Five top bands, an ambitious ensemble from Switzerland under an exciting conducting talent, a roster of top class soloists and a wide range of music are among the ingredients that will make up the 2012 RNCM Festival of Brass.

Memorable mix

Artistic Director Paul Hindmarsh hopes that the mix will make it one of the most memorable in its history, as he told 4BR:

"Last years festival, with the wonderful Venezuelan Brass Ensemble was always going to difficult to follow, so the prospect of the Olympics was the obvious overall theme around which to build the programmes."

Last years festival, with the wonderful Venezuelan Brass Ensemble was always going to difficult to follow, so the prospect of the Olympics was the obvious overall theme around which to build the programmesPaul Hindmarsh

Rextreme

American trumpet star Rex Richardson, will be the soloist with Foden's in the second of the gala concerts, on Saturday 28th January, giving the first complete performance of the brass band version of ‘Rextreme’, a jazz concerto written for Rex by Jim Stephenson.

The amazing trombonist Peter Moore will be giving the world premiere of Simon Dobson's new ‘Trombone Concerto’, whilst further Olympic gold medal performances will surely be heard from the trio of euphonium superstars, David Childs, Steven Mead and David Thornton.

Swiss invite

Paul added: "I’ve been following the development of Swiss conductor Michael Bach with great interest over the past few years, especially with his band, Brass Band Bugermusik Luzern. When the opportunity arose for them to make the trip to Manchester, I was delighted to find them a spot in the festival, where they will be joined by the top five ranked bands in the UK, Black Dyke, Cory, Fairey, Foden's and for the first time Tredegar."

Birthday celebrations

He concluded: "The full programme is yet to be confirmed, but I am delighted that we will be featuring the music of John Golland (a 70th Anniversary tribute) and marking the 60th birthday year of Judith Bingham and the 90th year of Ray Steadman-Allen, alongside some brass band classics and works from Simon Dobson, Gavin Higgins, Peter Meechan, Lucy Pankhurst and Andy Scott."

The 2012 Festival of Brass takes place between 27th and 29th January.