Articles /2016
Trans-Atlantic Links — 2017 Royal Northern College of Music Brass Band Festival
December 31, 2016
4BR talks to Artistic Director Paul Hindmarsh as he looks forward to the banding movement's most important musical showcase at the RNCM in Manchester in January.
4BR Interview — Colour Sergeant Paul Hooper
December 30, 2016
In the second of a new series meeting professional players in the Corps of Army Music, we find out more about Irish Guards trombonist Colour Sergeant Paul Hooper.
2016 4BR Awards — 2016 4BR Band of the Year
December 30, 2016
These are the players we have chosen to be in the ultimate brass band of 2016.
Out of Africa — Success and failure drives brass banding in Uganda
December 27, 2016
4BR talks to Philip Monk, Musical Director of the Mbale Schools Band in Uganda about the challenges he faces in trying to develop a fledgling brass banding culture in the country.
4BR Interview — Anthony Galinier
December 27, 2016
4BR catches up with the talented French tenor horn star Anthony Galinier to find out more about his passion for bringing a touch of Gallic inspiration to a very English instrument...
Black Dyke Heritage Centre — History to come alive in Queensbury
December 23, 2016
Black Dyke's unique history will soon be on show to the banding world as their innovative Heritage Centre project comes ever closer to completion.
Banding in a future Wonderland? — Brass Bands England National Conference
December 18, 2016
4BR Editor Iwan Fox looks back at the recent Brass Bands England National Conference to see an organisation showing encouraging glimpses that sanity is starting to prevail.
4BR Interview — Lance Sergeant Johnny Sproule
December 17, 2016
In the first of a new series meeting professional players in the Corps of Army Music, we find out more about Welsh Guards Band euphonium player Lance Sergeant Johnny Sproule.
What unites us in music — 2016 British Composer Awards
December 16, 2016
Roy Terry reports on the sense of reflective inclusion at the British Composers Awards in London - highlighted by Shri Sriram and Hammonds Saltaire winning the the Brass and Wind Band category with their cross-genre collaboration ‘Just A Vibration’ .
2016 Swiss National Brass Band Championships — Postcard Gallery
December 3, 2016
Gallery of images capturing the atmosphere at the 2016 Swiss National Championships thanks to Ian Clowes and Rob Fletcher at Goldy Solutions.
2016 Swiss National Brass Band Championships — Prizes Gallery
November 30, 2016
Gallery of images capturing the awards at the 2016 Swiss National Championships (Thanks to Ian Clowes - Goldy Solutions.)
2016 Swiss National Brass Band Championships — MD Gallery
November 29, 2016
Gallery of images capturing the Musical Directors in action at the 2016 Swiss National Championships thanks to Ian Clowes and Rob Fletcher at Goldy Solutions.
4BR Interview — Bastien Baumet
November 25, 2016
4BR Editor Iwan Fox catches up with French star Bastien Baumet to find out more about his new CD release and where his passion for playing the euphonium comes from
2016 Brass in Concert — Contest Gallery
November 22, 2016
Gallery of images capturing the atmosphere of the 2016 Brass in Concert. (Photography by Steve Jack)
2016 Brass in Concert Championship — Preview & Prediction
November 18, 2016
4BR Editor Iwan Fox looks forward to the Brass in Concert Championship in Gateshead and to whether or not anyone can stop Cory claiming yet another 2016 title.
Middle age spread — Brass in Concert at 40
November 15, 2016
4BR Editor Iwan Fox looks back at the Brass in Concert Championship as it reaches 40 years of age.
This Lady Wears Trousers — Allan Withington tailors Jeanne d'Arc for Brass in Concert
November 12, 2016
4BR talks to Stavanger MD Allan Withington about bringing the story of a French icon to a Gateshead audience at Brass in Concert.
2016 Italian National Championships — Contest Gallery
October 29, 2016
Gallery of images capturing an atmosphere of the inaugural 2016 Italian National Championships. (Photography by Ian Clowes - Goldy Solutions)
4BR Interview — Alexis Demailly
October 14, 2016
4BR catches up with French cornet star Alexis Demailly to find out more about his forthcoming CD 'Fantasque' with the Urban String Quartet.
2016 National Championships of Great Britain — Contest Gallery
October 12, 2016
Gallery of images capturing an atmosphere of the 2016 National Championships of Great Britain. (Photography by Ian Clowes - Goldy Solutions
2016 National Championships of Great Britain — Competition Awards Gallery
October 12, 2016
Gallery of images capturing the awards at the 2016 National Championships of Great Britain. (Photography by Ian Clowes - Goldy Solutions
2016 National Championships of Great Britain — Championship Section: As it happened
October 8, 2016
All the action from the 2016 National Championships of Great Britain - Championship Section - as it happened. Comments by Chris Thomas & Steven Mead.
2016 National Championships of Great Britain — Test-Piece Review: Journey of the Lone Wolf
October 5, 2016
4BR Editor Iwan Fox takes a closer look a Simon Dobson's engrossing portrait of Bela Bartok - a paradoxical composing enigma.
2016 National Championships of Great Britain — Preview & Prediction
October 5, 2016
4BR Editor Iwan Fox looks forward to an evocative Journey into the complex musical mind of a Lone Wolf composer at the Royal Albert Hall and wonders which band will be able to capture Bela Bartok's spirit to claim victory.
What might have been? — The first 50 years of lost compositional opportunities
September 30, 2016
In the first of a new series, composer Gavin Higgins explores some of the iconic compositional opportunities that may have passed the brass band movement by since 'Labour and Love' in 1913.
2016 National Championships of Great Britain — Cheltenham reflections
September 22, 2016
4BR Editor looks back on the National Finals weekend in Cheltenham and some of the talking points that arose from the title challenges.
2016 National Championships of Great Britain — First Section: As it happened
September 18, 2016
All the action from the 2016 National Championships of Great Britain - First Section - as it happened. Comments by Chris Thomas
2016 National Championships of Great Britain — Second Section: As it happened
September 18, 2016
All the action from the 2016 National Championships of Great Britain - Second Section - as it happened. Comments by Malcolm Wood.
2016 National Championships of Great Britain — Third Section: As it happened
September 18, 2016
All the action from the 2016 National Championships of Great Britain - Third Section - as it happened. Comments by Malcom Wood.
2016 National Championships of Great Britain — Fourth Section: As it happened
September 18, 2016
All the action from the 2016 National Championships of Great Britain - Fourth Section - as it happened. Comments by Iwan Fox.
2016 National Championships of Great Britain — First Section Preview & Prediction
September 13, 2016
4BR Editor Iwan Fox looks forward to a battle at the ballet as rivals tackle a wonderful classic work for brass bands from the pen of the great Joseph Horovitz.
2016 National Championships of Great Britain — Second Section Preview & Prediction
September 13, 2016
4BR Editor Iwan Fox looks ahead to a peaceful musical battle on a work that pays tribute to the ultimate sacrifice of some of the bravest of men in the Second World War.
2016 National Championships of Great Britain — Third Section Preview & Prediction
September 15, 2016
4BR Editor Iwan Fox looks forward to the contesting trek to find a spiritual home in Cheltenham thanks to Kevin Houben's colourful Aztec tale.
2016 National Championships of Great Britain — Fourth Section Preview & Prediction
September 15, 2016
4BR Editor Iwan Fox takes a closer look at the 19 challengers who will seek inspiration from a 10th century Byzantine castle in Northern Cyprus that found its way to the leafy suburbs of a Winchester living room wall.
2016 Dr Martin Wainstone's Cup — Competition Gallery
September 13, 2016
Gallery of images capturing the 2016 Dr Martin Wainstone's Cup (Photography by Steve Jack)
2016 British Open Championship — The Cory Challenge
September 13, 2016
4BR Editor Iwan Fox looks back at Cory's triumphant British Open victory and wonders if there is any hope of anyone stopping a 2016 Grand Slam.
2016 British Open Championship — General Gallery
September 13, 2016
Gallery of images capturing the action at the 2016 British Open Championship. (Photography by Ian Clowes - Goldy Solutions)
2016 British Open Championship — Conductors Gallery
September 13, 2016
Gallery of images capturing the conductors in action at the 2016 British Open Championship. (Photography by Ian Clowes - Goldy Solutions)
2016 British Open Championship — Competition Awards Gallery
September 13, 2016
Gallery of images capturing the awards at the 2016 British Open Championship. (Photography by Ian Clowes - Goldy Solutions)
2016 British Open Championship — As it happened...
September 10, 2016
All the action from the 2016 British Open Championship - as it happened.
2016 British Open Championship — Preview & Prediction
September 8, 2016
4BR Editor Iwan Fox looks forward to the 164th British Open Championship and tries to predict who will triumph on Peter Graham's ferociously difficult test piece challenge at Symphony Hall.
2016 British Open Championship — Test Piece Review: The Triumph of Time
September 8, 2016
Just like Jason Bourne, Peter Graham returns to bring us a blockbuster final instalment on the essence of his true time line identity.
2016 British Open Championship — Marple memories
September 8, 2016
In 1996 Marple won the British Open at Bridgewater Hall in Manchester - a remarkable victory, argues 4BR Editor Iwan Fox that deserves its place in the record books as a worthy champion.
Black Dyke history comes to life — Heritage & Archive Project provides worldwide link
September 6, 2016
An ambitious project supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund will enable the iconic musical history of Black Dyke to be enjoyed throughout the world.
4BR Soapbox: Brass Bands — The great imitators of the musical world?
September 5, 2016
In response to Jack Goldstein's recent article about the modern day perception of brass bands, Paul Gomersall puts forward his own reasons why our propensity for musical imitation may also be a major factor.
Voyages of (brass band) Discovery — From the mountain-top to the pit
September 4, 2016
Roy Terry reports from the south of France where Brass Band Mediterranee is making a musical mark with its artistic endeavours.
A question of reality — The perception of brass bands in modern day Britain
August 31, 2016
Jack Goldstein explores the reasons why the perception of brass banding has become an ingrained form of hyper-reality.
The Land of the Rising Sons and Daughters — Black Dyke's Team Girl tour Japan
August 26, 2016
The all female Team Girl ensemble from Black Dyke Band has just returned from a memorable tour to Japan.
Take 5 — Not all test pieces are the same...
August 10, 2016
4BR looks at five very different major test pieces that have been performed in the last few years - and ones that will surely reward bands and conductors with open, inquisitive mind sets.
4BR interview: Geert Jan Kroon — An emerging Dutch voice
July 30, 2016
4BR recently met up with Geert Jan Kroon to find more about a young Dutch composer determined to retain his individual voice in a multi-lingual world of brass band music.
2016 New Zealand National Championships — Competition Gallery
July 20, 2016
Gallery of images capturing the 2016 New Zealand National Championships
4BR interview: Gareth Small — The foundation builder
June 28, 2016
The Principal Trumpet of the Halle Orchestra tells 4BR that he's determined to provide young players with a foundation on which to build a lifetime's enjoyment of playing through his role as Artist in Association with Black Dyke.
2016 All England Masters International — As it happened
May 29, 2016
All the action from the 2016 All England Masters International - as it happened.
Whit Friday — The greatest free show on earth
May 19, 2016
4BR looks ahead to the intoxicating Whit Friday contest mix, which this year should be approached with a little bit of a media warning before over indulging...
2016 Spring Festival — Competition Gallery
May 16, 2016
Gallery of images capturing the 2016 Spring Festival (Photography by Steve Jack)
2016 Spring Festival — Senior Trophy: As it happened
May 15, 2016
All the action from the 2016 Spring Festival Senior Trophy - as it happened.
2016 Spring Festival — Senior Cup: As it happened
May 15, 2016
All the action from the 2016 Spring Festival Senior Cup - as it happened.
2016 Spring Festival — Grand Shield: As it happened
May 15, 2016
All the action from the 2016 Spring Festival Grand Shield - as it happened.
2016 Spring Festival — Grand Shield: Preview & Prediction
May 12, 2016
4BR Editor Iwan Fox wonders if the judges may have to resort to contesting Bronco paper to separate the potential qualifiers in the Grand Shield this year.
2016 Spring Festival — Senior Cup: Preview & Prediction
May 12, 2016
4BR Editor Iwan Fox looks forward to a battle in all senses of the word to claim one of the four places in the Grand Shield courtesy of some American inspired bravado and can do attitude from Philip Sparke and Uncle Sam
2016 Spring Festival — Senior Trophy: Preview & Prediction
May 12, 2016
4BR Editor Iwan Fox looks forward to the battle on the high seas of James Cook to see who can take a step closer to Symphony Hall.
2016 European Brass Band Championships — Five souvenirs from Lille
May 5, 2016
Amid the triumphs and disappointments there were a few other things that made you stop and think in Lille...
2016 European Brass Band Championships — European Youth Band Gallery
May 4, 2016
Gallery of images capturing the European Youth Brass Band (Photography by Ian Clowes (Goldy Solutions)
2016 European Brass Band Championships — Solo Competition Gallery
May 3, 2016
Gallery of images capturing the Solo Competition at the 2016 European Brass Band Championships (Photography by Ian Clowes (Goldy Solutions)
2016 European Brass Band Championships — Challenge Section Gallery
May 3, 2016
Gallery of images capturing the Challenge Section at the 2016 European Brass Band Championships (Photography by Ian Clowes (Goldy Solutions)
2016 European Brass Band Championships — Youth Championship Gallery
May 3, 2016
Gallery of images capturing the Youth Championships at the 2016 European Brass Band Championships (Photography by Ian Clowes (Goldy Solutions)
2016 European Brass Band Championships — Championship Section Gallery
May 3, 2016
Gallery of images capturing the Championship Section at the 2016 European Brass Band Championships (Photography by Ian Clowes (Goldy Solutions)
2016 European Brass Band Championships — Awards Gallery
May 3, 2016
Gallery of images capturing the Awards Ceremonies at the 2016 European Brass Band Championships (Photography by Ian Clowes (Goldy Solutions)
2016 European Brass Band Championships — Images of the Championships
May 3, 2016
Gallery of images capturing the 2016 European Brass Band Championships (Images by Ian Clowes (Goldy Solutions)
2016 European Brass Band Championships — Introduction to Lille
April 27, 2016
4BR previews the action that will take place in Lille on the weekend - an antidote to any Euro-sceptics...
2016 European Brass Band Championships — Championship Section Preview & Prediction
April 27, 2016
4BR previews the battle for the European title which will be won by an intoxicating mix of fraternal and blockbuster ambitions being realised in full...
2016 European Brass Band Championships — The own-choice blockbusters
April 27, 2016
4BR gives a bite-sized analysis of each of the own-choice works to be played by the Championship Section contenders in Lille on the weekend.
2016 European Brass Band Championships — Titles up for grabs
April 27, 2016
4BR previews the action that will take place in the European Soloist Competition, the Challenge Section and European Youth Band Championship.
4BR interview: Edward Gregson — Inspiring a new composing generation
April 26, 2016
4BR Editor Iwan Fox meets Edward Gregson to find out more about his desire to inspire a new generation of young compositional talent in his role as Composer in Residence with Black Dyke.
2016 National Youth Championships of Great Britain — Images of the Championships
April 22, 2016
Gallery of images capturing the 2016 National Youth Championships of Great Britain (Images by Steve Jack)
2016 National Youth Championships of Great Britain — Contest Preview
April 12, 2016
Malcolm Wood looks forward to a cracking Sunday in bloom at the RNCM in Manchester, where there are National titles to claim for the best in show...
4BR April Soapbox — Essaying an opinion
April 10, 2016
David Taylor wonders if it was a failure of aspiration that made Edward Gregson's 'Essay' question so hard to master at this year's Regional Championships.
The future’s bright, the future is orange — Thoresby Colliery Band rejuvenated
April 9, 2016
The pit wheels may have finished turning, but Thoresby Colliery Band heads towards a bright new future.
Gallery from the 2016 North American National Championships — Images from the Awards
April 5, 2016
Gallery of images capturing the Award Winners at 2016 North American National Championships
Gallery from the 2016 North American National Championships — Images of the Championships
April 3, 2016
Gallery of images capturing the 2016 North American National Championships
Regional reflections — A look back on the highs and lows of the 2016 Area Championships
March 29, 2016
From brilliant Spanish trumpeters and singing bands to spiteful cyber-fraud and migration watch players - the 2016 Regional contests had it all once more.
2016 Welsh Regional Championships — As it happened
March 20, 2016
All the action from the 2016 Welsh Regional Championships - as it happened.
Gallery from the 2016 Welsh Regional Championships — Images
March 22, 2016
The happy Welsh prize winners and qualifiers from Swansea who will head to Ostend, London and Cheltenham.
2016 Welsh Regional Championships — Preview & Predictions
March 18, 2016
4BR Editor Iwan Fox looks forward to a good old scrap in Swansea as Welsh banding continues to punch above its weight.
2016 London & Southern Counties Regional Championships — As it happened
March 20, 2016
All the action from the 2016 London & Southern Counties Regional Championships - as it happened.
Gallery from the 2016 London & Southern Counties Regional Championships — Images
March 22, 2016
A gallery of the happy London and Cheltenham prize winners at Stevenage...
2016 London & Southern Counties Regional Championships — Preview & Predictions
March 17, 2016
4BR Editor Iwan Fox looks forward to the action in Stevenage this weekend, where quality not quantity now holds sway...
2016 Midlands Regional Championships — As it happened
March 13, 2016
All the action from the 2016 Midlands Regional Championships - as it happened.
2016 Midlands Regional Championships — Preview & Predictions
March 11, 2016
4BR Editor Iwan Fox looks forward to the action in Bedworth - at a regional event that has a wonderful calming influence on everyone that takes part...
2016 Scottish Championships — As it happened
March 13, 2016
All the action from the 2016 Scottish Championships - as it happened.
Gallery from 2016 Scottish Championship — Images of the Championships
March 16, 2016
Gallery of images capturing the 2016 Scottish Championship (Images by Personally Yours Photography)
2016 Scottish Championships — Preview and Predictions
March 10, 2016
4BR Editor Iwan Fox looks forward to the domestic battle of the clans before we may all be cut adrift from the banding continent.
2016 West of England Regional Championships — As it happened
March 13, 2016
All the action from the 2016 West of England Regional Championships - as it happened.
Gallery from 2016 West of England Regional Championships — Images of the Championships
March 17, 2016
Gallery of images capturing the 2016 West of England Regional Championships (Images by Iwan Fox)
2016 West of England Regional Championships — Preview & Predictions
March 9, 2016
4BR Editor Iwan Fox looks forward to the bubbly optimism that will surely be on show at the Riviera Centre in Torquay on the weekend.
2016 North of England Regional Championships — As it happened
March 13, 2016
All the action from the 2016 North of England Regional Championships - as it happened.
Gallery from 2016 North of England Regional Championships — Images of the Championships
March 16, 2016
Gallery of images capturing the 2016 North of England Regional Championships (Images by Steve Jack)
2016 North of England Regional Championships — Preview & Predictions
March 9, 2016
4BR Editor Iwan Fox looks forward to the action at the Gala Theatre in Durham where a possible northern powerhouse is starting to pump out title winning wattage.
2016 Yorkshire Regional Championships — As it happened
March 6, 2016
All the action from the 2016 Yorkshire Regional Championships - as it happened.
Gallery from 2016 Yorkshire Regional Championship — Images of the Championships
March 8, 2016
Gallery of images capturing the 2016 Yorkshire Regional Championships
2016 Yorkshire Regional Championships — Previews & Predictions
March 2, 2016
4BR Editor Iwan Fox wonders what the Regional Circus Maximus has in store for us all as it pitches up in the heartland of Yorkshire banding in Bradford.
Forget the form-book — Everyone's in with a chance at the Areas
February 27, 2016
Forget what the from-book and the experts predict - just go out an enjoy the music making experience - and you never know...
2016 North West Regional Championships — As it happened
February 28, 2016
All the action from the 2016 North West Regional Championships - as it happened.
Gallery from 2016 N.W. Regional Championship — Images of the Championships
March 1, 2016
Gallery of images capturing the 2016 N.W. Regional Championships (Images by Steve Jack)
2016 North West Regional Championships — Previews & Predictions
February 24, 2016
4BR Editor Iwan Fox looks forward to the start of the long and winding road to London and Cheltenham - starting at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool on Sunday.
2016 Action Medical Research Youth Entertainment Championships — Preview & Prediction
February 12, 2016
4BR's Malcolm Wood previews the Action Medical Research Youth Entertainment Championships of Great Britain in Blackpool this weekend.
2016 Norwegian National Championships — Preview & Elite Prediction
February 4, 2016
The chase for a place in Ostend in 2017 moves from Lille to Bergen as the Grieghallen hosts the Norwegian National Championships.
2016 RNCM Brass Band Festival — A showcase of head-on intent
February 3, 2016
Great bands and superb performances were on the menu at the Royal Northern College of Music on the weekend - topped by two musicians whose ageless talent was a joy.
January Soapbox Response — Brass in Concert states its entertainment case
January 13, 2016
The organising team of the Brass in Concert Championship delivers a robust defence against claims that its entertainment product lacks direction and communication with a wider audience.
Gallery from 2016 Butlins Mineworkers Championship — Images of the Championships
January 23, 2016
Gallery of images capturing the 2016 Butlins Mineworkers Championship (Images by Steve Jack)
2016 Butlins Mineworkers Championship — Championship Section preview and prediction
January 10, 2016
There is plenty of great music making to enjoy at Butlins this weekend - headed by the battle for the top section big bucks...
2016 Butlins Mineworkers Championship — Section previews and predictions
January 10, 2016
The start of a hectic contest season kicks off in Skegness on the weekend - so who will claim the big money prizes in the First, Second, Third and Fourth Sections?
Take 5 — The best brass band tour destinations for 2016
January 6, 2016
4BR has been finding out which are the five most popular brass band destinations to tour in 2016...
4BR January Soapbox — Reviving the twitching corpse
January 4, 2016
Sandy Smith airs his strong opinions on the problems associated with the modern brass band entertainment contest...
