*
banner

Bands prepare for Band of the Year contest

The first BrassPass.tv Band of the Year contest will take place in Manchester on Saturday.

Stoller Hall
  The Stoller Hall in Manchester will host the inaugural contest

Nine of the UKs top bands are putting the final preparations to their 30 minute programmes for the inaugural BrassPass.tv 'Band of the Year' contest which takes place at Manchester's Stoller Hall on Saturday.

There is a first prize of £5,000 plus a magnificent new trophy to be picked up by the winner, with podium prizes of £3,500 and £1,500. The open adjudication is in the hands of the international panel of Tom Brevik, Reid Gilje and Jan De Haan.

The bands have also announced the programmes that they will be performing.

The event is being live-streamed by BrassPass.tv and a trailer can be found at: https://we.tl/t-RrP6yhRXJM

4BR will be giving live commentary coverage of the contest.

Line-up:

BrassPass.tv Band of the Year:
Stoller Hall, Manchester

Adjudicators: Tom Brevik, Reid Gilje, Jan De Haan

1. Foden's (Michael Fowles)


Masque (Kenneth Hesketh)
Vallfickens Dance (Hugo Alven, arr. Frode Rydland)
Soloist: Gary Curtin
Fraternity (Thierry Deleruyelle)

2. Flowers (Mareika Gray)


Jacobs Ladder (Jonathan Bates)
Threnody (Ben Hollings)
Soloist: Tom Fountain
Ascension (Philip Wilby)

3. Fairey (Garry Cutt)


Le Corsair (Hector Berlioz arr. Geoffrey Brand)
Follow the Flame (Peter Graham)
Soloist: Lucy Cutt
Resurgam (Eric Ball)
Final two Portraits from Gallery (Howard Snell)

4. Carlton Main Frickley (Russell Gray)


Into the Stars (Ben Holling)
Song from 'Milestone' (Peter Meechan)
Soloist: Kirsty Abbotts
Fraternity (Thierry Deleruyelle)

5. Brighouse & Rastrick (David Thornton)


Knight Templar (George Allen)
Blue Rider (Kit Turnbull)
Second movement — Several Circles (1926)
Third movement — Composition VIII (1923)
Soloist: Chris Robertson
Lowry Sketchbook (Philip Wilby)

6. Hammonds (Morgan Griffiths)


A Short Ride in A Brass Machine (Andrew Baker)
Fantasie Brillante (J.B Arban, arr. Kevin Edwards)
Soloist: Ashley Higgins
The Triumph of Time (Peter Graham)

7. Black Dyke (Prof Nicholas Childs)


A Brighter Light (Philip Wilby)
Concerto for Baritone (Peter Graham)
Soloist: Katrina Marzella
Second movement — Tide
Third Movement — Torque
Heroes (Bruce Broughton)

8. Cory (Philip Harper)


The Spaceman (T.J. Powell)
Cornet Concerto (Derek Bourgeois)
First movement
Soloist: Tom Hutchinson
Explorers On The Moon (Paul Raphael)

9. Tredegar (Ian Porthouse)


Phenomena Fanfare — On Themes by Gustav Mahler (Jacob Vilhelm Larsen)
Toccata: Oh The Blessed Lord (Wilfred Heaton)
Eyes of a Child (Kateryna and Svante Henryson arr. Jacob Vilhelm Larsen)
Soloist: Danny Winder
As If a voice were in them... (Oliver Waespi)

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    


Black Dyke

Varley heads from Hammonds to Queensbury

October 23 • Philip Varley joins Black Dyke Band on solo cornet from Yorkshire rivals.


Dutch National Championships

Countdown to Dutch National Championships

October 21 • Go to our special live page of coverage from the 2026 Dutch National Championships which start at the TivoliVredenburg in Utrecht this afternoon.


Hands up

Audition call for Scottish Youth

October 21 • Young players in Scotland are being encouraged to audition for the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain.


The Dutch Youth Band

Dutch Youth gains national support until 2029

October 21 • The Dutch National Youth Brass Band will be supported by the NBK Foundation until 2029.


Regent Hall Concerts - The Band of the RAF Regiment

Friday 23 October • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - Redbridge Brass Band

Saturday 24 October • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


The Hepworth Band - Aireborough Rotary Club Annual Charity Concert

Sunday 25 October • Yeadon Town Hall, High Street, Yeadon LS19 7PP


Dobcross Silver Band - Tintwistle Band

Sunday 25 October • Dobcross Band Club. Platt Lane Dobcross. Oldham OL3 5AD


Regent Hall Concerts - Cliff Hardie Big Band

Thursday 29 October • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Northop Silver Band

October 22 • PERCUSSION PLAYER - We are a Championship Section competing band based in North East Wales. The band are friendly and ambitious, with an active contest and concert diary.


Cambrian Brass

October 22 • We are always happy to hear from anyone interested in joining our friendly, supportive band, whether you are returning to banding, looking for a new challenge, or have moved to Aberystwyth for university.


West Yorkshire Police Band

October 22 • BBb bass and back row cornets are sought to complete our line-up. We are a well supported band with a unique calendar of events including foreign travel. We rehearse at Carr Gate nr Wakefield on Mondays and Thursdays.


Martin Heartfield

GGSM, ARCM, PGCE
Conductor, Adjudicator, Educationalist


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd