*
banner

2024 4BR Solo/Ensemble CD of the Year

There were a number of fine recordings made by soloists and ensembles this year, but these were the trio that made the biggest mark with the panel

AWARD
  RE:BUILD by the trombone ensemble Slide Action claims the award this year

Winner: RE:BUILD

Slide Action
NMC Recordings: CD D289
Review: https://www.4barsrest.com/reviews/products/cd780.asp

2. The Beauty Within

Soloist: Sheona White
Featuring: Foden's Band; Lauren Scott (harp)
Conductor: Michael Fowles
Doyen Recordings: DOY CD430
Review: https://www.4barsrest.com/reviews/products/cd769.asp

3. Baut

Stig Nordhagen: Musikk for Eufonium
Soloist: Bente Illevold
Featuring: Gunnar Flagstad, Anders Kregnes Hansen, Strings Unlimited
AT Recordings:
Available on Spotify and other platforms
Review: https://www.4barsrest.com/reviews/products/cd766.asp

The superbly crafted debut CD from the Slide Action trombone ensemble is the '4BR Solo/ Ensemble CD of the Year'

As 4BR stated in its review, few releases have been created with such an innate sense of inventive musical thinking.

The arc of composition extends from 17th century baroque Purcell to 21st century game graphic notation with nine newly recorded works encompassing jazz, folk, DJ sample tracks, synthesiser modulations and cartoon animal sounds.

It gained 7 first choice nominations from the panel plus five others to claim the accolade.

Sheona White's elegantly delivered release 'The Beauty Within' with performances of rich musicality and sophisticated boldness is the runner-up, gaining 4 first choice nominations and five others.

Third place went to the dark explorations for the euphonium that came with the music of Stig Nordhagen and the wonderfully crepuscular playing, taut and unwavering of Bente Illvold. It gained 2 first choice nominations and 3 others.

Panel:

The Awards Panel consisted of: Iwan Fox (4BR Editor); Malcolm Wood (4BR); Chris Thomas (4BR & BBW); Gordon Simpson (brass band statistician); Anne Crookston (conductor/adjudicator); Sarah Groarke-Booth (conductor/adjudicator); Alexander Zwann (conductor/journalist); Jess Tredrea (conductor/musician); Tim Mutum (brass band historian); Tom Davoren (conductor/composer); Michael Franz (Editor Brass Band News Switzerland); Henk Van Loon (Editor CU Brass); Stein Skorpholm (broadcaster/musician); Camila Soderstrom Tveit (musician/adjudicator); Philippa Edwards AOM (conductor/performing arts producer)

few releases have been created with such an innate sense of inventive musical thinking4BR

Past Winners:

2023: Oskar Bohme: Trumpet Concerto & Pieces (Matthias Hofs)
2022: Keep the Music Playing (James Fountain)
2021: Resurrection (Prof David King)
2020: Eire Time (Gary Curtin)
2019: The Symphonic Euphonium II (David Childs)
2018: Life Force (Peter Moore)
2017: The Demonic Virtuoso (Owen Farr)
2016: Fantasy (Philip Cobb)
2015: Parallel Realities (David Thornton)
2014: The Symphonic Euphonium (David Childs)
2013: Stories of Life (Glenn Van Looy)
2012: Diamonds (Steven Mead)
2011: Dreaming of the Masters (Jens Lindemann)
2010: Moto Perpetuo (David Childs)
2009: Salt of the Earth (Les Neish)
2008: Audacious (Steven Mead)
2007: Eminence (Richard Marshall)
2006: The World of the Euphonium: Volume 5 (Steven Mead)
2005: Blaze (Richard Marshall)
2004: Legend (Peter Roberts)
2003: A Winter's Tale (Martin Winter)

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    


Concord

Results: 2025 Danish National Championships

November 4 • Concord books their flight to Linz as they claim the Danish crown in Aarhus and section titles go to Frederiksberg Brass Band, Hvidovre Musikskoles Brass Band and FDF Gladsaxe Brass Band.


Tom Hutchinson

Hutchinson to become new principal cornet at Black Dyke Band

November 4 • Tom Hutchinson will return to Yorkshire to follow Richard Marshall as principal cornet of Black Dyke Band.


swbba

Results: 2025 SWBBA Annual Championships

November 3 • Camborne leads the prize winners in Torquay with section victories to St Pinnock, Pendennis Brass, St Austell Youth and South Molton Training.


dURHAM

Result: 2025 DCBBA Festival of Brass

November 3 • Bearpark & Esh head the prize winners in Peterlee.


Regent Hall Concerts - Royal Greenwich Brass Band

Friday 7 November • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. WC1 2DJ W1C2DJ


Dobcross Silver Band - Remembrance Concert

Sunday 9 November • c/o Dobcross Band Club. Platt Lane. Dobcross Saddleworth OL3 5AD


Delph Band - Remembrance Sunday Concert

Sunday 9 November • Delph Band Club. Lawton Square, . Delph, . Oldham OL3 5DT


Regent Hall Concerts - Five By 5 Trumpet Ensemble

Friday 14 November • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. WC1 2DJ W1C2DJ


Contest: 48th Brass in Concert

Saturday 15 November • The Gladhous International Centre for Music, St Mary's Square, Gateshead NE8 2JR


Wotton-under-Edge Silver Band

November 4 • We are a busy and very friendly 2nd section band with 5 current vacancies - FRONT ROW CORNET – BACK ROW CORNET- EUPHONIUM - Bb BASS - PERCUSSION. We rehearse on Tuesdays & Thursdays near our lovely home town, just a short drive from M5, J14.


Harlow Brass Band

November 4 • We have vacancies for CORNETS, TROMBONES, 2ND HORN AND PERCUSSION. We are a welcoming, non contesting band who organising their own Spring and Christmas concerts and enjoy playing at local events throughout the year.


Chinnor Silver

November 4 • Our COMMUNITY BANDS next rehearsal is on Monday 10th at 11am and held in our bandroom.. Blowing with us doesn't impact your own band and its free.. We welcome all regardless of ability . Tea and cakes an added bonus.


John Ward


Conductor, Adjudicator


               

 © 2025 4barsrest.com Ltd