April 29, 2024
It has been a journey full of frustrations to finally get to Palanga, but it is sure to well worth it now that the destination has finally been reached.
2024 ConsTest Birmingham Open — Live coverage
April 6, 2024
4BR is at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire to bring you coverage of the second edition of the popular own-choice competition.
2024 NABBA Championships — America decides
April 5, 2024
Tony Granados of the NABBA Board in the Adjudication, Music and Contest committees explains how the judging system will work at the US National Championships in Alabama this weekend.
Picture postcards — Images from the 2024 National Youth Champs
March 28, 2024
There were some great pictures that caught a flavour of a brilliant day of musical making at the National Youth Championships of Great Britain in Cheltenham.
Take 5 — Opinion points from the Regional Championships
March 27, 2024
Five things open to discussion from the recent series of competitive events around the country.
4BR Hall of Fame — No. 29: Major George H Willcocks MBE, MVO
February 29, 2024
Tim Mutum looks back at the remarkable life and brass band career of a musician who still evokes immediate admiration and respect 60 years and more after his death.
Empowering Futures — Grimethorpe's education outreach ambition
February 23, 2024
One of UK's most famous bands is investing in the education of future generations of players to help rejuvenate community brass band music making.
Take 5 — Highlights from the 2024 RNCM International Brass Band Festival
February 8, 2024
Five things that caught the imagination and gained deserved acclaim at the recent RNCM International Brass Band Festival in Manchester.
Right or wrong? — That thorny topic of trust
February 6, 2024
Brass band writer Christopher Thomas adds his thoughts on adjudication trust and integrity and how he believes we all have a part to play in its reform and modernisation.
4BR Interview — Air Specialist (Class 1) Alan Thomas
February 4, 2024
Former City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra principal trumpet Alan Thomas tells 4BR why swapping a civilian musical life for one in the RAF was one of the best decisions he has made.
Grading true excellence — What banding can learn from rugby league
January 24, 2024
Can brass banding learn from the radical approach of rugby league to evaluate the right levels of competitive success on and off the field of play.
Take 5 — Five early season events not to miss
January 22, 2024
Lots to look forward to in the early part of 2024, but these five events should top your 'not to miss' list .
Pause for thought — Time to trust our judges
January 17, 2024
In the first of a new series 4BR Editor Iwan Fox argues that it is time to pay the price of simply trusting the expertise of our judges.
4BR Hall of Fame — No. 28: Frank Wright MBE
January 10, 2024
Tim Mutum looks back on the life of the Australian musician who became one of the most important figures in the post war banding world in the UK.
From darkness to light — 4BR talks to Eliot Darwin
January 6, 2024
Conductor Eliot Darwin made the most important decision of all when circumstances beyond his control took a horrific turn in the wrong direction. Now though he is looking forward to the start of an exciting new chapter in his musical life.
