*
banner

Report & Results: 2016 City of Coventry & Warwickshire Brass Festival

Talented performers battle for the honours at the 7th annual Coventry & Warwickshire Brass Festival.

Luke Barker
 

The 7th annual City of Coventry & Warwickshire Brass Festival was held at Bablake School in Coventry on the weekend, and featured an excellent line-up of players both young and old taking part in the various solo, duet and ensemble sections.

Successful defence

Flowers horn star Paul Bennett retained his Festival Champion title for the third year running, beating off the strong Midlanders duo of Murray Borthwick (Desford) and Ian Wright (Jaguar Land Rover), whilst Luke Barker (Shipston) (above) retained his 'Best young Instrumentalist' title as well as scooping the new '18 and under' Air-Varie accolade.

Fantastic performances

The adjudicators for the event, which saw some fantastic performances from the very youngest competitors in particular in the brilliant '10 years & under' section, were Simon Hogg and Paul White, with the members of Jaguar Land Rover Band providing the stewarding.

Flowers horn star Paul Bennett retained his Festival Champion title for the third year running, beating off the strong Midlanders duo of Murray Borthwick (Desford) and Ian Wright (Jaguar Land Rover)4BR

Results:

10 years & Under Slow Melody:
1. Polly Rumble (NMPAT)
2. Rebecca Fletcher (Clinton Primary)
3. Henry Fifield (Shipston)

11 to 14 Slow Melody:
1. Luke Barker (Shipston)
2. Christopher Oddy (Enderby Youth)
3. Bethan Bown (Shipston)

Open Slow Melody:
1. Paul Bennett (Flowers)
2. Murray Borthwick (Desford)
3. Ian Wright (Jaguar Land Rover)

Duets 14 & Under:
1. Luke Barker & Grace Coates (Shipston)
2. Grace Coates & Bethan Bown (Shipston)
3. Bethan Bown & Sasha Turner (Shipston)

Duets 15 & Over:
1. Ian Wright & Andy Mayell (Jaguar Land Rover)
2. Linda Hobbs & Mick Wild (Jaguar Land Rover)
3. Kevin Whittaker & Micah Parsons (JLR and City of Coventry Brass)

Quartets 18 & Under:
1. Shipston

Quartets — Open:
1. Jaguar Land Rover
2. Shipston

Air Varie — 18 and under:
1. Luke Barker (Shipston)
2. Christopher Oddy (Enderby Youth)
3. Sasha Turner (Shipston)

Air Varie — Open:
1. Paul Bennett (Flowers)
2. Murray Borthwick (Desford)
3. Ian Wright (Jaguar Land Rover)

Best Instrumentalist 14 & Under:
Luke Barker (Shipston)

Festival Champion:
Paul Bennett (Flowers)

Youngest Girl: Tallulah Matthews (Shipston)
Youngest Boy: Peter Coates (Shipston)

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    


the cooperation band

World Cup preview for the cooperation band

July 4 • Scotland is still in the draw for the brass band version of the World Cup — and you can hear how they are putting the final preparations in place ahead of Kerkrade.


Tredegar Carys

Essence of Tredegar enjoyed by young euph player

July 4 • 19 year old Carys Rycroft recently enjoyed her prize of a solo spotlight at a rehearsal with Tredegar Band.


Van den berg

Soli connection to come to an end

July 4 • The musical partnership between Anne Van den Berg and Soli Brass will come to an end after this year's Dutch National Championships.


wOOLSTON bRASS

Woolston Band on the rise again

July 4 • New Zealand's most successful band is getting ever closer to putting the final touches to its future home.


Regent Hall Concerts - Central Band of the RAF

Thursday 2 July • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - Royal Air Force Squadronaires

Friday 3 July • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Brass - Living Lines

Sunday 5 July • St Saviour's, Pimlico, St.George's Square, Pimlico, London SW1V 3QW


Regent Hall Concerts - Royal Greenwich Brass Band

Sunday 5 July • St Alfege Church . Greenwich Church Street. London SE10 9BJ


Regent Brass - Brass on the Grass

Wednesday 22 July • The College Garden, Westminster Abbey, Deans Yard, London SW1P 3PA


Cross Keys Silver Band

July 2 • Solo Euphonium - With an array of concerts, contests and community engagements lined up for the remainder of 2026, we're looking to fill our Solo Euphonium seat. If you're the strong player that we're interested in, please get in touch.


Cross Keys Silver Band

July 2 • Solo Horn - We're looking to recruit a new Solo Horn player to help shape the section in our 2nd section band in South Wales. We have an array of concerts, contests and community engagements lined up for the remainder of 2026.


Crewe Brass

July 1 • Crewe Brass are looking for a FRONT ROW CORNET to join our highly motivated 4th section band. We are a very welcoming and sociable band, with a positive outlook and a reasonably busy calendar of engagements. Other enquiries are welcome.


Craig Roberts

BA (Hons), MA
Conductor / Adjudicator


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd