Much like 2023 the past 12 months in the banding world was one of continued retrenchment and resilience.
Any long term positivity though has still been built on an underlying fragility to the foundations of many of the organisations that make up the global banding movement – from individual bands to representative associations and major contests.
We are now fast approaching the second quarter of the 21st century, yet mid-point 20th century attitudes continue to dog efforts to innovate and expand our scope of musical vision.
Excellence and progressive thinking
That said, there are numerous examples of individual excellence and progressive thinking – although the ultimate challenge in bringing it together into a cohesive whole remains.
The underlying ethos of these awards reflects excellence and innovation, an ability and desire to look beyond the traditional self-obsessed boundaries that should be unashamedly copied and enhanced by others.
As we always say, the nominations we have come up with we think show that spirit of ambition – each a significant marker in giving a huge sense of confidence to individual bands and organisations, as well as boosting the profile of brass banding to the wider general public.
Agree or disagree
And as always, we are also sure people will disagree with them too – but that is also a sign of a healthy banding movement.
The nominations will be presented to an international panel of critics and informed observers who will give their top three in each category.
They will be collated by 4BR with any casting vote in the event of a tie decided by the 4BR Editor. The results will be announced on Christmas Day.
2024 Band of the Year
These are the bands that we felt excelled in their competitive as well as artistic ambition to reach out to a wider audience in 2024.
Nominations:
Black Dyke Band (England)
Brass Band Treize Etoiles (Switzerland)
Brass Band Willebroek (Belgium)
Eikanger Bjorsvik Musikklag (Norway)
Flowers (England)
Foden’s (England)
Italian Brass Band (Italy)
James Madison University Brass Band (USA)
Valaisia Brass (Switzerland)
Wellington Brass (New Zealand)
Past Winners:
2023: Brass Band Treize Etoiles
2022: Brighouse & Rastrick
2021: Foden’s
2020: Foden’s
2019: Cory
2018: Valaisia Brass Band
2017: Eikanger Bjorsvik
2016: Cory
2015: Cory
2014: Black Dyke
2013: Cory
2012: Foden's
2011: Brighouse & Rastrick
2010: Tredegar
2009: Cory
2008: Cory
2007: Grimethorpe Colliery Band
2006: Grimethorpe Colliery (UK Coal) Band
2005: Black Dyke
2004: Yorkshire Building Society
2003: Yorkshire Building Society
2002: Foden's Richardson
2001: Yorkshire Building Society
2024 Conductor of the Year
As always there were numerous conductors to consider with their excellence and musical vision in 2024 – be it on the contest, concert, recording or project platforms, with each leading bands with a fusion of talent, insight and inspiration to make their mark far and wide.
Nominations:
Anri Adachi (Nailsworth/UWE/Forest of Dean Youth)
David Bremner (Wellington Brass/Brisbane Excelsior)
Paul Holland (Flowers/Brass Band Schoonhoven/Woodfalls/Tertnes Brass)
Katrina Marzella-Wheeler (Kingdom Brass/the cooperation band/Aldbourne)
Jan Muller (Brass Band Emmental/Musik Frohsinn Oberburg)
Kevin Stees (James Madison University Brass Band/Massanutten Brass Band)
Frederic Theodoloz (Brass Band Treize Etoiles/Stavanger/Fanfare La Lyre de Conthey)
Rieks van der Velde (Brass Band De Waldsang/Excelsior Zalk/Martini Brass Band)
Frans Violet (Brass Band Willebroek/Tomra Brass)
Ryan Watkins (Hepworth/Pemberton Old Wigan DW)
Past Winners:
2023: Frederic Theodoloz
2022: Russell Gray
2021: Arsene Duc
2020: Philip Harper
2019: Philip Harper
2018: Arsene Duc
2017: Ingar Bergby
2016: Philip Harper
2015: Philip Harper
2014: Nicholas Childs
2013: Philip Harper
2012: Allan Withington
2011: David King
2010: Ian Porthouse
2009: Robert Childs
2008: Robert Childs
2007: Allan Withington
2006: Allan Withington
2005: Nicholas Childs
2004: Ray Farr
2003: David King
2002: Russell Gray
2001: David King
2024 Player of the Year
Arguably the most difficult task of all as there are so many outstanding performers who made a major musical impression during the past year.
These though were the performers that not only excelled under the spotlight, but also inspired others around them too.
Nominations:
Luke Barker (Flowers)
Lewis Barton (Leyland/NYBBGB)
Mike Cavanagh (Black Dyke Band)
Bent Illvold (freelance)
Vidar Nordli (Eikanger Bjorsvik)
Paul Richards (Flowers)
Mathilde Roh (Brass Band Treize Etoiles)
Daniel Thomas (Flowers)
Roger Webster (Oldham Band (Lees)/Brighouse & Rastrick)
Sheona White (freelance)
Past Winners:
2023: Gary Curtin
2022: Richard Poole
2021: Isobel Daws
2020: Yu-Han Yang
2019: Tom Hutchinson
2018: Chris Thomas
2017: David Morton
2016: Helen Williams
2015: David Childs
2014: David Childs
2013: Glenn Van Looy
2012: Steve Stewart
2011: Glen Van Looy
2010: David Childs
2009: Mark Wilkinson
2008: Peter Moore
2007: Hans Gansch
2006: Katrina Marzella
2005: David Childs
2004: David Childs
2003: Martin Winter
2002: Morgan Griffiths
2001: Peter Roberts
2024 Test Piece of the Year
An interesting rather than truly memorable year of new works and reprises. All must have been previously performed as a set-work test-piece or were premiered as such in 2024.
Nominations:
Headland Fantasy (Ingeborg Vilhelmsen): Third Division Dutch National Championships/First Division Swedish National Championships)
High Peak (Eric Ball): First Section Regional Championships of Great Britain)
Hope (Dorothy Gates): Second Division Swiss National Championship)
Other Lives (Oliver Waespi): Championship Section North American National Championships)
Smoke Sketches (Daniel Hall): Fourth Section National Championship of Great Britain/Youth Section German National Championships)
The Lost Circle (Jan van der Roost): British Open/German/Austrian/Dutch/Swiss/Belgian National Championships)
The New Jerusalem (Philip Wilby): Senior Cup
The Shipbuilders (Peter Yorke): Third Section National Championship of Great Britain)
Variations on an Enigma (Philip Sparke): Championship Section Regional Championships of Great Britain)
Variations on ‘Was Lebet’ (Andrew Wainwright): Second Division Dutch National Championships)
Past Winners:
2023: Sand and Stars (Thierry Deleruyelle)
2022: The World Rejoicing: Variations on a Lutheran Chorale (Edward Gregson)
2021: The World Rejoicing: Variations on a Lutheran Chorale (Edward Gregson)
2020: Neverland (Christopher Bond)
2019: Dear Cassandra… (Ludovic Neurohr)
2018: Concerto Grosso (Derek Bourgeois)
2017: Fraternity (Thierry Deleruyelle)
2016: Fraternity (Thierry Deleruyelle)
2015: The God Particle (Rolf Rudin)
2014: Vita Aeterna Variations (Ed de Boer writing as Alexander Comitas)
2013: Of Distant Memories (Music in an Olden Style) (Edward Gregson)
2012: Goldberg 2012 (Svein Henrik Giske)
2011: Breath of Souls (Paul Lovatt-Cooper)
2010: Saint Saens Variations (Philip Sparke)
2009: Titan's Progress (Hermann Pallhuber)
2008: The Dark Side of the Moon (Paul Lovatt-Cooper)
2007: Music for Battle Creek (Philip Sparke)
2006: Vienna Nights (Philip Wilby)
2005: Eden (Dr. John Pickard)
2004: St. Magnus (Kenneth Downie)
2003: Festival Music (Eric Ball)
2002: Masquerade (Philip Wilby)
2001: Albion (Jan Van der Roost)
2024 Lower Section Band of the Year
The same criteria apply here as those nominated in the ‘Band of the Year’ category, with plenty of bands doing great work on and off the contest stage as well as in the heart of their community and beyond.
All embraced the need to look outwards, inspire their participants and audiences alike.
Nominations:
Betteshanger Colliery (England)
Brass LT (Lithuania)
Gereformeerde Brassband Groningen (The Netherlands)
National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain
Northop Silver (Wales)
Regent Brass (England)
Riverside Youth Band (Scotland)
Smoras Skolemusikk (Norway)
Tupou College Band (Tonga)
Wardle Academy (England)
Past Winners:
2023: Smoras Skolemusikk
2022: Campbeltown Brass
2021: Youth Brass 2000
2020: Tewit Silver Band
2019: Wardle Academy Youth
2018: Oldham Band (Lees)
2017: BD1 Brass
2016: Youth Brass 2000
2015: Ebbw Valley
2014: Manger Skulemusikklag
2013: National Children's Band of Great Britain
2012: National Youth Band of Great Britain
2011: Bjorsvik Brass
2010: Hazel Grove Band
2009: Oldham (Lees) Band
2008: Smithills Schools Senior Band
2007: Sellers International Youth Band
2006: Pennine Brass
2005: Marsden Riverhead Brewery Band
2004: Smithills School Senior Band
2003: Smithills School Senior Band
2002: St. Dennis Band
2001: Peter Hawke Garages Lindley Band
2024 Contest Performance of the Year
As always, a veritable minefield of opinion and discussion in a year when truly memorable performances from the contest stage were perhaps not as plentiful as people may have thought.
These were the ones that in their context had that extra pinch of the exceptional about them that got tongues wagging and left indelible impressions on minds of listeners.
These are ours – others may well disagree.
Nominations:
Betteshanger Colliery Welfare (Smoke Sketches): Fourth Section National Championship Great Britain Final
Black Dyke (Variations on an Enigma): Yorkshire Regional Championship
Brass Band Treize Etoiles (The Lost Circle): British Open Championship
Brass Band Treize Etoiles (Karma): European Championship
Brighouse & Rastrick (The Mark of Zorro): Brass in Concert Championship
Eikanger Bjorsvik Musikklag (Jesus in Tibet): Norwegian National Championship
Eikanger Bjorsvik Musikklag (Myth – The Supernatural Underworld): Siddis Championship
Flowers (Harrison’s Dream): National Championship of Great Britain
Smoras Skolemusikk (Mythical Creatures): European Youth Championship
Wardle Academy (Reflections on themes of Covid): Youth Brass in Concert Championship
Past Winners:
2023: Foden’s – Sand and Stars (British Open Championship)
2022: Tredegar – So Spoke Albion (European Championship)
2021: Foden’s – Heroes (National Championship of Great Britain)
2020: Manger Musikklag – Midnight’s Butterflies (Norwegian National Championship)
2019: Cory – Titan’s Progress (National Championship of Great Britain)
2018: Manger Musikklag (Siddis Entertainment Championship)
2017: Eikanger Bjorsvik — Fraternity (European Championship)
2016: Cory — The Triumph of Time (British Open Championship)
2015: Cory — Spiriti (National Championship of Great Britain)
2014: Brass Band Bugermusik Luzern — Trance (Swiss National Championship)
2013: Tredegar — Arabian Nights: Fantasy on Rimsky Korsakov's Scheherazade for Brass Band (British Open Championship)
2012: Foden's — Daphnis et Chloe (National Championship of Great Britain)
2011: Cory — Red Priest (British Open Championship)
2010: Fairey (Geneva) — Eden (English National Championship)
2009: Fountain City Brass Band — Dreams (Scottish Open Championship)
2008: Eikanger Bjorsvik — Riffs & Interludes (Norwegian Championship)
2007: Brass Band Oberosterreich — Titan's Progress (European Championship)
2006: Black Dyke — Vienna Nights (British Open Championship)
2005: Black Dyke — Journey to the Centre of the Earth (European Championship)
2004: Black Dyke — Montage (British Open Championship)
2003: Buy As You View Cory — Revelation (European Championship)
2002: Yorkshire Building Society — Concerto Grosso (European Championship)
2001: Foden's — Les Preludes (British Open Championship)
2024 Newcomer of the Year
It’s always encouraging to find newcomers making a positive impression on the banding movement.
Each of our nominations brought something different to engage with a wider audience in solo and ensemble performances, collaborations, promotions, new voices and new ideas.
Nominations:
Bergen Youth Music (youth initiative)
Brass Bands England Future Leader Programme
Brass Band del Conservatorio di Musica 'N. Piccinni' BARI (Italy)
British Bandsman Concert Series
Hitchin Band/Richmond Hill East School/BBE (‘One Size Does Not Fit All’ Project)
Ingeborg Vilhelmsen (composer)
National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain Ambassador Band
Red Admiral Entertainment Championships
Smith & Grezzy podcast
So Matsukawa (Winner of BBCA Conducting Competition title)
Past Winners:
2023: Brass Bands England – Elevate Project
2022: Fredrick Schjelderup
2021: WobPlay.com – In Concert Series
2020: Cory Band Online Championships
2019: Sky Arts – Battle of the Bands television series
2018: Thomas Nielsen
2017: Ingar Bergby
2016: Thierry Deleruyelle
2015: Dark Arteries — Rambert Ballet and Tredegar Band
2014: The Band of the King's Division
2013: Korpsfiksert! — Eikanger Bjorsvik television series
2012: Brass in Concert
2011: Venezuelan Brass Ensemble
2010: Exit Brass
2009: Lucy Pankhurst
2008: Paul Duffy
2007: Proms Brass Day
2006: English National Championship
2005: Brass Band Aid
2004: The National Children's Band of Great Britain
2003: Emma Farrow
2002: Simon Dobson
2024 CD of the Year
The long-term future of commercial brass recordings remains endangered, but as shown in 2024 with these recordings in particular there is a niche in the market for high quality releases.
Nominations:
140
Cory Band
Conductor: Philip Harper
Doyen Recordings: CD431
Review: https://www.4barsrest.com/reviews/products/cd768.asp
Another World: The Music of Dorothy Gates
Brighouse & Rastrick Band
Conductor: Dr Jonathan Corry
Soloists: Isobel Daws, Niall Keatley, Mike Eccles, Shaun Crowther, Ellena Newton, Charlotte Horsfield, Steve Lomas
Featuring: Onyx Brass
Doyen Recordings: CD436
Review: http://https://www.4barsrest.com/reviews/products/cd782.asp
Bliss: Works for Brass
Black Dyke Band
Conductor: John Wilson
Chandos Recordings: CHSA 5344
Review: https://4barsrest.com/reviews/products/cd774.asp
Called to Serve
The International Staff Band of the Salvation Army
Conductor: Staff Bandmaster Dr Stephen Cobb
SPS Recordings: SPS 449 CD
Review: https://www.4barsrest.com/reviews/products/cd772.asp
George Lloyd — The Works for Brass
John Foster Black Dyke Mills Band
Conductor: David King
Equale Brass Quintet
John Wallace, John Miller, Michael Thompson, Peter Bassano, John Jenkins
Lyrita Recordings: LYRITA SRCD 425
Review: https://www.4barsrest.com/reviews/products/cd770.asp
Holst at 150 — A Brass Celebration
Tredegar Town Band
Conductors: Ian Porthouse, Martyn Brabbins
Doyen Recordings: DOY CD435
Review: https://4barsrest.com/reviews/products/cd778.asp
John Rutter — Brass at Christmas
Black Dyke Band
Conductor: Prof Nicholas J Childs
Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus
Conductor: Darius Battiwalla
Naxos Recordings: CD 8.574564
Review: https://www.4barsrest.com/reviews/products/cd783.asp
Malcolm Arnold: Music for brass band
Foden’s Band
Conductor: Michael Fowles
Choir of Chetham’s School of Music
Choir Director: Marcus Farnsworth
Beckus: MAF 003
Review: https://www.4barsrest.com/reviews/products/cd773.asp
Modus Operandi
3BA Concert Band
Conductor: Corsin Tuor
Soloists: Benedikt Geirhos, Jerome Muller, Benedikt Seidl, Tim Steinberg, Thomas Obeleitner
Lucerne Music Edition: CD LME100
Review: https://4barsrest.com/reviews/products/cd764.asp
Violet Volume 2
Brass Band Willebroek
Conductor: Frans Violet
Soloists: Lode Violet, Kevin Van Giel
Doyen Recordings: CD 439
Review: https://www.4barsrest.com/reviews/products/cd784.asp
Past Winners:
2023: Force of Nature (Black Dyke Band)
2022: Vaughan Williams on Brass (Tredegar Band)
2021: Festmusik – A Legacy (Onyx Brass)
2020: Gregson: Music of the Angels (London Brass)
2019: The Music of Bliss & Howells (Brighouse & Rastrick Band)
2018: Metropolis (Black Dyke Band)
2017: Dances & Arias (Black Dyke Band)
2016: War Memorials (Cory Band & Tredegar Band)
2015: Dark Arteries (Tredegar Band)
2014: Gaia Symphony (Eikanger Bjorsvik Musikklag)
2013: When Worlds Collide: The Music of Nigel Clarke (Brass Band Buizingen)
2012: Masquerade (Foden's Band)
2011: Only for You: The Music of Paul Lovatt-Cooper (Black Dyke Band)
2010: Romeo & Juliet (Eikanger Bjorsvik Musikklag)
2009: Maestro (Foden's Band)
2008: New Music for Brass Band (Foden's Band)
2007: Vienna Nights (Black Dyke Band)
2006: Heaton: Volume 4 (Black Dyke Band)
2005: Tales and Stories (Eikanger Bjorsvik Musikklag)
2004: Music of the Spheres (Yorkshire Building Society Band)
2003: Bourgeois in Brass (Yorkshire Building Society Band)
2002: The Heaton Collection (Black Dyke Band and the ISB)
2001: Butterworth (Black Dyke Band)
2024 Solo/Ensemble CD of the Year
As in 2023 there wasn’t a great deal of quantity to enjoy, although there was a great deal of quality.
These are the ones that made a mark with us.
Nominations:
Baut
Stig Nordhagen: Musikk for Eufonium
Soloist: Bente Illevold
Featuring: Gunnar Flagstad, Anders Kregnes Hansen, Strings Unlimited
AT Recordings:
Available on Spotify and other platforms
Review: https://www.4barsrest.com/reviews/products/cd766.asp
English Brass Music
London Collegiate Brass
Conductor: James Stobart
CRD 2415
Review: https://www.4barsrest.com/reviews/products/cd775.asp
Light Fantastic
Brett Baker
Flowers Band
Conductor: Paul Holland
Doyen Recordings: DOY CD429
Review: http://https://www.4barsrest.com/reviews/products/cd767.asp
New Music for Eb Tenor Horn and String Orchestra
Sheona White
Conductor: Kyle Ritenauer
Featuring: Ron Levy (piano)
Phoenix USA Recordings: PHCD 190
Review: https://www.4barsrest.com/reviews/products/cd765.asp
On My Way
Soloist: Mauro Martins
Portuguese Air Force Band
Conductors: TCOR Antonio Rosado, CAP Rui Silva
MDM Recordings: MDM 001
Review: https://www.4barsrest.com/reviews/products/cd777.asp
RE:BUILD
Slide Action
NMC Recordings: CD D289
Review: https://www.4barsrest.com/reviews/products/cd780.asp
The Beauty Within
Soloist: Sheona White
Featuring: Foden’s Band; Lauren Scott (harp)
Conductor: Michael Fowles
Doyen Recordings: DOY CD430
Review: https://www.4barsrest.com/reviews/products/cd769.asp
Past Winners:
2023: Oskar Bohme: Trumpet Concerto & Pieces (Matthias Hofs)
2022: Keep the Music Playing (James Fountain)
2021: Resurrection (Prof David King)
2020: Eire Time (Gary Curtin)
2019: The Symphonic Euphonium II (David Childs)
2018: Life Force (Peter Moore)
2017: The Demonic Virtuoso (Owen Farr)
2016: Fantasy (Philip Cobb)
2015: Parallel Realities (David Thornton)
2014: The Symphonic Euphonium (David Childs)
2013: Stories of Life (Glenn Van Looy)
2012: Diamonds (Steven Mead)
2011: Dreaming of the Masters (Jens Lindemann)
2010: Moto Perpetuo (David Childs)
2009: Salt of the Earth (Les Neish)
2008: Audacious (Steven Mead)
2007: Eminence (Richard Marshall)
2006: The World of the Euphonium: Volume 5 (Steven Mead)
2005: Blaze (Richard Marshall)
2004: Legend (Peter Roberts)
2003: A Winter’s Tale (Martin Winter)
