*
banner

New Year's funding boost for instruments in Northern Ireland

Comber Brass enjoys a share of a New Year funding scheme from Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

Comber
  Comber Brass will receive £10,000 for instrument purchases

A New Year's gift of almost £400,000 of funding will enable individual musicians, professional ensembles and amateur performing groups across Northern Ireland purchase new instruments.

It follows an announcement by Arts Council of Northern Ireland of 43 capital funding awards from the Department for Communities. The scheme has been in place for several years.

Important scheme

Speaking about the funding, Gilly Campbell, joint Director of Arts Development at the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, commented: "With much appreciated capital investment from the Department of Communities, the Arts Council is delighted to announce this funding through the Musical Instruments Programme.

This important scheme will help support solo musicians, bands and musical groups buy or replace the instruments they need to fulfil their performance potential."

The Bands strand of the initiative was created to support accordion, brass, flute, pipe, wind and concert bands.

One of those to benefit will be Comber Brass Band. For more than 120 years they have played a vibrant role in their local community, performing at competitions and events.

Youth band

In September 2022 they started a Youth Band, helping to secure brass banding for future generations. Their grant of £10,000 will support the purchase two new bass and baritone instruments.

Other individual musicians, including brass, have also gained awards.

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    


Syndey

Report & Results: 2025 Yamaha Australian National Band Championships

April 20 • Sydney City becomes the inaugural Premier Championships of Australia as senior National titles head to Footscray-Yarraville City, Cairns Brass No. 1, Wonthaggi Citizensand City of Ballarat Municipal Brass.


Wobplay

Wobplay offers global opportunities at Euros

April 19 • There will be plenty of advertising opportunities for businesses as part of the comprehensive weekend of live-broadcast action from the European Championships in Stavanger.


Russell Gray

Gray to host double conducting seminars

April 19 • Aspiring conductors can enjoy the opportunity to work alongside Russell Gray in Scotland and Norway next month as he hosts his Conducting Seminars in Bathgate and Askoy.


Siusa

Jena pride at Sousa inclusion

April 19 • Jose Sousa will become the fifth young player from the Jena Brass Band Centre in Germany to represent the nation as part of the European Youth Brass Band.


Regent Hall Concerts - The Central Band of the Royal Air Force

Friday 25 April • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London. . W1C2DJ


Newstead Brass - Under Gaia

Saturday 26 April • Mansfield Palace Theatre. Leeming Street . Mansfield. Nottinghamshire NG18 1NG


Newstead Brass - St George's Day Celebration

Sunday 27 April • St Wilfrid's Church, Church Street, Kirkby In Ashfield NG17 8LA


Contest: European Brass Band Championshiips

Friday 9 May • Konzerthaus, SandvigÃ¥ 1, 4007 Stavanger, Norway


Contest: European Brass Band Championshiips

Saturday 10 May • Konzerthaus, SandvigÃ¥ 1, 4007 Stavanger, Norway


Linthwaite Band

April 21 • Linthwaite Band is a 4th section contesting Band , with a busy Summer of engagements coming up, and are looking to complete our friendly team, with a back row 2nd cornet player, and are keen to fill the position as soon as possible.


Chinnor Silver

April 21 • Required Percussion and Bass players (Eb or Bb). We are a friendly and ambitious band and have successfully qualified for the second section national finals and also earned promotion to the 1st section in 2026. Come along and help complete our happy team


wantage silver band

April 21 • A friendly and ambitious first section band, Wantage Concert Brass are looking for an experienced and dedicated MUSICAL DIRECTOR to help drive the band's continued growth and development, building on their best result to date at the recent area contest.


David A. Stowell


Conductor and composer


               

 © 2025 4barsrest.com Ltd