Latest News
Poorer children face sterile cultural treadmill through limited access to music
July 22
New Social Mobility Commission study reports that children from poorer households are being excluded from musical activities — missing out on life enhancing social skills, confidence building and a sense of belonging.
4BR Shop: Thomann Valve — Medium Valve Oil (3X 10ml bottles)
July 22 • Euphonium Store has a great offer on at the moment for the market leading valve oil from Thomann.
Death of Norman Christie
July 22 • The death has been announced of the former Black Dyke, Brighouse & Rastrick, Fairey and Diggle cornet player Norman Christie.
Fantastic tuba ready for action at Band Supplies
July 22 • Band Supplies has a fantastic Besson 982 EEb tuba up for grabs.
Midlands youth enjoy pounding the streets
July 22 • The North East Midlands Brass Band Association Youth Band joined forces with Shirland Welfare Band for their annual gala concert.
RNCM offers conducting courses
July 22 • The Royal Northern College of Music has announced details of its 2019/20 Conducting courses.
4BR Shop: Last Night of the Proms Medley (arranged by Tom Barton)
July 22 • Just in time for those summer concerts with a Last Night of the Proms finale...
Camsay signs for Fulham
July 22 • One of the most respected Salvation Army bass trombone players will be making his debut with Fulham Brass at the National Finals in Cheltenham in September.
All roads lead to Bolsover for Summer School attractions
July 21 • Steven Mead will be leading 55 delegates from around the world in a week of great music making at the Bolsover International Brass Band Summer School.
Vision
Interview with Fiona Hyslop MSP
June 19 • 4BR Editor Iwan Fox talks to Scotland's Minister for Culture at the MEPG Celebration Day event at Glasgow's Concert Hall.
Interview with Youth Brass 2000
March 30 • 4BR Editor Iwan Fox talks to conductor Chris Jeans of the 2019 National Youth Champions of Great Britain, Youth Brass 2000.
Interview with Darren Henley OBE
March 30 • 4BR Editor Iwan Fox talks to Darren Henley OBE, CEO of Arts Council England who was a welcome visitor to the 2019 National Youth Championships on the weekend
Interview with Wardle Academy School Band
March 30 • 4BR Editor Iwan Fox talks to two of the players from Wardle Academy School Band after they won the Intermediate Section of the 2019 National Youth Championships.
Editor's Picks
To change or not to change?: A repeated question in need of an urgent answer...
July 21 • Contesting has dominated the brass band genre for nearly 170 years, but has the time for a radical rethink finally arrived? Tim Mutum offers his personal viewpoint.
Requiem for brass: Verdi's masterpiece comes to Durham
July 17 • David Whetstone talks to composer Steve Robson and chorus master Mike Summers about the landmark performance of Verdi's 'Requiem' at Durham Cathedral as part of Durham BRASS 2019.
Grimethorpe at the crossroads: An exciting future or a heyday that has passed forever?
July 10 • Does the appointment of Dr David Thornton as Musical Director finally signal the realistic ambition of Grimethorpe Colliery Band to secure a relevant future for itself?
2019 BrassPass.tv Band of the Year: As it happened
June 22 • All the action from the 2019 BrassPass.tv Band of the Year — as it happened.
Reviews
Concert: Foden's, Elland Silver Youth & Superbrass
July 17 • Conductors: Michael Fowles, Samantha Harrison. George Lawton Hall. Mossley. Saturday 13th July
Concert: Former members of the Household Division Bands in Concert
July 17 • Household Division Music Festival 2019. Conductors: Lt Col D Kimberley MBE; Major B T Keeling MBE; Major A R Chatburn; . Lt Col D L Wolfendale. Guards Chapel. London. Sunday 30th June
Concert: Cory Band
July 16 • Cory Band/RWCMD Composition Prize. Conductor: Philip Harper . RWCMD. Cardiff. Sunday 30th June
Rankings
| # | Band | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cory | 2,393.77 |
| 2 | Valaisia Brass Band | 871.25 |
| 3 | Eikanger-Bjørsvik | 830.62 |
| 4 | Brighouse and Rastrick | 764.23 |
| 5 | Paris Brass Band | 664.04 |
| 6 | Black Dyke | 577.50 |
| 7 | Foden's | 524.05 |
| 8 | Tredegar | 407.38 |
| 9 | Brass Band Willebroek | 333.25 |
| 10 | Carlton Main Frickley Colliery | 280.39 |
What's on
Lewes, Glynde and Beddingham Brass Band - Eastbourne Bandstand - 1812 concert
Wednesday 31 July • Bandstand, Grand Parade, Eastbourne BN21 3AD
Lewes, Glynde and Beddingham Brass Band - Commercial Square Bonfire Society, The Jumping Jac
Saturday 3 August • The Paddock. Little Paddock Lane. Lewes BN7 1UU
Gresley Colliery Band - Byrkley Park Garden Centre
Saturday 10 August • Byrkley Drive, Rangemore St, Burton upon Trent . DE13 9RN
Foden's Band - Matt Ford - Gawsworth Hall, Macclesfield
Sunday 11 August • Gawsworth Hall, Church Lane, Gawsworth SK11 9RN
Foden's Band - Snape Maltings
Saturday 17 August • Snape Maltings, Suffolk IP17 1SP
Vacancies
Amington Band
July 22 • Positions vacant: Amington Band: Amington Band (Midlands 3rd Section) have a busy contesting and concert schedule and are looking for: 1st TROMBONE, 2nd TROMBONE and BACK ROW CORNETS
Castleton Brass
July 22 • We are an ambitious 2nd section band in the London & Southern Counties Region based near Eye in Suffolk. The band has vacancies for Soprano & Principal/Solo cornet. The band rehearses on a Tuesday evening between 19.30pm and 21.30pm.
Bollington Brass Band
July 22 • We have a vacancy for a Kit Player and Front row Cornet. Do you fancy a new challenge? We are friendly 1st Section band rehearsing Mon/Thur 8pm-10pm and are based near Macclesfield/Stockport. We have a sensible concert and job programme.
Professional Cards
Stan Lippeatt
BA, LRSM
Conductor, adjudicator, tutor