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Brass Band World: December edition now out

The December edition of the world's premier brass banding magazine is out now — full of unmissable articles, features, reviews and interviews.

Brass Band World
  The December edition of Brass Band World is out now

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

GRAND SLAM FOR EIKANGER:


Norway's Vikings completed a 2017 grand slam of four major titles at Brass in Concert, which invited the audience to award the first Audience Entertainment Trophy at its 41st edition.

VOICE FROM THE PAST: REACHING FOR THE STARS:


A candid and previously unpublished interview with the late
Maurice Murphy at the Barbican Centre, in February 2002, with Lisa Fitzgerald-Lombard gained a fabulous insight into the life and times of the legendary trumpet player, who passed away in 2010.

PRO PRACTICE — PEAK FOR PERFORMANCE:


Could sport science, epitomised by top athletes Mo Farah and Usain Bolt, be applied to brass contest performance?

As we head towards a new contesting year, BBW's Pro Practice host, Professor Roger Webster, applies world-class sport training techniques to achieving peak performance at brass band contests.

THE BBW INTERVIEW:


Vital legacy of labour and love: RNCM Brass Band Festival Artistic Director, Paul Hindmarsh, has created an important repertoire legacy and is responsible for the only major serious performance platform for the brass band genre, as well as influences music selection
at the European Championships, for which he is Chair of the Music Commission.

Christopher Thomas meets the former BBC Radio 3 Producer — who just wants to 'keep the music going'.

LET'S DEBATE: HOLISTIC APPROACH TO ARTISTIC FREEDOM AT BRASS IN CONCERT


Conductor, player and composer/arranger, Sandy Smith, debates the adjudication method and marking system for one of the UK's entertainment contests — Brass in Concert, compares it with Norway's SIDDIS version and argues for a more holistic approach at the former.

2018 BRINGS SEISMIC SHIFT:


As ever in the worldwide brass band community, the last 12 months have brought highs and lows — highs for Eikanger and Valaisia bands, which have taken two of the UK's most prized titles back to Norway and Switzerland, but some harsh lessons for UK banding with this developing seismic shift from the traditional powerbase of the genre.

BBW's Editor, David Childs, surveys an intriguing 12 months.

EUROPE'S HEAVYWEIGHTS HEAD FOR UTRECHT:


Thomas Dunne brings coverage of the first three National contests taking place across Europe, plus Norway's SIDDIS entertainment contest, where the older order was pretty much evident in Denmark and Norway, but toppled in Holland and Austria.

THE HEROES OF THE 369TH HARLEM HELLFIGHTERS:


American composer, Sandy Coffin, helped to organise and played in a concert at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art in July, which reinvented the Harlem Hellfighters Band of
1917 — 1919.

Here, Sandy charts the fascinating band of musicians celebrated for their innovative performing style and heroism during World War I — a legacy that she brought to life in three new pieces performed by Tullis Russell Band at St. Andrews University's Fringe of Gold Festival.

BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY IN 2018:


Christmas is the time to consider your holiday destination in 2018, so BBW has compiled a guide to the top summer schools that combine sun (hopefully), fun and first class tuition, plus festivals that showcase fantastic brass performances.

BBW brings details of the 15th Future All Stars Festival in New York, the European Brass Band Championships and Festival, the North American Brass Band Summer School, Brass Week Samedan, Lieksa Brass Week and the 28th International Brass Band Summer School.

BBW CENTRE BAND: WANTAGE'S CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE


The backwaters of Oxfordshire would not necessarily be where one might expect to find an oasis of brass music making, but with six bands and a new MD in Paul Holland, Wantage Silver Band has the firepower to succeed.

WHITBURN HURTLES TO FOURTH SCOTTISH OPEN:


Mark Good brings coverage of the 2017 Scottish Open, at which Whitburn finished the year in dominant fashion, as well as brings coverage of the Band Supplies Scottish Challenge and Youth Championships.

BBW CASTAWAY:


The principal cornet of 2017 Grand Slam Band, Eikanger — David Morton — selects his desert island listening, book and luxury item.

CD REVIEWS:


Principal trombone of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Simon Cowen, reviews the news Foden's Christmas recording featuring vocalist, Matthew Ford and David Childs enjoys a Q&A the singer.

Christopher Thomas listens to The Nationals 2017 highlights disc and leading trombone soloist, conductor and educator, Brett Baker, settles back to enjoy the latest and highly recommended seasonal release from Manger Musikklag Band entitled December.

MUSIC REVIEWS:


Thomas Dunne reviews the latest batch of concert music published by Music Company, mf-muskverlag frank, and Wright and Round.

Norway's Vikings completed a 2017 grand slam of four major titles at Brass in Concert, which invited the audience to award the first Audience Entertainment Trophy at its 41st editionBBW

CONCERT REVIEWS:


The World of Brass in Concert featuring Cory Band and Men Aloud at the Sage Gateshead; the USA's razzmatazz outfit — Fountain City — entertains in Perth, Scotland and the Fringe of Gold Festival at St. Andrews University featuring Tullis Russell Mills and Kingdom bands with The Wallace Collection.

FESTIVE GIFT GUIDE:


With just over two weeks of frenzied shopping time before Christmas day, BBW has compiled a handy gift guide and the best thing about it... you don't have to venture out into the cold to purchase the items — they're all available at the click of a mouse. Happy shopping!

RANKINGS:


Cory finishes on top for the sixth consecutive year Gordon Simpson reveals which bands finished 2017, but which band is the highest riser at the end of 2017? Gordon Simpson reveals all in the original brass band Rankings.

DIARY DATES:


Events around the World in December and January.

… AND ANOTHER THING:


John Barber and resident cartoonist, Nezzy, reveal their Christmas wishlist.

NEWS:


All the latest news including: Brass Bands England launches volunteer recruitment drive; Smith-Watkins fanfares opening of New Zealand Parliament; New York Staff Band to tour Japan; Brass in Concert branches out with Grimethorpe and ABBA's Regional Test-piece Workshop details.

SUBSCRIBE:


Subscribe today via www.brassbandworld.co.uk

ACCESS RIGHT NOW BY SUBSCRIBING TO BBW DIGITAL THE WORLD'S FAVOURITE MONTHLY BRASS MAGAZINE ON SMART PHONES, TABLETS AND DESKTOPS ONLY £30 WHEREVER YOU ARE IN THE WORLD! OR SUBSCRIBE TO THE PRINTED MAGAZINE DELIVERED BY POST: £40 (UK); £68

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Syndey

Report & Results: 2025 Yamaha Australian National Band Championships

April 20 • Sydney City becomes the inaugural Premier Championships of Australia as senior National titles head to Footscray-Yarraville City, Cairns Brass No. 1, Wonthaggi Citizensand City of Ballarat Municipal Brass.


Wobplay

Wobplay offers global opportunities at Euros

April 19 • There will be plenty of advertising opportunities for businesses as part of the comprehensive weekend of live-broadcast action from the European Championships in Stavanger.


Russell Gray

Gray to host double conducting seminars

April 19 • Aspiring conductors can enjoy the opportunity to work alongside Russell Gray in Scotland and Norway next month as he hosts his Conducting Seminars in Bathgate and Askoy.


Siusa

Jena pride at Sousa inclusion

April 19 • Jose Sousa will become the fifth young player from the Jena Brass Band Centre in Germany to represent the nation as part of the European Youth Brass Band.


Regent Hall Concerts - The Central Band of the Royal Air Force

Friday 25 April • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London. . W1C2DJ


Newstead Brass - Under Gaia

Saturday 26 April • Mansfield Palace Theatre. Leeming Street . Mansfield. Nottinghamshire NG18 1NG


Newstead Brass - St George's Day Celebration

Sunday 27 April • St Wilfrid's Church, Church Street, Kirkby In Ashfield NG17 8LA


Contest: European Brass Band Championshiips

Friday 9 May • Konzerthaus, SandvigÃ¥ 1, 4007 Stavanger, Norway


Contest: European Brass Band Championshiips

Saturday 10 May • Konzerthaus, SandvigÃ¥ 1, 4007 Stavanger, Norway


Linthwaite Band

April 21 • Linthwaite Band is a 4th section contesting Band , with a busy Summer of engagements coming up, and are looking to complete our friendly team, with a back row 2nd cornet player, and are keen to fill the position as soon as possible.


Chinnor Silver

April 21 • Required Percussion and Bass players (Eb or Bb). We are a friendly and ambitious band and have successfully qualified for the second section national finals and also earned promotion to the 1st section in 2026. Come along and help complete our happy team


wantage silver band

April 21 • A friendly and ambitious first section band, Wantage Concert Brass are looking for an experienced and dedicated MUSICAL DIRECTOR to help drive the band's continued growth and development, building on their best result to date at the recent area contest.


Andreas Kratz

Mus.B (hons)
Conductor, Adjudicator, Teacher


               

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