2025 4BR Newcomer of the Year

An exciting year full as exciting new talent emerged in different fields and genres of the brass band movement.

It was the new 'That's Not Banding' podcast from Brighouse pair Tom and Chris that claimed the award

Thursday, 25 December 2025

Winner: That's Not Banding (podcast)

2. Will Everitt (NYBBGB Young Composer winner)
3. Brass Banding with Hannah Peel (BBC Radio 3)

An exciting year for new talent to emerge in different corners and genres of the banding world — from players, composers and conductors to community bands, contests and on-line chat.

It was the 'That's Not Banding' podcast that was launched in 2025 by Brighouse & Rastrick players Chris Robertson and Tom Smith though that certainly caught the imagination and created a buzz with its entertaining mix of irreverence and insight.

It was a neck and neck fight for the accolade with National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain Young Composer winner Will Everitt, with each getting 5 first choice preference votes, with the second and third choice preferences that swung the day for the podcasters.

Third place went to the engaging Radio 3 mix and match exploration of the banding world and its music making from Hannah Peel.

Panel:

The Awards Panel consisted of: Iwan Fox (4BR Editor); Chris Thomas (4BR & BBW); Malcolm Wood (4BR & BBW); Josie Sleigh (musician); Gordon Simpson (brass band statistician); Sarah Groarke-Booth (conductor/adjudicator); Michael Franz (Editor Brass Band News Switzerland); Liv Appleton (Content Creator/itsnotatrumpet.com); Camila Soderstrom Tveit (musician/adjudicator); Alexander Zwann (conductor/journalist); Tim Mutum (brass band historian); Henk Van Loon (Editor Emotions on Stage); Philippa Edwards AOM (conductor/performing arts producer); Stein Skorpholm (broadcaster/musician).

Past Winners:

2024: Ingebjorg Vilhelmsen
2023: Brass Bands England — Elevate Project
2022: Fredrick Schjelderup
2021: WobPlay.com — In Concert Series
2020: Cory Band Online Championships
2019: Sky Arts — Battle of the Bands television series
2018: Thomas Nielsen
2017: Ingar Bergby
2016: Thierry Deleruyelle
2015: Dark Arteries — Rambert Ballet and Tredegar Band
2014: The Band of the King's Division
2013: Korpsfiksert! — Eikanger Bjorsvik television series
2012: Brass in Concert
2011: Venezuelan Brass Ensemble
2010: Exit Brass
2009: Lucy Pankhurst
2008: Paul Duffy
2007: Proms Brass Day
2006: English National Championship
2005: Brass Band Aid
2004: The National Children's Band of Great Britain
2003: Emma Farrow
2002: Simon Dobson

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