There was certainly an air of positivity emanating from the Annual General Meeting of Brass Bands England held at the Life Centre in Sale on the weekend.

In his report to a well attended meeting, Chief Executive Officer Kenny Crookston highlighted the 57% increase (up to 277 bands) in BBE membership that had occurred during 2018/19 — a figure that has risen further since April 2019 to a current level of 356.

However, it was the strengthening of the links between the organisation and Arts Council England, the success of the National Youth Championships of Great Britain as well as a number of different initiatives and the hard work of BBE staff in meeting demands that he felt were the most significant achievements.

Success

"The growth in membership is a reflection of the success of the work undertaken,"he said. "The BBE staff have been outstanding, especially given that a great deal of their work such as the seminar training has occurred at weekends."

He went on to add: "The National Youth Championships was an overwhelming success, as have the artistic development seminars. We now have a strong link with Arts Council England who support but also challenge us and we were delighted that their CEO Darren Henley was able to join us at the Youth Championships this year."

Links

The CEO went on to announce that the popular artistic development seminars with Philip Harper will continue as part of BBE's long term education and development programme, whilst new initiatives such as player development with Roger Webster and Paul Cosh will soon start.

Strategic partnerships continue to grow with links now established with a number of Music Hubs as well as organisation as diverse as the NSPCC, Music Publishers Association and the National Coal Mining Museum.

Europe

And with EBBA President Ulf Rosenberg making the trip from Norway to attend the event, BBE also announced a new protocol to help ensure English representation at future European Brass Band Championships from 2021 onwards.

A series of deadline dates will now be put in place to enable the highest placed English band at the National Championships to plan for their proposed appearance at future EBBA contests.

BBE will work on a series of deadline dates up to 5 months before the contest takes place, ensuring that a second or even third representative band can take part if the initial representative does not, or cannot take up the invitation to compete.

When asked about BBE's bid to host the 2024 festival, and the approval from Arts Council England that was indicated in BBE's presentation in Montreux earlier this year to back the event at Sage Gateshead, it was stated that ACE support was not required to underwrite the competitive elements of the event.

It was stated that further progress would also have to pay notice to the current round of BBE founding that ends in 2021/2022.

The BBE staff have been outstanding, especially given that a great deal of their work such as the seminar training has occurred at weekendsBBE CEO, Kenneth Crookston

Finances

BBE's financial position has also become much more robust, as outlined by Treasurer Nigel Morgan. The significant increase in BBE finding from Arts Council England had now set a solid foundation on which to build, with increased membership bringing in a valuable stream of additional income.

The board of trustees saw the re-election of Mike Kilroy, David Thornton, Paul Beaumont and Julie Maxwell.