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Brass Band World August Edition now out

There are fantastic features, views, news, reviews and interviews in the world's leading monthly brass banding magazine.

BBW aUGIST
  The August Edition of Brass Band World magazine is out now

The July/August edition of Brass Band World magazine is now out and it's full with fantastic features, articles, reviews and interviews from around the globe…

THE BBW INTERVIEW: CARVING HER PLACE IN HISTORY


Kathleen Gaspoz made history when she became Brighouse & Rastrick's first-ever female principal cornet.

Christopher Thomas catches up with the rising cornet star from the Swiss Alps.

VIEW FROM THE BOX


Want to win at Cheltenham?

Then read about what will impress the adjudicators in the 'box' at Cheltenham as four of the eight judges — Paul Holland, Tom Davoren, Glyn Williams and Stan Lippeatt tell competitors what they will be listening for...

PRO PRACTICE


Besson Artist, trumpet/cornet extraordinaire, adjudicator and educator, Roger Webster, considers the pros and cons of positive critique versus criticism and the negative impact that the latter can have on players in this month's Pro Practice.

BBW CASTAWAY


Newly appointed solo horn of the Grimethorpe Colliery Band, Helen Varley, reveals her desert island listening to Katrina Marzella.

LET'S DEBATE: 'BREAKING THE GLASS CEILING'


Leading composer, Liz Lane, debates the glass ceiling for women in the music business and uncovers opinion that UK brass banding still lags behind the continent when it comes to appointing female players, conductors and composers.

PRO PLATFORM


David Childs interviews Christopher Parkes — Principal horn of the Swedish Radio Symphony and John Wilson orchestras, Superbrass and Fine Arts Brass member, Guildhall School of Music and Drama tutor, and former solo tenor horn with the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain.

TRIBUTE


Black Dyke baritone soloist, Katrina Marzella, paints a portrait of her friend — the teacher, composer and arranger, Bruce Fraser, who died in February this year, but whose music and teaching touched the lives of many.

In addition, conductor of the Salvation Army's International Staff Band, Dr. Stephen Cobb, pays tribute to James Williams MBE — the man and musician whose influence touched so many musicians inside and outside The Salvation Army.

SLIDING AROUND GLASGOW


Mark Good reports on Scotland's four-day festival celebrating the virtues of the trombone.

INTERNATIONAL FEATURE


Band has broken up for the summer, but that doesn't mean letting your musical skills gather dust for two months!

Rita Arendz, Les Neish, Ian Clowes and David Childs report from the first summer schools to happen this year in Canada, Switzerland, Holland and the USA

TIPPING POINT FOR UK


Brass Bands England recently appointed a new interim CEO — Andrew Coe.

He comes with a 'big ticket' CV in international tennis and motor sport, but how realistic are his intentions for the UK brass band community and BBE, which reaches its 50th birthday next year — Nicola Bland finds out.

YOUNG VOICES


Mark Good meets Whitburn's euphonium star, Scott Kerr.

WILLEBROEK RULE THE WORLD


WMC Kerkrade in Holland takes place every four years and commences with a weekend of brass band contests, including a top section battle for World rule, this time won by Belgium.

Johan Jansen reports from the 18th edition, originally founded in 1949 after a high-impact concert in Kerkrade by Carlton Main Frickley.

BBW CENTRE BAND


Valaisia to fly Swiss flag with pride at British Open.

DREAM TEAM AT TULLIS RUSSELL


John Wallace CBE returns to his boyhood band as Principal Musical Director and shares with Nicola Bland his fresh vision for the organisation's future.

BRASS EDUCATION


Nicola Bland reports on all the latest developments at the Royal Northern College of Music, Birmingham Conservatoire, Royal Academy of Music, and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Kathleen Gaspoz made history when she became Brighouse & Rastrick's first-ever female principal cornet. Christopher Thomas catches up with the rising cornet star from the Swiss AlpsBBW

NEWS


Butlin's to rock with high-octane acts, youth and education to shine at Brass in Concert, and Euro 2018 set-work composers revealed.

PREVIEW — FRESH HORIZONS FOR SOPRANO CORNET


Nicola Bland catches up with of Cory's ace soprano, Steve Stewart ahead of the British Open release of his debut solo CD — Over the Horizon.

REVIEWS: CDS


Thomas Dunne reviews BBW's CD of the Month, Vox, featuring Dutch euphonium star, Robbert Vos, whilst David Thornton reviews 'some gorgeous playing' on Joe Cook's new release, and Chris Thomas takes in DVD and CD Highlights from the European Championships 2017 — 'a compelling retrospective of a fascinating weekend of music-making.'

CONCERT REVIEWS


James Davis savours 'world-class' Foden's on the Isle of Man, Andrew Baker enjoys Sandy Smith's 'innovative' Tubular Brass show at the RNCM, Alan Jenkins is blown away to musicians from four different Continents at the Black Dyke Festival, and Brenden Wheeler witnessed history in the making as the Queensbury outfit 'rocked out' on Glastonbury's Pyramid Stage.

PRODUCTS


James Andrews gives his verdict on Seán Hooper's Samba for Schools book, Black Dyke's Zoe Hancock tells readers why she has switched to the new rose gold bell Bach Stradivarius Flugel Horn, and Alliance soprano mouthpieces are put through their paces by soprano star, Paul Richards.

RANKINGS


New World Champions Willebroek leapfrog Black Dyke and Eikanger to take a podium place in the Brass Stats World Rankings.

DIARY DATES


What's on around the World in August and September.

… AND ANOTHER THING


John Barber and cartoonist, Nezzy, get ready for the new contest season by brushing up on rules of engagement, set by the Co-operative Higher Authority Institute of Narcissistic Stewards Against Warmups (CHAINSAW)!

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OR SUBSCRIBE TO THE PRINTED MAGAZINE DELIVERED BY POST: £40 (UK); £68 (Europe); £81 (Rest of the World)

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Civic Hall

Result: 2026 Midlands Regional Championships Second Section

March 15 • Harborough Band claims the last Midlands title on offer for this year as they are joined in York by Leicestershire Co-op.


markham

Results: 2026 Welsh Regional Championships

March 14 • Cory reclaims the Welsh title as Parc & Dare, Markham & District, City of Cardiff (M2) and Gwaun Cae Gurwen claim section honours.


Pendennis

Results: 2026 West of England Regional Championships

March 14 • Flowers reclaim Area title with section wins for Lympstone, Lanner & District, St Pinnock and Pendennis Brass in Torquay


Shine

Ready to shine? NYBBGB offer audition skills workshops

March 14 • There are a trio of FREE audition skills workshops on offer from the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain to help young player's skills sets.


Regent Hall Concerts - London Central Fellowship Band

Saturday 7 March • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - Regent Hall Band of the Salvation Army

Tuesday 10 March • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - Queen Victorias Consort

Friday 13 March • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - Slide Effect Trombone Quartet

Friday 20 March • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London. . W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - Welsh Guards Band Septet

Friday 20 March • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


St John's Band (Mossley)

March 15 • We are a friendly, welcoming 4th section band based in Tameside, Greater Manchester. Following our 4th place at the North West regionals, we are looking for a SOLO CORNET player (position negotiable). We rehearse on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.


St John's Band (Mossley)

March 15 • We are a friendly, welcoming 4th section band based in Tameside, Greater Manchester.. . . Following our 4th place at the North West regionals, we are looking for a BBb BASS player.. . . We rehearse on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.


Linthwaite Band

March 14 • We are a welcoming 4th section contesting Band with a vacancy for a kit player. Our calendar is filling up with various contests and engagements to fulfil through the year.


Sam Fisher

BA (Hons), PGCE, Dip.ABRSM
Conductor, Adjudicator (AoBBA), Composer/Arranger, Cornet & Flugelhorn Soloist


               

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