British Bandsman

02/12/2025

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01/12/2025

SOLO CORNET VACANCY

Flowers Band are looking to complete our line-up by appointing a Solo (Tutti) Cornet.

Based in Gloucester, our members currently travel from areas including Cardiff, Bristol, Swindon, and Birmingham, and there are excellent transport links to the city.

We have a balanced and varied diary of engagements including all major UK contests, high profile concerts, recording projects, and performances abroad.

Additionally, in 2026 Flowers Band will represent England at The European Brass Band Championships and The World Music Contest.

For more of information, or to make your application, please contact us at [email protected]

01/12/2025

The first day of the Brass Band Championship 2025 is over! Meanwhile, the bands in the third, second, and first divisions are giving it their all.

Let's give them a round of applause! 👏👏👏

Congratulations on your day to: 🥇 Brass Band Kempenzonen Tielen (Open Division), 🥇 Brass Band Scaldis (1st Division), 🥇 Brass Band Panta Rhei (2nd Division), and 🥇 Brass Band Province de Liège (3rd Division)! 🎉

Congratulations to 🥈 Braz'art, 🥈 Brass Band Bacchus, 🥉 United Brass, 🏅 Mercator Brass Band, and 🏅 Brass Band Smeermaas for your outstanding performances!

Best Soloist (by department)
🎺 Open section: Principal cornet, Brassband Kempenzonen Tielen
🎺 3rd section: Solo cornet, United Brass
🎺 2nd section: Flugel Brass Band, Panta Rhei
🎺 1st section: Solo cornet, Mercator Brass Band

01/12/2025

Results 2025 Belgian National Brass Band Championships

European Champion Brassband Willebroek claims the Belgian national title under the direction of Frans Violet.

The 45th Belgian National Championships were held last weekend (November 29 and 30) at the CC Zwaneberg venue in Heist-op-den-Berg and were organized by VLAMO, the Flemish Association of Bands and Musicians.

18 Belgian brass bands competed for the title in their division and were adjudicated by an internationally renowned jury: Jane Westervik (NO), Jan de Haan (NL) en Christopher Houlding (UK).

On Saturday, Brassband Kempenzonen Tielen took first place in open division, Brass Band Province de Liège in 3rd division, Brassband Panta Rhei in 2nd division and Brassband Scaldis in 1st division.

On Sunday, Brassband Willebroek claimed the Belgian national title in Championship Division through their outstanding performance of the test piece Crazy Twenties by Thierry Deleruyelle (FR) and their own choice piece: Orpheus & Eurydice by Stijn Aertgeerts (BE).

As the 2025 European Brass Band Champion, Brassband Willebroek had already qualified directly for the 2026 European Brass Band Championships (EBBC) in Linz, Austria. As runner-up, Festival Brass Band was therefore awarded the coveted extra ticket today.

VLAMO's Brassbandkampioenschap is dé afspraak voor brassbands in ons land. In vijf afdelingen geven de bands het beste van zichzelf. Kers op de taart is het Europees ticket voor de winnaar van de kampioensafdeling.

30/11/2025

Celebrating St Andrew’s Day with Scottish young brass musicians

After a day of elite band competition in the Scottish Open championships, today it was the turn of the country’s younger ensembles to grace the Perth Concert Hall stage as they demonstrated their newly-acquired and burgeoning skills in brass instrument playing.

It’s St Andrew’s Day... and what better way to celebrate than with the Scottish Youth Brass Band Championships in which 25 bands performed short programmes of music in four sections – Novice, Intermediate, Development and Non-competitive – for written comment and assessment by adjudicators Anne Crookston and Glyn & Helen Williams.

After the listening to the Novice Section, Glyn remarked that it had been a “breath of fresh air to see the young players take to the stage to perform for us”. There had been sensible choices of music to play with good ensemble balance and tuning. What made the Gold winner selection was the sense of style the band had brought to the music.

Helen said: “Well done to everyone who has played today,” adding that it is sometimes forgotten where people’s brass journey started. “It is nice to sit back and listen to what is happening next – it’s the future,” she said. “You all should be proud of what you have contributed today.”

Following the Intermediate Section, Anne told the audience what an “absolute pleasure” it had been to watch and listen to all the youngsters on stage, so confident and so well prepared. She made special mention of the percussion kit players who had worked so hard and done a “fantastic job” in keeping their bands together. She added: “Congratulations to all the bands; it has been such a great joy.”

The Development Section Gold Award and first place went to Whitburn Youth Band, conducted by Caroline Farren.

In the Intermediate Section, Galashiels Youth Band (Stuart Black) went one better than last year’s Gold Award – they won the section this year!
In the Novice Section, it was Kirkton Youth Band (Karen Heenan) who took the top Gold Award and first place.

It was left to Helen Williams to sum up the day. “Gary and I have had the best seats in the house today,” she said. “The bands have been magnificent – fantastic people and fantastic musicians.

“Thanks to the conductors, teachers and parents for their encouragement and support and getting the young instrumentalists to practise every day!”
Addressing the players themselves, she added: “You should be proud to have played here in this magnificent concert hall. You are so fortunate to have had the opportunity – and long may that continue.”

Her final message to the youngsters was to urge them to further their musical journey by signing up to the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland to benefit from great tutors, soloists and musical directors.

These are the full results of the 2025 Scottish Youth Brass Band Championships:
Development Section
Gold Award
Whitburn Youth Band (Caroline Farren) - winner
Campbeltown Brass Development (Katrina Barr)
Irvine Youth Band (John Boax)
Silver Awards
Newtongrange Junior Band​(AlanFernie)
Perthshire Youth Brass (Willie McMullen) – winner
Bronze Award
Scottish Borders Youth Brass (Alan Fernie)

Intermediate Section
Gold Awards
Galashiels Youth Band (Stuart Black) - winner
Coalburn Bronze (Jim Park)
Loanhead Brass Youth Band​ (Alan Fernie)
Tweed Valley Youth Brass (Keith Belleville)
Silver Awards
Stranraer Brass Training (Angela Miller)​
Bronze Awards
Campbeltown Brass Intermediate (David Cosgrove)
King’s Park Junior Brass (Emily Stokes)
Kirkintilloch Youth Band (Katherine Adams)

Novice Section
Gold Awards
Kirkton Youth Band (Karen Heenan) – winner
Cupar Brass Bandits and Wizards (Alison Milne)
Hawick Saxhornettes (Stuart Black)
Kinneil Youth Band (Scott Gardner)
Maroon Brass (Stuart Black)
Silver Awards
Clackmannan District Beginners (Luci Lamb)
Loanhead Brass Roots and Newtongrange Junior Band (Alan Fernie)
Perth & Kinross Brass (Elaine Stewart)
Bronze Awards
Broxburn & Livingston Future Brass (Jim Bone)
Irvine & Dreghorn Brasslets (John Boax)

Non-competitive Section
St David’s & Penicuik Joint Youth Band (John A Dickson)

30/11/2025

Milnrow recapture the Scottish Open title in a scintillating battle of the bands

Yesterday’s weather was much kinder to travelling bands this year after the snow-delayed start to the second weekend of the 2024 Scottish Festival of Brass. And the temperature in the Perth Concert Hall was warm and welcoming as the Scottish Open, supported by Besson, got under way with the Hammonds Band’s rendition of Harmony Music by Philip Sparke.

What followed was six hours of scintillating brass music from 14 championship section bands – seven from Scotland and seven from England – who were competing at the highest level of contesting.

Performing their own choice of test piece, the bands were assessed by adjudicators Glyn Williams and Anne Crookston who had the difficult task of making the fine judgements required to determine their podium placings and beyond.

And it was Milnrow, once again, who took the top honours, successfully defending the title the band won 12 months ago. Playing off the no.10 spot, the band’s rendition of Peter Graham’s Metropolis 1927, skilfully directed by Christopher Binns, impressed the adjudicators the most.

Hot on their heels, just one point behind, was Bon-Accord Silver, conducted by Adam Cooke, with its performance of Journey of the Lone Wolf by Simon Dobson. And in third place was Dalmellington (Erik Janssen), playing Audivi Media Nocte by Oliver Waespi.

Before they addressed an expectant audience at the end of the day, Scottish Brass Band Association president Carrie Boax led a minute’s applause for the organisation’s honorary vice president Peter Fraser and treasurer Julie Nicoll who had both passed away in the space of two days earlier this month.

Glyn Williams said both he and Anne had listened to 14 great performances and they congratulated all the bands on their hard work in preparing for the contest. But, he added, there were three outstanding performances, stressing the need for accuracy in executing the detail in the music.

It was the controlled sounds in the quiet passages that had singled out the top three bands, he said.

Congratulating all day’s soloists, he said it had been an absolute joy to have adjudicated the event.

Anne Crookston echoed Glyn’s sentiments, commenting that in an own-choice contest, it was important to get the balance right between what the band can play and what can challenge the players. On the whole, she said, the choices suited the bands.

It was a “complete performance” which determined the winning band through its detail and quality of sound.

“The whole day has not felt like a long day,” she added. “We’ve thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and the contest has been a real joy.”

The full results of the Scottish Open are:
1. Milnrow (Christopher Binns) – Metropolis 1927 (Peter Graham) 196pts
2. Bon-Accord Silver (Adam Cooke) – Journey of the Lone Wolf (Simon Dobson) 195pts
3. Dalmellington (Erik Janssen) – Audivi Media Nocte (Oliver Waespi) 194pts
4. Hammonds (Morgan Griffiths) – Harmony Music (Philip Sparke) 192pts
5. Easington Colliery (Graeme Tindall) – Fraternity (Thierry Deleruyelle) 191pts
6. Kirkintilloch Kelvin (Mareika Gray) – English Heritage (George Lloyd) 190pts
7. Whitburn (Prof Nicholas Childs) – Star Crossed Lovers (Stephen Roberts) 189pts
8. Pemberton Old DW (Ryan Watkins) – Music for Battle Creek (Philip Sparke) 187pts
9. East London Brass (Jayne Murrill) – The World Rejoicing (Edward Gregson) 186pts
10. The Kirkintilloch Band (Martyn Ramsay) – The World Rejoicing (Edward Gregson) 185pts
11. Fishburn (Chris Bentham) – Paganini Variations (Philip Wilby) 183pts
12. Coalburn Silver (Gareth Bowman) – Essence of Time (Peter Graham) 182pts
13. Kingdom Brass (Eoin Tonner) – On the Shoulders of Giants (Peter Graham) 181pts
14. Tewit Silver (Martin Hall) – Dances and Alleluias (Philip Sparke) 180pts

Ken Ramsay Memorial Trophy for the best bass section: Dalmellington
Neil Philip Memorial Trophy for the best euphonium: Jacob Hickson, Milnrow
4barsrest Award for the best soloist: Joshua Parkhill, Dalmellington

27/11/2025

https://www.britishbandsman.com/workshop26

27/11/2025

North-south split in Scottish Open competing bands

On the second weekend of the Scottish Festival of Brass, 14 championship bands are lined up to compete in the Scottish Open, supported by Besson, in Perth Concert Hall on Saturday.

Interestingly, there’s a 50-50 split in contest entrants with seven of the participating bands travelling north from England.

The own-choice contest will be adjudicated by Glyn Williams and Anne Crookston. Popular test piece composers are Peter Graham and Philip Sparke. Selected music by bands will be Audivi Media Nocte (Oliver Waespi), Dances and Alleluias (Philip Sparke), English Heritage (George Lloyd), Essence of Time (Peter Graham), Fraternity (Thierry Deleruyelle), Harmony Music (Philip Sparke), Journey of the Lone Wolf (Simon Dobson), Metropolis 1927 (Peter Graham), Music for Battle Creek (Philip Sparke), On the Shoulders of Giants (Peter Graham), Paganini Variations (Phillip Wilby), Star Crossed Lovers (Stephen Roberts) and The World Rejoicing (Edward Gregson).

The following day the Scottish Youth Championships, supported by Creative Scotland, will take place with 25 brass bands participating in four sections – Novice, Intermediate, Development and Non-competitive. Anne Crookston and Glyn & Helen Williams will share the adjudication in this event.
The Scottish Brass Band Association is grateful to all sponsors, supporters, vendors and programme advertisers – including SN Percussion, Renfrew Burgh Band, Brass Reconstruction and The Wind Section – without whom this event would be much more difficult to organise.

Tickets for the Scottish Festival of Brass are available on the day at the entrance to Perth Concert Hall, priced at £16.50 (and £12.50 for concessions).

Scottish Open, Perth Concert Hall, Saturday 29 November

Own choice contest, draw at 10am, first band 11.15am
Adjudicators: Glyn Williams and Anne Crookston

Bon-Accord Silver (Adam Cooke)
Coalburn Silver (Gareth Bowman)
Dalmellington (Erik Janssen)
Easington Colliery (Graeme Tindall)
East London Brass (Jayne Murrill)
Fishburn (Chris Bentham)
Hammonds (Morgan Griffiths)
Kingdom Brass (Eoin Tonner)
Kirkintilloch Kelvin (Mareika Gray)
Milnrow (Christopher Binns)
Pemberton Old DW (Ryan Watkins)
Tewit Silver (Martin Hall)
The Kirkintilloch Band (Martyn Ramsay)
Whitburn (Prof Nicholas Childs)

Scottish Youth Championships, Perth Concert Hall, Sunday 30 November
Pre-drawn, commences 9.30am
Adjudicators: Anne Crookston and Glyn & Helen Williams

Novice Section
Broxburn & Livingston Future Brass (Jim Bone)
Clackmannan District Beginners (Luci Lamb)
Cupar Bandits & Wizards (Alison Milne)
Hawick Saxhornettes (Stuart Black)
Irvine & Dreghorn Brasslets (John Boax)
Kinneil Youth Band (Scott Gardner)
KIrkton Youth Band (Karen Heenan)
Loanhead Brass Roots and Newtongrange Junior Band (Alan Fernie)
Maroon Brass​ (Stuart Black)
Perth & Kinross Brass (Elaine Blackwood)

Intermediate Section
Campbeltown Brass Intermediate (David Cosgrove)
Coalburn Bronze (Jim Park)
Galashiels Youth Band (Stuart Black)
King’s Park Junior Brass (Emily Stokes)​
Kirkintilloch Youth Band (Katherine Adams)
Loanhead Brass Youth (Alan Fernie)
Stranraer Brass Training (Angela Miller)​
Tweed Valley Brass Youth (Keith Belleville)

Development Section
Campbeltown Brass Development (Katrina Barr)
Irvine Youth Band (John Boax)
Newtongrange Junior Band (Alan Fernie)
Perthshire Youth Brass (Willie McMullen)
Scottish Borders Youth Band (Alan Fernie)
Whitburn Youth Band (Caroline Farren)

Non-competitive Section
St David’s & Penicuik Joint Youth (John A Dickson)

24/11/2025

Kinneil’s winning performance brings curtain down on great day of banding

It was a case of saving the best until last at yesterday’s Band Supplies Scottish Challenge when Unite Scotland Kinneil Band, as the 20th and final contestant of the day, took to the stage in the Perth Concert Hall.

And, having waited all day to present their winning performance, it was fitting that the band’s choice of test piece was Peter Graham’s Essence of Time!

Expertly guided through the music by Alan Ramsay, the band put on a convincing show which captured the full attention of adjudicators Simon Gresswell and Leigh Baker.

And the outstanding performance of principal cornet Dhani Miller won him the 4barsrest soloist award.

Taking the runner-up spot was Newmains & District, led by Paul McKelvie OBE, playing Un Vie de Matelot by Robert Farnon and in third place was Dalkeith & Monktonhall (James Chamberlain) with its rendition of St James – A New Beginning by Philip Harper.

Before the adjudicators’ remarks and announcement of the results, Scottish Brass Band Association president Carrie Boax led a minute’s applause for the organisation’s honorary vice president and Scottish Challenge contest controller Peter Fraser and treasurer Julie Nicoll who had both passed away in the space of two days earlier this month.

Simon Gresswell and Leigh Baker both agreed that they had listened to some very good bands and thoroughly enjoyed their day in Scotland.
Simon commented that the overall standard of the bands had been “really good” but offered some pearls of advice on how a slight oscillation can add colour to otherwise straight notes, particularly from soloists. Dynamics too, played correctly, can create “a magical and musical picture”.

Finally, he remarked that in an own choice contest his expectation is that each band will have mastered the piece because they had picked it and in some cases this hadn’t been so.
Leigh said that he and Simon had been ‘like kids in a sweet shop” listening to such a fabulous choice of music and playing. He urged more quiet playing, especially when accompanying soloists. Furthermore, when playing quavers and semi-quavers, give the notes space, he added.

The full results of the contest are:
1. Unite Scotland Kinneil (Alan Ramsay) 196pts
2. Newmains & District (Paul McKelvie OBE) 194pts
3. Dalkeith & Monktonhall (James Chamberlain) 193pts
4. Dunaskin Doon (Chris Bradley) 192pts
5. North Lakes Brass (Denis Hadfield) 191pts
6. Newmilns & Galston (Alan Friel) 190pts
7. Johnstone (Raymond Tennant) 188pts
8. Lochgelly (Chris Shanks) 187pts
9. Dysart Colliery Silver (Robert Fraser) 186pts
10. Selkirk Silver (Stuart Black) 184pts
11. Arbroath & Carnoustie (Neill McDonald) 183pts
12. Perthshire Brass (Willie McMullan) 181pts
13. Barrhead Burgh (Alan Friel) 179pts
14. Broxburn & Livingston (Raymond Tennant) 176pts
15. Campbeltown Brass (Owen Pickering) 174pts
16. Bon-Accord B (Harry Marshall) 173pts
17. Dundee Instrumental (Bob McDonald) 172pts
18. Kilmarnock Concert Brass (Rebecca Wilson Paterson) 171pts
19. Buckhaven & Methil Miners (Steven Craig) 170pts
20. Shotts St Patrick's (Charlie Farren) 168pts
Best First Section band: Unite Scotland Kinneil
Best Second Section band: Perthshire Brass
Best Third Section band: North Lakes Brass
Best Fourth Section band: Arbroath & Carnoustie
4Barsrest Award for best soloist: Dhani Miller (cornet) Unite Scotland Kinneil
Paul Dornan Memorial Award for best principal cornet: Clare Letham (Dysart Colliery)
Anthony Hope Memorial Trophy for best horn section: Dunaskin Doon

23/11/2025

GBBA Section A
Band Number 14
Cheltenham Silver

March - Ruardean
Nice opening, balanced and great contrasts, the tempo skips along nicely. The band do well to keep the quieter dynamic balanced and keep the tempo moving along.
Not a March I have heard before, enjoyed that.

Test - Napoleon on the Alps
Not the tidiest start but the intent is good and the band settle well. It moves nicely, one thing the piece needs is momentum and we get some great momentum from the band.

Some lovely phrases within the performance, a few slips taking away some of the tension that has built, the band have a lovely full sound but phrase endings are untidy in places.

Nice sound from the cornet, well done basses and trombones a nice moment.

The ending was strong, this has been a performance with some untidy moments but also some great moments, big sounds and great story telling.

23/11/2025

GBBA Section A
Band Number 13
Lydney Town Band

March - Castell Caerfilli
Nice opening, moving along nicely, good detail and lovely balance. Nice contrasts, some notes lost in the middle of the band. A good March.

Test - Nightfall
A very menacing opening, balanced well and works well. Good detail that comes over in waves and has a nice depth. A few moments of insecurity that take a little while to settle. I am feeling moments where the sounds are a little lost and then moments where it feels full of confidence. Some lovely sounds, nice to hear the soprano just sitting on top of that band sound.

This is a very tricky piece to negotiate and there are moments where is feels unsteady and struggles to find its feet but there are a lot of great moments, great sounds and really strong areas of the piece.

23/11/2025

GBBA Section A
Band Number 12

Harborough Band

March - Ravenswood
Good contrasts and nice full sound, the tempo just a fraction over and I lose some detail and it feels hurried. Nice sound from the solo cornet.
Nice and tidy in the DC, good contrasts and good close.

Test - Black Gold
Strong opening, well managed tricky sections early on in the piece. Good contrasts and good work in the percussion section. Nice sound coming from the Horn section, nice build in intensity.

Some beautiful sounds, warmth and a lovely tone from the basses up, love the sound from the Soprano.

Nice work basses, bit untidy from the band in places, felt a bit hurried, but soon back on track.

Good close, a good sound and good detail throughout.

I enjoyed the piece and the performance

Thank you