The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire will host a packed day of elite level brass band performer today (Sunday 7th June).

Presented by Frank Renton, the Elgar International Festival of Brass will feature a quartet of leading bands — including current European Champion Flowers and reigning World Champion, Brass Band Willebroek, as well as multiple major championship winners, Black Dyke Band and Foden's.

Recital

All this and euphonium virtuoso, David Childs will give both a recital and a masterclass, whilst the day will kick off at 10.30am with a concert programme by the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Brass Band.

The music will include major test-pieces from featured composer Philip Sparke ('Partita'; 'Evolution — Five States of Change'; 'Variations on an Enigma'; 'Music of the Spheres' and 'Tallis Variations'), as well as the opportunity to hear the recently premiered 'Orbital' by Richard Blackford.

Euro and World works

Major works heard at the 2026 European Championship — 'West Wind — Metamorphosis for Brass Band' and 'Orpheus & Eurydice' will also be featured, as will Jan De Haan's 'Mirage', the set-work for the forthcoming World Music Contest in Kerkrade.

In addition there is a welcome revival of John Golland's 'Sounds', Malcolm Arnold's 'Four Cornish Dances' and Martin Ellerby's 'Elgar Variations', as well as works by Liz Lane, Lucy Pankhurst, Kelly-Marie Murphy and Lode Violet.

He will be one of the featured soloists, alongside fellow principal cornet, Tom Hutchinson, Paul Richards, Daniel Thomas and John Barber.

The day starts promptly at 10.30am. Parking is available on site.

Tickets:

https:/­/­www.bcu.ac.uk/­conservatoire/­events-calendar/­07-06-2026-elgar-international-festival-of-brass

Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Brass Band

A Spark Forgotten (Tamsin Crook)
Concertino for Xylophone (Toshiro Mayuzumi)
Soloist: Owen Yarrow
Ar Lan y Mor (Gavin Higgins)
Partita (Philip Sparke)

Brass Band Willebroek

Song t(w)o the North (Lode Violet)
Fantasia on a Flemish Sea Song (Simon Van Hoecke)
Soloist: Lode Violet
Mirage (Jan De Haan)
Evolution — Five States of Change (Philip Sparke)
Orpheus & Eurydice (Stijn Aertgeerts)

Black Dyke Band

Concert Prelude (Philip Sparke)
Elgar Variations (Martin Ellerby)
Cornet Concerto (Derek Bourgeois)
Soloist: Tom Hutchinson
Four Cornish Dances (Malcolm Arnold arr. Farr)
Variations on an Enigma (Philip Sparke)

David Childs

Zigeunerweisen (Pablo Sarasate)
Hiraeth (Cait Nishimura)
Force of Nature (Peter Graham)
Due Tramonti (Ludovico Einaudi)
Endearing Young Charms (Simone Mantia)

Flowers Band

Winds That Blow Against a Star (Kelly-Marie Murphy)
Poor Paris, Love was your Achilles (Paul Saggers)
Soloist: Paul Richards
West Wind — Metamorphoses for Brass Band (Oliver Waespi)
Ar Lan y Mor (Gavin Higgins)
Electric (Lucy Pankhurst)
Soloist: Daniel Thomas
Pall Mall (Jonathan Bates)
Music of the Spheres (Philip Sparke)

Foden's Band

Tallis Variations (Philip Sparke)
Concertino for Trombone (Lars-Erik Larsson)
Soloist: John Barber
Sounds (Golland)
Antiphonary (Liz Lane)
Orbital (Richard Blackford)

Report to follow.

Championship Section:

1. Carlton Main Frickley Colliery (Allan Withington): 119.00

First Division:

1. Witton Albion Band (Mike Jones): 116.00
2. Flixton Band (Aidrian Smith): 115.00

Second Division:

1. A Tours de Brass (Stephane Balzeau): 114.00
2. Brass Band De La Vienne (Mathias Charton): 111.00

Fourth Division:

1. Brass Band du CRR de Tours (David Hubert): 108.00

Overall Best Soloist: Ian McEwan (euphonium) — Carlton Main Frickley Colliery

March Competition:

Public Performance:

Kingdom Brass becomes the first cross border title holder at a brand new entertainment contest in Northumberland.

Report to follow:

Result:

1. Kingdom Brass (Eoin Tonner): 195*
2. Cockerton Prize Silver (Duncan Wilson): 193
3. Jedforest Instrumental (Philip Rosier): 189**
4= Felling (Jason Smith): 188
4= Durham Miners Association (Stuart Gray): 188**
5. Brass Sounds Inverclyde (Carlone Tennant): 187
6. Dysart Colliery (Robert W. Fraser): 186
7. Annan Town (Ross Bahla): 185
8. Bearpark & Esh Colliery (Gavin M Brown): 182*
9. Marske Brass (Victoria Wilson):178***

* 1 point time penalty
** 2 point time penalty
*** 3 point time penalty
Most Entertaining Band: Jedforest Instrumental
Best Instrumentalist: Nicola Evans (flugel) — Bearpark & Esh Colliery
Outstanding Young Performer (under 25): Aaron Arthur, (Eb tuba) — Brass Sounds Inverclyde

In the first of a new series of snapshot interviews, 4BR will be joined by artists, composers, conductors and banding personalities who are currently making their mark on the musical world.

Time Pieces

Andrew McMillan is one such musician — the first tenor horn graduate from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, who has already gained widespread critical acclaim for his performance in the stage play 'Keli' and now with the release of his debut CD, 'Time Pieces' which deliberately explores new horizons for the instrument.

Find out more

4BR Editor Iwan Fox caught up with him to find out more about the release which can be bought from Andrew's website at: www.andrewmcmillan.co.uk or can be enjoyed on www.wobplay.com.

To enjoy: https:/­/­soundcloud.com/­iwanfox/­interview-with-andrew-mcmillan

Welsh champion Cory will head across the Atlantic Ocean later this year to undertake five concerts in eight days in Canada and the USA.

It will be the band's first visit to Canada, but will mark the 50th anniversary of their milestone US tour in 1976 which was part of the country's bi-centennial celebrations. 2026 sees the USA celebrate its semi-quincentennial 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.

Ontario to New York

The tour will begin in Markham in Ontario, on Saturday 24th October, before the band travels through Delaware, Ohio and Virginia before culminating in a spectacular concert in New York City on Friday 30th October alongside the renowned New York Staff Band.

Led by Musical Director Philip Harper, the 2026 North American tour marks yet another global chapter for the band; one which adds to visits throughout Europe, Australia, South Korea, and their second United States visit in 2016.

During the tour they will be hosted by Upper Canada Brass, Dublin Silver Band, James Madison University Brass Band, Northern Virginia Brass Band and the New York Staff Band.

Fantastic opportunity

Speaking about the event, Cory Manager, Neil Blockley said: "This tour is a fantastic opportunity for us to meet new audiences in Canada, reconnect with audiences across North America and share the excitement, power, and versatility of brass music with both longstanding supporters and new listeners.

We are especially looking forward to working with students, educators, and local brass bands throughout the tour."

Tour schedule:

Saturday 24th October
Venue: People's Theatre for the Performing Arts, Markham
Markham, Ontario
Hosted by Upper Canada Brass

Monday 26th October
Venue: Ohio Wesleyan University, Gray Chapel
Delaware, Ohio
Hosted by Dublin Silver Band

Wednesday 28th October
Venue: Forbes Centre for the Performing Arts
James Madison University, Virginia
Hosted by JMU Brass Band

Thursday 29th October
Venue: Floris United, Methodist Church
Herndon, Virginia
Hosted by Northern Virginia Brass Band

Friday 30th October
Venue: Centennial Memorial Temple
New York City
Hosted by New York Staff Band

Further concert details and ticket information will be announced soon and made available via: www.coryband.com