*
banner

4BR set for North American National Championships

4BR will be flying to Cincinnati to provide live coverage of the North American Brass Band Championships.

US flag
 

4BR will be flying out to the USA in the next 24 hours to bring you live coverage of the North American Brass Band Championships in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Weekend

The contest takes place at the city’s Masonic Center on Friday 12th & Saturday 13th April, with 22 bands from across the nation competing in five sections.

Reigning National champions Atlantic Brass will be looking to make it a hat trick of Championship victories over the two legged contest, which sees them up against seven highly competitive rivals.

Set work and own choice

They will each perform the set work, ‘Elgar Variations’ on the Friday evening and their own choice selections the following day.

Eight First Section bands will perform their demanding set work ‘Four Dances from the ballet Checkmate’ on the Saturday morning, whilst the trio of Second Section bands will tackle the single test of ‘Labour & Love’, and the two Third Section contenders will perform Philip Sparke’s ‘Saint Saens Variations’.

There are also sections for youth ensembles as well as the keenly fought solo championship titles.

Judges

The organisers have brought in an experienced panel of international adjudicators, with renowned composer Johan De Meij joined by Michael Garasi, Peter Meechan, Thomas Palmatier, Ray Tizzard and Keith Wilkinson.

Action

The action starts at 7.00pm (local time) on the Friday evening with the Saturday musical action starting at 8.30am (local time)

4BR will bring you daily updates, live comments, opinions, interviews and pictures of the action as well as our usual post match news report and retrospective.

Make sure you follow the action on the live coverage section of the site!

4BR will bring you daily updates, live comments, opinions, interviews and pictures of the action as well as our usual post match news report and retrospective4BR

Competing bands:

Atlantic Brass Band
Bend in the River Brass Band
Brass Band of Central Florida
Brass Band of Columbus
Brass of the Potomac
Central Ohio Brass Band
Chapel Brass Band
Chesapeake Silver Cornet Brass Band
Chicago Brass Band
Eastern Iowa Brass Band
Five Lakes Silver Band
Fountain City Brass Band
Illinois Brass Band
James Madison University Brass Band
Madison Brass Band
Motor City Brass Band
Natural State Brass Band
New England Brass Band
Oakland University Brass Band
Princeton Brass Band
Triangle Youth Brass Band
Triangle Youth Brass Ensemble

For more information:
http://nabba.org/

Become a supporter and help make our future secure.

4barsrest continues to be a proudly independent voice. There are no paywalls to overcome to be able to enjoy what we do to keep our journalism at the heart of the brass banding world. Support us with a one-off donation or subscribe from just £2.50 per month.

Support us    


Spring Festival

2027 Spring Festival test-pieces announced

October 14 • Works by Philip Sparke, Robert Redhead and Derek Bourgeois will test the aspiring British Open credentials of the competing bands at the Spring Festival next May.


Ellerby

Yorkshire Youth Band enjoys first Dance moves of new season

October 14 • A new work by composer Martin Ellerby has helped inspire the players on the Yorkshire Youth Band course.


gENEVA

Geneva launch Academy range to give long term term support to players and retailers

October 14 • The Geneva Academy Series is aimed at providing a sustainable musical future for players and retailers alike.


EBBA

EBBA drops Challenge Section in 1 year trial

October 14 • There will be no Challenge Section at the 2027 European Brass Band Championships in Montreux.


Regent Hall Concerts - Trafalgar Brass

Thursday 15 October • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - Queentet

Friday 16 October • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - Funny Bones Symphonic Brass

Friday 16 October • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - Fulham Brass Band

Friday 16 October • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Dobcross Silver Band -

Friday 16 October • Playhouse 2 . 2 Newtown street. Shaw. Oldham OL2 8NX


Lostock Hall Brass Band

October 13 • Could you be our next PRINCIPAL CORNET player? and the final piece of our jigsaw!. We are PROMOTED TO THE 1st SECTION in January 2027 as North West 2nd Section Champions of 2026. We are a friendly bunch, have a great mix of ages and sensible mix of jobs


St Michael's Band

October 13 • St Michael’s Band Middleton is a community based non-contesting band looking for players in all sections but particularly cornets front and back row. You’d be very welcome if you are returning to playing or indeed need band experience as a new player


Chinnor Silver

October 12 • We are looking for an ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL CORNET to join and enhance our top line.. We are a 1st Section band with a good mix of concerts and contests planned,including a trip to Belgium next year.. Rehearsals are on a Wednesday in our own bandroom


Nigel Seaman

ARMCM ARNCM
Conductor, band trainer, teacher and adjudicator


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd