The latest edition of Brass Band World magazine is out now and packed with fantastic, fresh features, articles, reviews and interviews from around the globe.
In fact it's got everything you would expect from the world's favourite magazine for brass bands and instrumentalists — and also comes in digital format for smart phones, tablets and desktops.
EDITOR'S VIEW
David Childs urges bands to be proactive in setting up their own youth initiatives, before a generation of children are cheated out of the opportunity to explore their talents and denied the benefits that music education can bring.
NEWS
RNCM launches Cornet Day, Luc Vertommen teams up with Brass band Ghent, Wright Medal for Mark Ford, Bumper entry Wychavon, uptake on BBE membership and Mike Lovatt to host Brass in Concert Master Class.
THE PRICE OF PARENTHOOD
Lawyer, uber-mother and Black Dyke's solo baritone, Katrina Marzella, questions whether brass band governance, registration and contest rules reflect current social practices relating to maternity and paternity leave.
YOUNG VOICES
Will Thomas has brass band music running through his veins and has made the cut for the brass final of BBC Brass Musician of the Year twice. Now studying trumpet at the Royal Academy of Music, the 18-year-old from Twickenham chats to Mark Good about his career.
THE BBW INTERVIEW: IN A CLASS OF HER OWN!
Former top-level UK player, Helen Harrelson, crossed the Atlantic to begin a 'pro' career and now plays Pied Piper to Fountain City Youth Band and America's first National Youth Brass Band, as Christopher Thomas found out.
SWISS CROWN NEW 'OPEN' CHAMPION
Euphonium super star, Glenn Van Looy, reports from the Swiss Open Championships in Lucerne, where Brass Band Berner Oberland claimed top honours.
EUROPE GEARS UP FOR BATTLE
Mainland and Northern European bands are on the starting blocks for the start of their season of National competitions this month and next — Thomas Dunne previews the test-pieces, runners and riders in six nations battling for top honours.
BOLSOVER'S SPIRIT OF ENTERPRISE AND ENTERTAINMENT
Under the private management of its founder, Carole Crompton, for the first time and with worldwide live-streaming, the spirit of enterprise and entertainment flourished at the 2018 Bolsover Festival — Christopher Thomas brings his thoughts.
RNCM FESTIVAL
RNCM Brass Band Festival Artistic Director, Paul Hindmarsh, previews the 2019 programme that pays homage to Wilfred Heaton, includes the music of John McCabe and Sir James MacMillan, and features soloists, Ian Bousfield and David Childs.
PROTEST AGAINST EXTINCTION
Paul Williams — MD of Downton Band, and Bandmaster and percussionist for Woodfalls Band reports on how useful he found Brass Bands England's first Artistic Development Seminar — part of a rolling roadshow of seminars coming to a venue near you in coming months.
THE VALUE OF A SUMMER COURSE
The International Brass Band Summer School brought together a top-drawer MD and tutors, students from 14 different nations, reached 30,000 via a daily blog and provided quality music-making with a fun vibe...
BBW CASTAWAY
Katrina Marzella invites eminent composer, Philip Wilby, to drift away to BBW's imaginary desert island with his favourite recordings, a book and a rather large luxury item!
BBW CENTRE BAND
Stamford Band bathed in glory at the British National Finals last month as the Section 4 Champion — a monumental achievement in a year of unprecedented success in the outfit's history.
FODEN'S THE PHOENIX
Foden's has literally risen from the ashes of the fire that destroyed its band room and historic artifacts two years ago to claim its 14th National title after a fallow competitive period from 2012. Christopher Thomas reports from Britain's top section Final at London's Royal Albert Hall.
NORTH WEST AND YORKSHIRE DOMINATE IN CHELTENHAM
Christopher Thomas and Thomas Dunne report from a National Finals (sections 1-4) weekend distinguished by keen rivalry and attractive music where the North West retained sections 1 and 2 and Yorkshire kept a firm grip on Section 3.
PRO PLATFORM: SOUND AND STYLE ARE KEY
Artistic Director and founder of Septura, Simon Cox, provides the inside track on Alan Thomas — Septura colleague, BBC Symphony Orchestra Principal Trumpet, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Associate Head of Brass and former member of Hangleton Band.
PRO PRACTICE: BREXIT FOR BRASS BANDS
The winds of change are blowing as the implications of Brexit start to emerge. In this month's Pro Practice, Professor Roger Webster considers what Britain's exit from the European Union could mean for brass bands in Britain, mainland and Northern Europe.
Paul Williams — MD of Downton Band, and Bandmaster and percussionist for Woodfalls Band reports on how useful he found Brass Bands England's first Artistic Development Seminar led by Cory's Philip HarperBBW
REVIEWS
Septura release Music for Brass Septet 6 on Naxos; Doyen releases the new solo CD from Cory Band's Tom Hutchinson; Black Dyke present The Heaton Collection Volume 6 for SP&S; Jaguar Land Rover Band join forces with friends for an innovative new release; Valaisia celebrates a decade of achievement; Foden's excel at 'The Rink' and brilliant new seasonal music from Prima Vista Musikk, Lake Music, Triumphonic Productions and Wright and Round is previewed.
NEW MOUTHPIECES FROM PICKETT BRASS
Peter Pickett bought his first lathe in 1999 and made several heavy-bottomed caps for his trumpet, which led to requests for similar trims in various weights. Nearly two decades on, his namesake Company and recently acquired Blackburn Trumpets continue to develop world-class products with top-line players.
DIARY DATES
What's on around the World in October and November
… AND ANOTHER THING
Resident wit and cartoonist, Rob Nesbitt, aka 'Nezzy' reminds audience-milking conductors that cream always rises to the top!
ACCESS THE WORLD'S FAVOURITE MONTHLY BRASS MAGAZINE BY SUBSCRIBING AT:
PRINTED EDITION DELIVERED BY POST — TEN EDITIONS: £40 (UK); £68 (Europe); £81 (rest of the World).
DIGITAL EDITION FOR SMART 'PHONES, TABLETS AND DESKTOPS — ONLY £30 FOR TEN EDITIONS, WHEREVER YOU ARE IN THE WORLD!
DITIGAL AND PRINTED EDITION COMBINED — TEN EDITIONS: £55 (UK); £83 (Europe); £96 (rest of World) — SAVING 50% ON THE DIGITAL EDITION!
