*
banner

Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Brass Band & Tredegar Band

RBC: Summer Concert Series
Conductors: Alan Gifford; Matt Ludford-King; Ian Porthouse
Wednesday 15th June


The musical link built between the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and Tredegar Band has proven to been a particularly fruitful one over the past decade or more.

Students have gained invaluable experience playing for its Brass Band in Residence through a joint long term commitment to the performance of contemporary repertoire.

Head of Brass Amos Miller (with conductors above) has further strengthened the tie, with an appreciative audience enjoying major works from Philip Sparke, Johan de Meij and Gavin Higgins that brought ambitious substance to a heavyweight programme.

Vigour

The current crop of RBC Brass Band students were led by Alan Gifford and Matt-Ludford King (studying for Masters in Brass Band Conducting) in ‘The Year of the Dragon’  and ‘Extreme Makeover’, after Ian Porthouse had led an energetic ‘La Peri’  opener.

Sparke’s thrilling celebration of Cory’s 1984 centenary has lost none of its vigour - right from the crack-shot salvos of the Coplandesque ‘Billy the Kid’ opening, although it was the languid playing of solo trombone Oliver Plant in the ‘Interlude’  that caught the ear before a well observed flight through the final movement.

David Childs’ performance of Philip Wilby’s ‘Zeibikikos’  made superlatives redundant – as is fast becoming the reaction created by Gavin Higgins’ ‘So Spoke Albion’  with its inspired palette of resonant colour, texture and sublimity – a work that taps deep into a furnace stream of molten technical complexities and searing emotion.  

‘Extreme Makeover’  also bubbled with exotic energy; the central Gamelan feature with its marimba spotlight (excellently led by Alex Walton) and steam train chuffing bottles, the axis that balanced the Tchaikovsky inspired adventurism. 

Tredegar’s horizons will take in the Proms this year – a brace of appearances which will include the pomp of the Strauss ‘Vienna Philharmonic Fanfare’  as well as works marking the 150th anniversary of Vaughan Williams (with an eagerly awaited CD to come). 

Furnace stream

Here they brought Paul Hindmarsh and Phillip Littlemore’s sympathetically realised ‘Suite’ from the wartime film ‘The 49th Parallel’  to life with evocative warmth – the famous ‘Prelude’  set as its close the ultimate piece of anti-fascist musical propaganda. 

David Childs’ performance of Philip Wilby’s ‘Zeibikikos’  made superlatives redundant – as is fast becoming the reaction created by Gavin Higgins’ ‘So Spoke Albion’  with its inspired palette of resonant colour, texture and sublimity – a work that taps deep into a furnace stream of molten technical complexities and searing emotion.  

The joint forces combined for ‘MacArthur Park’  to close – a great dollop of cake-mix bombast on an evening of serious musical intent.

Iwan Fox 

Support us for less than a cup of coffee...

4BR wants to ensure that the brass band movement remains vibrant and relevant. We also want to be able to question, challenge and critically examine those who run and play in it, producing high quality journalism that informs as well as entertains our readers.

So if like us you value a strong, independent perspective on the brass band world - then why not consider becoming a supporter and help make our future and that of a burgeoning brass band movement more secure.

So one less cappuccino then?

Support us    



Petworth Town Band - Petworth Town Band at Petworth Heritage weekend

Saturday 20 September • Centre of Petworth Town GU28 OAH


Cheltenham Silver Band - Holst Birthday Concert

Saturday 20 September • All Saints Church, All Saints Road, Pittville, Cheltenham GL52 2HG


Dobcross Silver Band - Milnrow Band

Sunday 21 September • c/o Dobcross Band Club. Platt Lane. Dobcross Saddleworth OL3 5AD


Regent Hall Concerts - The Band of the Grenadier Guards Big Band

Friday 26 September • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. WC1 2DJ W1C2DJ


Brass Bands England - The Brass Band Conference

Saturday 27 September • Redhills Durham Miners Hall, Durham DH1 4BE


Haverhill Silver Band

September 17 • Haverhill Silver Band (Championship Section) seeks a FRONT ROW CORNET (position negotiable). This is a superb opportunity to join East Anglia's premier brass band for the L&SC area contest, the Senior Cup, Whit Friday and beyond.


Cheltenham Silver Band

September 16 • Required:. Musical Director : Cheltenham Silver Academy Band Following the relocation of our current conductor we are looking for a progressive, passionate and dedicated individual to lead our Academy Band, and to support our continued improvement.


Chinnor Silver

September 16 • We need a Bass player (either Bb or Eb) and a percussionist to join our happy team! The band is promoted to the first section in 2026 and were also 2025 Second section National Finalists. We rehearse on Wednesday evenings in our own bandroom in Chinnor


Derek Renshaw

ABBA Member
Conductor, Band Trainer and Adjudicator.


               

 © 2025 4barsrest.com Ltd