*
banner

Interview with Dr David Thornton

4BR talks to Dr David Thornton, the Artistic Director of the 2024 RNCM International Brass Band Festival which returns again this weekend with a mouth-watering line-up of world class talent to enjoy.

RNCM
  Dr David Thornton is the Artistic Director of the Festival

Can't see the audio player below? Visit soundcloud.com/4barsrest

The 2024 RNCM International Brass Band Festival returns this weekend with the promise of dropping the rules "to encourage imagination, diversity, curiosity and openness".

There will be performances from Foden's, Brass Band Treize Etoiles, Tredegar, Black Dyke, Cory and Brighouse & Rastrick — each showcasing new as well classic repertoire.

In addition there are a host of a world class soloists in Sheona White, Lionel Fumeaux, Matthias Hofs, Siobhan Bates, Michael Cavanagh, Gary Curtin, Glyn Williams, Jamie Smith and Ellena Newton.

Add in performances from the Grimethorpe Youth Band, students at the RNCM, interviews and discussions and little wonder it promises to be an event not to be missed.

No wonder Dr Thornton is not just the only person looking forward to the weekend...

Find out more and tickets:

2024 RNCM International Brass Band Festival

Friday 26th January:

Festival Prelude
Carole Nash Recital Room
6.15pm

RNCM students perform world premieres of works by RNCM alums Lucy Pankhurst and Jonathan Bates.

Salford Quays Brass Quartet

Alicia Davis, Lewis Barton (cornets)
Emma Conway (horn)
Julian Bayley (euphonium)

Tickets: Sold Out

Free admission, ticket required

This event will end at approximately 6.45pm.

Friday 26th January
Foden's Band

Conductor: Michael Fowles
Soloist: Sheona White
RNCM Concert Hall
7.30pm

Fantasy for Brass Band (Malcolm Arnold)
Legend of a Giant (Kevin Houben)
Soloist: Sheona White
(world premiere of version for tenor horn)*
Hope (Dorothy Gates)
Allpamenta (Ignacio Freijo)
(UK premiere)
Pest Is Where the Noise Is At (Kamea Nemeth)
(world premiere)
Ragtimes & Habeneras (Hans Werner Henze)
An Epic Symphony (Percy Fletcher)

Tickets:
https://www.quaytickets.com/rncm/en-GB/events/foden's%20band%20-%20rncm%20international%20brass%20band%20festival/2024-1-26_19.30/rncm%20concert%20hall?hallmap

£9 (Under 26s and Students) + £1 Booking Fee
£18 + £1 Booking Fee

This event will include a 20-minute interval and will end at approximately 9.30pm.

Saturday 27th January:
Brass Band Treize Etoiles

Conductor: Frederic Theodoloz
Soloist: Lionel Fumeaux
RNCM Concert Hall
11.00am

Euroflash (Damien Lagger)
Fly or Die (Gilles Rocha)
Soloist: Lionel Fumeaux
Sand and Stars (Thierry Deleruyelle)
Remointze (Ludovic Neurohr)
Hypercube (Oliver Waespi)

Tickets:
https://www.quaytickets.com/rncm/en-GB/events/brass%20band%20treize%20%C3%A9toiles/2024-1-27_11.00/rncm%20concert%20hall?hallmap

£9 (Under 26s and Students) + £1 Booking Fee
£18 + £1 Booking Fee

This event will end at approximately 12.15pm.

Saturday 27th January
The 4barsrest Interview: James Gourlay

RNCM Theatre
1.30pm

4Barsrest editor Iwan Fox interviews tuba virtuoso and conductor James Gourlay about his life and work.

Tickets:
https://www.quaytickets.com/rncm/en-GB/events/the%204barsrest%20interview-%20james%20gourlay%20-%20rncm%20international%20brass%20band%20festival/2024-1-27_13.30/rncm%20theatre?back=2&area=3a2d4eea-8bd8-ed11-842d-93dfdf350cb8&type=ga

Free admission, ticket required

This event will end at approximately 2.15pm.

Saturday 27th January
Tredegar Band

Conductor: Ian Porthouse
Soloist: Matthias Hofs
RNCM Concert Hall
3.00pm

Momentum (Jude Radley)
(world premiere)
Balkan Children's Dance (Wolf Kerschek)
Soloist: Matthias Hofs
As If A Voice Were In Them... (Oliver Waespi)
Ein Spanische Weinacht (Wolf Kerschek arr. H R Schmidt)
Soloist: Matthias Hofs
Are We Dark Inside? (Ludovic Neurohr)

Tickets:
https://www.quaytickets.com/rncm/en-GB/events/tredegar%20town%20band%20-%20rncm%20international%20brass%20band%20festival/2024-1-27_15.00/rncm%20concert%20hall?hallmap

£9 (Under 26s and Students) + £1 Booking Fee
£18 + £1 Booking Fee

This event will end at approximately 4.15pm.

Saturday 27th January
Junior RNCM Brass Band

Conductors: Mark Bousie, Phil Goodwin
RNCM Theatre
4.45pm

To include:
War Cry (Dorothy Gates)
Graces of Love (Oliver Waespi)

Tickets: Free admission, ticket required
https://www.quaytickets.com/rncm/en-GB/events/junior%20rncm%20brass%20band%20-%20rncm%20international%20brass%20band%20festival/2024-1-27_16.45/rncm%20theatre?back=2&area=3a2d4eea-8bd8-ed11-842d-93dfdf350cb8&type=ga

This event will end at approximately 5.30pm.

Saturday 27th January
Black Dyke Band

Conductor: Prof Nicholas Childs
Soloists: Siobhan Bates and Mike Cavanagh
RNCM Concert Hall
7.30pm

Kenilworth (Arthur Bliss)
Fantasie Concertante for Horn (Philip Wilby)
Soloist: Siobhan Bates
Shades of the Soul (Stephen Roberts)
(world premiere)
Adam Zero Suite (Arthur Bliss arr. Robert Childs)
(world premiere)
Baritone Concerto (Martin Ellerby)
Soloist: Mike Cavanagh
Antiphonies on Themes by William Byrd (Oliver Waespi)

Tickets:
https://www.quaytickets.com/rncm/en-GB/events/black%20dyke%20band%20-%20rncm%20international%20brass%20band%20festival/2024-1-27_19.30/rncm%20concert%20hall?hallmap

£9 (Under 26s and Students) + £1 Booking Fee
£18 + £1 Booking Fee

This event will include a 20-minute interval and will end at approximately 9.30pm.

Sunday 28th January
RNCM Brass Band

Conductors: James Gourlay and David Thornton
Soloist: Gary Curtin
RNCM Concert Hall
11.00am

Gran Fanfaria (Giancarlo Castro)
Requiescant Aberfan (Martin Ellerby)
Deep Surge (Tom Harrold)
(world premiere)
Soloist: Gary Curtin
Another World — Concerto for Brass Quintet and Brass Band (Dorothy Gates)
Featuring: Rosamund Brass with guest tuba player James Gourlay
Adam Hofland-Ward & Seb Williman (cornets)
Georgia Woodhead (horn)
Alex Barron (euphonium)
Traversada (Oliver Waespi)
A Journey to the Bermuda Triangle (Pimpanit Karoonyavanich)

Tickets:
https://www.quaytickets.com/rncm/en-GB/events/rncm%20brass%20band%20-%20rncm%20international%20brass%20band%20festival/2024-1-28_11.00/rncm%20concert%20hall?hallmap

£9 (Under 26s and Students) + £1 Booking Fee
£18 + £1 Booking Fee

This event will end at approximately 12.15pm.

Sunday 28th January
'A Grimethorpe Adventure' — Grimethorpe Youth Band

RNCM Theatre
1.30pm

Presentation and performance by Grimethorpe Education Initiative, including 'A Grimethorpe Adventure' — an Arts Council England funded project and performances by Grimethorpe Senior Youth Band.

The performance is supported by the John Golland Trust and will include the world première of a newly discovered cornet solo by John Golland (written in 1984), performed by Grimethorpe's principal cornet Jamie Smith.

The performance will also feature two world premieres of works submitted to the Grimethorpe Colliery Band composition competition held in July 2023.

Tickets:
https://www.quaytickets.com/rncm/en-GB/events/a%20grimethorpe%20adventure'%20with%20grimethorpe%20youth%20band%20-%20rncm%20international%20brass%20band%20festival/2024-1-28_13.30/rncm%20theatre?back=2&area=3a2d4eea-8bd8-ed11-842d-93dfdf350cb8&type=ga
Free admission, ticket required

This event will end at approximately 2.15pm.

Sunday 28th January
Cory Band

Conductor: Philip Harper
Soloist: Glyn Williams
RNCM Concert Hall
3.00pm

The Year of the Dragon (Philip Sparke)
Euphonium Concerto (Philip Harper)
Soloist: Glyn Williams
Dance No.1 (Mihailo Trandafilovski)
(world premiere)
The Living God (Dorothy Gates)
Other Lives (Oliver Waespi)

Tickets:
https://www.quaytickets.com/rncm/en-GB/events/cory%20band%20-%20rncm%20international%20brass%20band%20festival/2024-1-28_15.00/rncm%20concert%20hall?hallmap

£9 (Under 26s and Students) + £1 Booking Fee
£18 + £1 Booking Fee

This event will end at approximately 4.15pm.

Sunday 28th January
Brass Bands England Presentation

Carole Nash Recital Room
4.45pm

A panel discussion on 'The future of brass band repertoire in an increasingly diverse society'.

Tickets: Sold Out

Free admission, ticket required

Sunday 28th January
Brighouse & Rastrick Band

Conductor: James Gourlay
Soloist: Ellena Newton
RNCM Concert Hall
6.30pm

On the Cornish Coast (Henry Geehl)
Colors (Bert Appermont)
Soloist: Ellena Newton
Invisible Fire (Dorothy Gates)
Tour de Force (Jim Self)
Variations (Thea Musgrave)
Wonderous Cross (Philip Wilby)
Diversions on a Bass Theme (George Lloyd)

Tickets:
https://www.quaytickets.com/rncm/en-GB/events/brighouse%20and%20rastrick%20band%20-%20rncm%20international%20brass%20band%20festival/2024-1-28_18.30/rncm%20concert%20hall?hallmap

£9 (Under 26s and Students) + £1 Booking Fee
£18 + £1 Booking Fee

This event will include a 20-minute interval and will end at approximately 8.30pm.

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    


Review

4BR Review — Episode 11

November 23 • Catch up with the latest 4BR Review with 4BR Editor Iwan Fox and colleague Chris Thomas


Swiss Nationals

Swiss set to celebrate 50th contest anniversary

November 23 • The Swiss National Championships will reach a significant milestone this year in Lucerne with new works set to test the 60 competing bands.


sewbba

Results: 2025 SEWBBA Tonyrefail Festival

November 23 • There was a welcome return of contesting action in South Wales as bands took to the stage in Tonyrefail.


Perth

Result: 2025 Band Supplies Scottish Challenge

November 22 • Unite Scotland Kinneil claims victory in Perth.


Hathersage Band - Hathersage Village Christmas Concert

Saturday 29 November • Hathersage Methodist Church, Main Road, Hathersage S32 1BB S32 1BB


Barnsley Brass - A Night At The Movies

Saturday 29 November • Worsbrough Miners Welfare. Park Road. Worsbrough Bridge. Barnsley S70 5LJ


Dobcross Silver Band - Unite the Union Band

Sunday 30 November • Dobcross Band Club. Platt Lane. Dobcross . Saddleworth. Oldham OL3 5AD


Garforth Brass - Strawberry Fields Primary School

Friday 5 December • Garforth Methodist Church,. Church Lane,. Garforth,. Leeds LS25 1NW


Petworth Town Band - Petworth Town Band Christmas Event

Saturday 6 December • Petworth Town Centre GU28 OAD


Dobcross Silver Band

November 25 • Due to family commitments we have a rare vacancy for an Eb BASS PLAYER. . As current NW Area 3rd Section Champions and 2025 National Champions we start our journey in the 2nd Section in 2026! Are you the missing piece to our otherwise full band?


Fulham Brass Band

November 25 • Fulham Brass Band are seeking an inspirational and talented Musical Director to take the band forward and guide our return to the L&SC Championship Section. . . We rehearse on Monday evenings 7.15-9.45 at St Etheldreda's Church, Fulham Palace Road, London.


Fulham Brass Band

November 23 • We're looking for two top-class cornet players and percussionists to complete our band!


Stephen Tighe

ARCM, LDBBA, (Dip)PFS.
Adjudicator / Music Director / Arranger


               

 © 2025 4barsrest.com Ltd