*
banner

Houlding on for BBE session

The hugely respected professional performer and educator will be delving into the topic of 'Practice techniques and preparation for auditions and solo performance' on this evening's BBE webinar presentation'.

Houlding
  Chris Houlding will be leading he seminar this evening

This evening's (Thursday 18th June — 7.00pm) Brass Bands England's (BBE) Development Programme Online session will be led by trombonist, conductor and educator Chris Houlding, who will discuss the topic of 'Practice techniques and preparation for auditions and solo performance'.

A former Senior Tutor in Brass at the RNCM and Head of Brass at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Chris is now Professor of Trombone at the Folkwang University of Arts, Essen, Germany and Visiting Tutor at London's Guildhall School of Music & Drama.

No stranger

He is no stranger to brass bands, having served as Professional Conductor with the likes of Stocksbridge, Whitburn and Yorkshire Imps and continues to promote banding at home and in Europe but especially in Germany where the movement is growing.

His presentation is aimed at all ages, and looks to show how you can maximise your progress and save time in the long run by following a few fundamentals to get the best out of your preparation and performance.

Additional help

Chris is currently working with musicgurus.com and Warwick Music. Their free online teaching videos presented by Peter Gane and Chris are free until 30th June by entering the discount voucher code MUSICTOGETHER.

He has also put together a listening list of Pierrot's 'Tanzlied' from Erich Korngold's Opera 'Die tote Stadt'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGR6bH5D2Dw


Sign up

To sign up to the zoom webinar please go to: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/9215882779877/WN_ri6TCkSwQTWXjRQ0VuBdTA

Chris' session will take place on a Zoom webinar for those who want to get involved and ask questions directly, as well as being available as a Facebook live video on the BBE Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/brassbandsengland.

All the workshops are free but BBE is asking participants to consider supporting the Brass Bands Emergency Fund with what they think sessions are worth. The fund will use 100% of donated funds to support bands struggling during the crisis with ongoing freelance costs and other financial commitments, and has so far raised over £2,500.

To support the emergency fund, please go to https://www.chuffed.org/project/brassbandemergencyfund

Questions and pub time

During the session, Zoom attendees will be able to ask questions sent in via the registration form. The workshop will begin with a short presentation on how to use the Zoom platform effectively to get the most out of the workshop while participants get used to the set up before starting at about 7.10pm.

One of the most popular aspects of the sessions is the invitation to come to the 'BBE Pub', to join in conversations and discuss topics of interest.

The BBE Development Programme Online has seen a selection of experts from across the brass band world delivering webinars everything Thursday straight to your living rooms on subjects covering almost every conceivable element of banding.

Chris' session will mark the 13th week of BBE Webinars which have had excellent reach (over 10k views for some videos).

His presentation is aimed at all ages, and looks to show how you can maximise your progress and save time in the long run by following a few fundamentals to get the best out of your preparation and performanceBBE

Sign up and enjoy

The workshops will be delivered online using the Zoom webinar platform so attendees can interact and ask questions throughout the session directly.

The session will also be available on Facebook live on the BBE facebook page https://www.facebook.com/brassbandsengland and BBE facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/BrassBandsEngland/ for which users can sign up to for free.

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    


podcast

Podcast: Whisky High Notes: Episode 1

March 26 • Composer agent and whisky lover, Dr. Naomi Belshaw is joined by Sam McShane, Artistic Director of Kings Place to talk about whisky and classical music...


BrookWright

BrookWright Music: New Jerusalem (Kenneth Downie)

March 26 • A upbeat march to put a concert audience in an immediate good mood from Kenneth Downie.


Guildhall

Guildhall Solo Competition entries now open

March 26 • If you are a brass or percussion player aged 9-18 and Grade 3 and above, them why not enjoy yourself in competition and in finding out more about your playing skills...


Tine Thing Helseth

Best Classical Recording Award for Tine Thing Helseth

March 26 • The Norwegian trumpet soloist has won a prestigious Spellemannprisen for Best Classical Recording for her latest release, 'Echoes'.


Regent Hall Concerts - The Band of the Grenadier Guards

Thursday 26 March • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London. . W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - Funny Bones Trombone Octet

Friday 27 March • Oompah Brass XXL. Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Brass Bands England - 2026 National Youth Brass Band Championships

Saturday 28 March • King Edward's School, Edgbaston Park Road, Birmingham B15 2UA


The Hepworth Band - Slaithwaite Philharmonic Orchestra

Saturday 18 April • Huddersfield Town Hall HD1 2TA


Contest: Whit Friday March Contests

Friday 29 May • Saddleworth & Tameside OL3


Chinnor Silver

March 27 • We are a friendly progressive 1st Section band who need a couple of seats filled.. Bb BASS and PERCUSSIONIST are on our wanted list so if you are looking for a new banding challenge get in contact. We rehearse on Wednesdays and have good realistic diary.


Newport Borough Brass Band

March 27 • After a respectable 4th place in the 2nd Section at the Welsh Area Contest, we are looking for FRONT ROW CORNET (position negotiable) 1st BARITONE, 2ND TROMBONE and Bb BASS players to come and join us on our journey under the baton of Martin McHale BEM.


East London Brass

March 27 • PERCUSSION - ELB are the look out for a percussionist to complement our existing section. We have a sensible diary of contests and concerts and are ambitious to keep progressing as a band.


Phillip Littlemore

GGSM, AoBBA Member
Conductor, Band Trainer, Adjudicator, Arranger, Teacher and Publisher


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd