*
banner

Big Band Composers set for world premieres

A new composer initiative sees six young composers produce cracking new works for school Big Bands

NCBF
  The initiative has been run by the National Concert Band Festival

The National Concert Band Festival has launched its latest 'Big Band Young Composers' project that will create what they call "imaginative, original charts"for school big band ensembles.

It involves six composers from the Royal Academy of Music, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and the Royal Northern College of Music, each working with an existing school big band.

World premieres

The composers will be working with the bands through Autumn 2024 and Spring 2025, with the aim that the world premieres of the works will be given at the NCBF National Festival at the RNCM (Royal Northern College of Music) on the weekend of the 12th &13th May 2025.

It is envisaged that each new work aimed at Grade 3-3.5 (US level) will be around 5 minutes in duration and will be included on the NCBF Big Band Repertoire List for the following season.

Writers and schools

The young writers, Ollie Canham, Ted Ford, Ben Partridge, Kamea Nemeth, Donovan Haffner and Chris Diamond will work with jazz professionals Nikki Iles, Ed Puddick, Callum Au, Andy Scott and Iain Dixon

The participating schools are: Northampton School for Boys Big Band; Altrincham Grammar School for Boys Big Band; Wrekin College Jazz Band; Stafford Grammar School Big Band; The Barry Graham Big Band at Kingsdale Foundation School, Dulwich and Trinity School Big Band.

The composers will be working with the bands through Autumn 2024 and Spring 2025, with the aim that the world premieres of the works will be given at the NCBF National Festival at the RNCM in 20254BR

Largest

Established almost 40 years ago, NCBF (National Concert Band Festival) is now recognised as the largest, most active, enterprising festival for wind, brass and percussion instrumentalists who play in wind bands or big bands throughout the UK.

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    


Unibrass

BBE headlines UniBrass Championships

February 10 • Brass Bands England has been announced as the headline support sponsor of the UniBrass Championships in Cardiff this weekend.


Dobcross

Dobcross open doors for Chalk (and others)

February 10 • Dobcross Silver Band will be welcoming Phil Chalk, MD of KDNS Fairey Band to work with them this week — and others are welcome too.


Ryan Watkins

Haverhill benefits from Watkins workshop

February 10 • The Hepworth MD, Ryan Watkins enjoyed his recent trip to work with the Haverhill Band.


German Open

German Open open for entries

February 10 • Domestic and international bands can enter the popular German Open Championships in Warstein-Belecke later this year.


Regent Hall Concerts - Royal College of Music Sackbut Ensemble

Friday 21 February • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - The Band of the Welsh Guards

Friday 21 February • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Contest: North West Regional Championships

Sunday 23 February • Winter Gardens Complex, Church Street, Blackpool FY1 1HU


Newstead Brass - Midlands Championships Preview Evening

Sunday 23 February • Summit Centre . Kirkby in Ashfield . Nottinghamshire NG17 7LL


Regent Hall Concerts - Royal Greenwich Brass Band

Friday 28 February • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Linthwaite Band

February 10 • Linthwaite are a friendly 4th section band looking forward to the Yorkshire area contest in March, following on from that we will have a vacancy for a 2nd cornet. We also have various contests and engagements coming up through the year to keep us busy.


Chinnor Silver

February 7 • Our COMMUNITY BAND meets on a Monday morning and we welcome any players who would like an extra blow.. players of all abilities welcome and we do not expect you to alter your allegiance to your band.. just a fun blow with cake and coffee.


wantage silver band

February 5 • Wantage Band (championship section) has a vacancy for TOP 2ND CORNET. This would suit a player with experience in a championship/first section band. Rehearsals take place every Sun 7:30pm and Wed 8pm in Wantage with highly experienced MD Chris King.


Andy Wareham

BMus (Hons), MMus (Hons)
Conductor, Composer, Brass Tutor, Musicologist


               

 © 2025 4barsrest.com Ltd