British Bandsman

01/07/2024

HIS MAJESTY KING CHARLES III ACCEPTS NATIONALS PATRONAGE

The National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain is delighted to announce that, following a review of the patronages of The Late Queen, the former Prince of Wales and the former Duchess of Cornwall, Buckingham Palace has confirmed that His Majesty King Charles III is delighted to accept the Patronage of the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain, to mark the first anniversary of Their Majesties Coronation.

Philip Morris and Nicola Bland, Directors of Kapitol Promotions which presents the National Championships, said: "Buckingham Palace has informed us that the review of patronages involved the thorough analysis of over 1,000 organisations. We are deeply honoured by His Majesty King Charles III’s decision to accept the patronage and it is a source of great pride that the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain’s long association with the Monarchy continues."

(Photo credit: Mark Tantrum)

30/06/2024

Lifetime achievement award for John Gilmour

Scottish Brass Band Association secretary Tom Allan and honorary vice president Peter Fraser MBE attended a special evening concert by Queensferry Community Band to thank John Gilmour for his years of work and dedication to the band which he founded in the 1970s when he was the principal teacher of music at Queensferry High School.

Recent health problems have forced John to step down as the secretary and main organiser, so the band returned to the school where it all began to pay tribute to him by playing a concert of his many musical arrangements.

After a band presentation to Mr and Mrs Gilmour, Tom Allan handed John a SBBA lifetime achievement award, bestowing on him an honorary vice president position with the Scottish Brass Band Association. As well as all John's work with Queensferry, he organised the Scottish Youth Brass Band Championships for many years.

Thanks to the generosity of the audience, the band was able to make a donation of over £350 to Cancer Research.

30/06/2024

Coalburn Silver Band are soon to say farewell to their long standing principal cornet player, Calum Blair.

Calum has been successful in gaining a fully funded scholarship to study for a Masters in Music at the Sibelius Academy in Finland.

Calum joined Coalburn Silver Band in 2015 from Barrhead Burgh Band and quickly became the band’s principal cornet. Calum has made huge contributions to the band’s performances. During the past 9 years has played at the National Championships in Cheltenham on three occasions and won the 1st section Scottish Championships in 2023 where he was awarded the best instrumentalist prize. Calum was part of the band’s historic debut in the Championship section where the band were placed 5th.

In 2022, Calum was also the principal cornet of the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland. Calum has also been awarded player of the year on two occasions in 2015 and 2023 by musical director, Gareth Bowman.

Gareth commented, 'We are so proud of Calum - it has been amazing to see and be part of his incredible development. He has brought so much to our band family, including wonderful performances, musicality, friendship, leadership as well as supporting the development of others. An exiting new chapter awaits Calum and we’ll be delighted to see what the future holds for him and to welcome him back to Coalburn in the future.'

Calum added, 'I’m incredibly sad to be leaving Coalburn, but very much looking forward to moving to Finland! I know I’ll be back and playing with Coalburn again in the future.'

Coalburn Brass Band Family are going to miss Calum greatly but are delighted that he will be joined in Finland by former band member Jack Archibald who will also be studying at the Sibelius Academy from August – congratulations to Jack!

28/06/2024

Flowers Band are excited to be performing at Reading Town Hall as part of the British Bandsman Bandsman Concert Series on Saturday 28th September, 7pm.

The programme really will have something for everyone, ranging from a classic overture to film music, with a major test piece and a world premiere along the way!

Our Solo Euphonium, Daniel Thomas, and the band will be performing the world premiere of a brand new Euphonium Concerto from the pen of Philip Harper, entitled ‘The Reckless Engineer,’ which depicts the life and personality of Isambard Kingdom Brunel.

As this concert is taking place one week before we appear at the 2024 National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain at the Royal Albert Hall, the band shall also be performing the Test Piece for the competition, Harrison’s Dream by Peter Graham.

Get your tickets now at: https://whatsonreading.com/venues/concert-hall/whats-on/flowers-band

28/06/2024

https://whatsonreading.com/search?for=band&venue=1881

28/06/2024

https://whatsonreading.com/venues/concert-hall/whats-on/black-dyke-band-7pm

The British Bandsman Concert Series: Reading

Black D**e Band

Saturday 23rd November at 7pm

£20 | £25 | U18 £6 | 20% Discount for a booking of 10+ | 15% Discount if you buy full price tickets for 3 or more concert in the 2024 series

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28/06/2024

https://whatsonreading.com/venues/concert-hall/whats-on/black-dyke-band-2pm

The British Bandsman Concert Series: Reading

Black D**e Band

Saturday 23rd November at 2pm

£20 | £25 | U18 £6 | 20% Discount for a booking of 10+ | 15% Discount if you buy full price tickets for 3 or more concert in the 2024 series

“Virtuosity of this order takes the breath away.” With a heritage stretching back to 1855, the Black D**e Band’s pedigree is unrivalled. Over 350 recordings and numerous national and European competition titles have made the name Black D**e synonymous with musical excellence.

28/06/2024

https://whatsonreading.com/venues/concert-hall/whats-on/fodens-band

The British Bandsman Concert Series: Reading

Foden's Band

Saturday 19th October at 7pm

£20 | £25 | U18 £6 | 20% Discount for a booking of 10+ | 15% Discount if you buy full price tickets for 3 or more concert in the 2024 series

“World Class Brass from the World’s number one ranked Brass Band, if you want quality then this is a concert not to be missed.” The origin of the Foden’s Band goes back to 1900 when the village of Elworth and Sandbach in Cheshire held a celebration after the Relief of Mafeking during the Boe...

28/06/2024

https://whatsonreading.com/venues/concert-hall/whats-on/friary-band

The British Bandsman Concert Series: Reading

Friary Brass Band

Saturday 19th October at 2pm

£17.50 | U18 £6 | 20% Discount for a booking of 10+ | 15% Discount if you buy full price tickets for 3 or more concert in the 2024 series

“One of the leading brass bands in the London and Southern Counties area, top class entertainment from a top-class brass band.” Since Friary made its National Finals debut in 2013 they have made seven further consecutive RAH appearances, five consecutive Regional Championship titles, three Most ...

28/06/2024

https://whatsonreading.com/venues/concert-hall/whats-on/flowers-band

The British Bandsman Concert Series: Reading

Flowers Band

Saturday 28th September at 7pm

£20 or £25 | U18 £6 | 20% Discount for a booking of 10+ | 15% Discount if you buy full price tickets for 3 or more concert in the 2024 series

“Consistent excellence and high-quality entertainment is a guarantee from Flowers, a band that sits proudly in the top 10 Brass Band world rankings.” Flowers Band, from Gloucestershire, is now in its 56th year of outstanding musical excellence. Flowers is the leading band in the West of England ...

28/06/2024

https://whatsonreading.com/venues/concert-hall/whats-on/hatherleigh-silver-band

The British Bandsman Concert Series: Reading

Hatherleigh Silver Band

Saturday 28th September at 2pm

£12.50 | U18 £6 | 20% Discount for a booking of 10+ | 15% Discount if you buy full price tickets for 3 or more concert in the 2024 series

“An entertaining programme for all the family from one of the up and coming brass bands from the West of England.” Hatherleigh were part of the ‘take part’ draw that took place in September 2023, all bands were given the opportunity to enter and to be part of the concert series.

28/06/2024

Follow the link to see all of the details on each concert.
https://whatsonreading.com/search?for=band&venue=1881

The British Bandsman Concert Series: Reading

Reading Town Hall

Tickets for Hatherleigh Silver Band, Flowers Band, Foden's Band, Friary Brass Band, Black D**e Band are on sale now.

U18's for just £6

10+ Group Booking Discount Available (20% off)

Book 3 or more concerts and get a 15% discount

Tickets have just been released and more details will be coming out over the next few days.

27/06/2024

Do you play Brass or Percussion and are looking for a group of musicians to join, looking to get back to playing or fancy a change, then why not get in touch with Abbey Brass (Abingdon)

27/06/2024

The final lineup to announce for this year's National Finals is for the Section 4 Final, being held on Sunday 15 September at Cheltenham Racecourse!

Sections 1-4 Finals 2024

Betteshanger Colliery Welfare
Bon-Accord Silver B
Buckhaven & Methil Miners'
Bugle Silver
Coventry Festival
Craghead Colliery
Friendly (Sowerby Bridge)
Holywell
Illogan Sparnon Silver
Littleborough
Loxley Silver
Penrith Town
Reading Spring Gardens
Severn Tunnel
Stalybridge Old
Syston
Watford
Whitwell

27/06/2024

Have a look at the bands who have qualified & entered the Section 3 Final 2024, being held on Saturday 14 September at Cheltenham Racecourse!

Sections 1-4 Finals 2024

Amersham Concert
Barnsley Metropolitan
Clifton & Lightcliffe
Croy Silver
Crwbin Silver
Eccleston
Flookburgh Silver
Golborne
Lydney Town
Morecambe
Nailsworth Silver
Penclawdd
Perthshire
Putney & Wimbledon
Spennymoor Town
Thrapston Town
Towcester Studio
Verwood Town
Wellington Telford
Welwyn Garden City

27/06/2024

Next up are the bands who have qualified & entered the Section 2 Final 2024, being held on Sunday 15 September at Cheltenham Racecourse!

Sections 1-4 Finals 2024

Abertillery Town
Audley
Besses Boys
Broxburn and Livingston
City of Cambridge
Diggle
Durham Miners’ Association
Emley
Ferryhill Town
Gosport Solent
Newmains & District
Raunds Temperance
St Sebastian Wokingham
Skelmersdale Prize
South Yorkshire Police
St Austell Town
St Keverne
Tilbury
Usk

27/06/2024

Here are the bands who have qualified & entered the Section 1 Final 2024, being held on Saturday 14 September at Cheltenham Racecourse!

Sections 1-4 Finals 2024

Blackburn & Darwen
BTM
City of Bristol
Crofton Silver
Horsham Borough
Jackfield
Kibworth
Kidlington Concert
Kirkintilloch
Langley
Lydbrook
Michelmersh Silver
MK
North Skelton
Northop Silver
Tewit Silver
Tyldesley
Wardle Anderson
Yorkshire Imperial

27/06/2024

Now that the deadline for entries has passed, we can announce the bands that will be performing at the National Finals later in the year!

First up are the Championship Section qualifiers...

Championship Section Final 2024
20 of Great Britain's finest brass bands will compete for the famous National Challenge Trophy as well as the prestigious title of "National Champion Band of Great Britain 2024" on Saturday 5 October at London's iconic Royal Albert Hall🏆

Aldbourne
Black D**e
Brighouse and Rastrick
Carlton Main Frickley Colliery
cooperation
Cory
Desford Colliery
Easington Colliery
Ebbw Valley
Flowers
Foden's
Friary
GUS
KNDS Fairey
NASUWT Riverside
Pemberton Old Wigan DW
Tongwynlais Temperance
Tredegar Town
Whitburn
Zone One

27/06/2024

Hoping your summer engagements are going well, what have you been playing this summer that your audience have enjoyed?

Abbey Brass Band - 4th Section - Played 'I'm still standing' arr. Wormald at a recent concert, the audience enjoyed that one (Not sure the Basses did though!!)

Kidlington Concert Brass - 1st Section - Played 'Pinball Wizard' arr. Fernie went down well.

What are your 'Crowd Favourites' ?

27/06/2024

Salvation Army Trading Company Limited (SATCoL) proudly announces the acquisition of Just Music, a leading provider of brass and wind band sheet music. This solidifies SATCoL’s commitment to expanding its offerings and serving the needs of musicians worldwide.

Just Music, founded by Nigel and Mary Durno in 1985 and based in Scotland, has established itself as a trusted source for high-quality sheet music catering to brass and wind bands. With a reputation for excellence and dedication to the brass band movement, Just Music has become synonymous with innovation and reliability in the music industry.

"We are thrilled to welcome Just Music into the SATCoL family," said Heidi Sones, Manager at Studio Music. “It will sit alongside Studio Music, R Smith & Lush Life Music, aligning perfectly with our mission to provide comprehensive resources for musicians of all levels. Nigel and Mary Durno have built an extraordinary legacy, and we are honoured to carry their vision forward."

Upon their retirement, Nigel and Mary Durno would like to take this opportunity to, “thank all customers for their loyal business over the years - and to all the composers, arrangers and music publishers with whom we have enjoyed great relationships - thank you. We are confident that the standards of excellence we have established with the Just Music brand will continue to nurture the growth of brass and wind band music."

With currently over thirty-nine thousand titles of Brass Band music to browse and buy, Just Music are a leading UK based stockist of Brass Band Music. Orders can be made from the web site, phone or at trade stands for contests and concerts.

Richard Phillips, Music Editor at SATCoL, emphasised the seamless integration of Just Music into the SATCoL music ecosystem. "We are committed to ensuring a smooth transition for Just Music customers and partners," said Richard. "Our goal is to enhance the overall experience and provide even greater access to a diverse range of sheet music resources."

SATCoL extends its best wishes to Nigel and Mary Durno as they embark on this new chapter in their lives. Their contributions to the music industry are invaluable, and their legacy will endure for years to come.

For inquiries and further information, please contact 01933 449205 Richard Phillips Head of SP&S Music.
Salvation Army Trading Company Ltd

24/06/2024

Browse and book tickets for events at the Royal Albert Hall.

22/06/2024

https://www.barnescoaches.co.uk/search-results?min=2024-07-25&max=2024-09-01&df=1

Summer Holiday Day Trips from Barnes Coaches

Thu 25th Jul - Sun 1st Sept 2024

19/06/2024

The Suburban Swing Orchestra from Oldham are looking for a Bass trombone player to join them.

They rehearse twice monthly on a Monday evening 8:30-10-30pm at Heyside Club, Shaw.

The first Monday of each month is a concert at the club.

The band do have a page if anybody is interested to look at with loads of videos of past performances and any other info they might want to look at.

Also the band Would like to invite any persons who might like to help with the running of the band.

Interested? Please contact
Paul Phillips on 07811 175615
or email [email protected]

18/06/2024

The Bandsman Archive: September 2015 saw the announcement of the 2016 Regional tests.

We have a while to wait for the announcement for the 2025 regionals, but the conversations on social media have already started.

17/06/2024

Saturday 15 June saw ten semi-finalists travelling from as far afield as Canada, Italy, the US and Germany to battle it out in the semi-final of the Brass Band Conductors’ Association’s flagship Conducting Competition at Eccles Town Hall.

Neil Brownless, Gary Perrin, Craig Sanders, So Matsukawa and Christopher Ward impressed adjudicators Sarah Groarke-Booth and Morgan Griffiths conducting Hammonds Band playing Liz Lane’s ‘Rhythm of Light’ and Eric Ball’s ‘Resurgam’ to earn their place in the final.

All five finalists conducted a classic piece in the evening’s Gala Concert with Eccles Borough Band. So, who is originally from Japan, delighted the audience and adjudicators alike with his expressive and enjoyable conducting of Dave Brubeck’s Blue Rondo a la Turk.

The BBCA are thrilled to announce the prize-winners:

1st place So Matsukawa

2nd place & highest-placed UK Entrant Gary Perrin

3rd place Neil Brownless

So was presented with the Roy Newsome Conductors Shield, a £200 cash prize and a year’s free membership of BBCA. He is also invited to act as understudy to Russell Gray in Foden’s preparation for the Nationals and conduct them in concert.

BBCA Chair, James Holt, commented: “This has been a great event and certainly the highest, and most consistent, standard we have had. Each conductor has done themselves proud and I am sure they have taken away a lot from the day. This is a very rewarding day for the BBCA and I hope we are able to continue this fantastic competition to provide opportunities to many more conductors.

My thanks also to Sarah Groarke-Booth and Morgan Griffiths, both Hammonds and Eccles Bands and to our sponsors. This is a competition that continues to grow in stature and today's excellence certainly showed that."

16/06/2024

Very pleased to be a sponsor of today’s concerts in Bromsgrove. A sold out festival of brass with Frank Renton doing all the intros.
Foden's Band are up first at 12:00
A great day ahead.

15/06/2024

The UK's Finest Bands

The British Bandsman is looking forward to attending the inaugural Elgar Internationals Festival of Brass at Bromsgrove School on Sunday 16th June.

Foden's Band @12:00
Overture : Carnival – Dvorak Op.92 arr Brand
Concerto for Eb Horn and Brass Band - Bourgeois - Soloist : Jonathan Bates
Masques – Debussy arr Mowat
Ubi Caritas – Mealor arr Owen
Sand and Stars - Deleruyelle

Brighouse and Rastrick Band @14:00
Moorside Suite - Gustav Host – 150 years since Holst’s passing.
Euphonium Concerto No.1 – Philip Sparke - Soloist Chris Robertson.
Pavane by Gabriel Faure – 100 years since the composers passing
A Road Less Travelled – Set work for the EBBC 2024 – Philip Sparke

The Cory Band @16:00
Worship the King – Harper
Euphonium Concerto – Harper Soloist: Glyn Williams
Dances and Arias – Gregson
Aria – Golland
Journey into Freedom – Ball