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European Countdown: 4 days to go

It's all about being popular in Europe...

Sparke
  Philip Sparke has notched up more performances on more pieces than anyone elese

Thanks to Gordon Simpson for providing these great facts from the European contest for us today…

Here's the top-10 most popular own-choice selections made at the European Championships...

16 — Music of the Spheres (Philip Sparke)
15 — Contest Music (Wilfred Heaton) — last played in 2009
14 — Harmony Music (Philip Sparke) — 2010
13 — Pageantry (Herbert Howells) — 1997
13 — Connotations (Edward Gregson) — 1998
13 — Dances and Arias (Edward Gregson) — 2000
12 — Blitz (Derek Bourgeois) — 1998
12 — Revelation (Philip Wilby) — 2012
10 — Paganini Variations (Philip Wilby) — 2001
10 — Montage (Peter Graham) — 2011

And here are the most popular composers and the number of times their pieces have been performed...

79 — Philip Sparke (14 different pieces)
47 — Philip Wilby (7)
40 — Edward Gregson (8)
36 — Gilbert Vinter (7)
36 — Peter Graham (9)
22 — Derek Bourgeois (3)
17 — Wilfred Heaton (2)
14 — Herbert Howells (2)
12 — Thomas Doss (5)
11 — Eric Ball (4)

To find out more about the stats of brass banding go to: http://www.brassstats.com/

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Norwegian Championships

Final musical touches being put in their Bergen place

February 4 • 80 will be putting their own-choice and set-work pieces under final scrutiny ahead of the Norwegian National Championships this weekend.


Jamie Smith

Smith looking forward to Japanese tour

February 4 • Grimethorpe Colliery Band principal cornet Jamie Smith will head to Japan for a performance tour this Easter.


East Midlands

New march and hymn contest to fill gap in East Midlands

February 4 • A brand new event will take on 13th June at the Braybrooke Brewery and Taproom, North Northamptonshire.


gLYN AND hLEN

Busy January enjoyment for Williams duo

February 4 • Glyn and Helen Williams have enjoyed a busy start to 2026.


Dobcross Silver Band - Whitburn Band

Sunday 1 February • c/o Dobcross Band Club. Platt Lane. Dobcross Saddleworth OL3 5AD


Contest: Norwegian National Brass Band Championships

Friday 6 February • Grieghallen, Bergen, N-5015 N-5015


Contest: Norwegian National Brass Band Championships

Saturday 7 February • Grieghallen, Bergen, N-5015 N-5015


Regent Hall Concerts - Royal Greenwich Brass Band

Friday 27 February • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - Oompah Brass XXL

Friday 27 February • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Welwyn Garden City Band

February 5 • We are a friendly & sociable Second Section Band. We have vacancies for a FRONT ROW CORNET player and PERCUSSIONISTS. Our MD is Will Douglas and we rehearse in Welwyn Garden City on Sunday evenings from 7.00-9.00pm.


Waltham St. Lawrence Silver Band

February 4 • Our inclusive non-contesting community band, based near Maidenhead, Bracknell and Reading, has vacancies for: . . Solo Cornet. Soprano Cornet. 2/3 Cornet.


Waltham St. Lawrence Silver Band

February 4 • Our non-contesting community band, based near Maidenhead, Bracknell and Reading, seeks:. . Solo Euphonium . 1st Horn . 2nd Baritone .


Jack Capstaff

Bmus (Hons)
Conductor | Composer


               

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