Live...
2026 Spring Festival
Town Hall and Jennifer Blackwell Hall, Birmingham
2-3 May 2026
New adjudication system being considered for Brass in Concert
May 17
Adjudication rankings of equal value to be considered in potential revamp of judging at the Brass in Concert Championships later this year.
Norwegian brass band talent spotlighted for Maestro direction
May 17 • Eline Storheim and Samuel Winter have been chosen to be part of a two year conducting course.
New releases set for Wobplay
May 17 • New CD releases from Black Dyke Band, Birmingham Citadel and Bone-afide alongside the Elgar International Festival will soon be able to be enjoyed on the digital platform.
Tynan departs at Lostock Hall
May 17 • The brief but successful musical partnership between Lostock Hall Band and conductor Tommy Tynan has come to an end.
People are in tuning in for classical music
May 16 • The latest quarterly RAJAR figures have just been released with over 6 million people enjoying classical music output each week.
Brass Band World: May issue out now
May 16 • The latest issue of the magazine is now out — packed with a comprehensive look at the banding world.
Whitehead to premiere new flugel concerto
May 16 • Imogen Whitehead will give the world premiere of a new flugel horn concerto by Gabriel Jackson as part of her residency at the Ryedale Festival this year.
Brilliant finance deals from Band Supplies
May 16 • If its a Sterling euphonium or a Smith Watkins cornet you are looking for this Summer then make sure you get in touch with Band Supplies.
Plumridge to become new principal cornet at Grimethorpe
May 15 • Hannah Plumridge is to become the new principal cornet of Grimethorpe Colliery Band as she ends a decade with Cory on a personal high.
Black Dyke Mills Band: Classic Brass
£5.39£5.39
Brass from the Masters - Volume 1
£6.50£6.50
Still Glides the Stream
£11.25£11.25
4BR Review - Episode 17
May 11 • Iwan and Chris look at the wider contest issues that have arisen from the recent European Championships in Linz and Spring Festival in Birmingham.
4BR Review - Episode 16
February 26 • Iwan and Chris look forward to the 2026 Regional Championships - the issues, music and tips for victory...
4BR Review - Episode 15
February 1 • Iwan Fox and Chris Thomas look back at the RNCM International Brass Band Festival as well as forward to the Norwegian Nationals and more...
4BR Review - Episode 14
January 16 • 4BR Editor Iwan Fox is joined by Chris Thomas and special guest Dr David Thornton to preview the 2026 RNCM International Brass Band Festival in Manchester.
Opinion debate: The luck of the draw or data driven evidence?
May 18 • Is it a myth that the winning of a contest can in part be down to the luck of the draw, or does new research add statistical substance to back up the belief?
Kathleen Gaspoz has been drilling into the stats to back her opinion.
2026 European Brass Band Championships: Test piece reviews
April 23 • 4BR Editor Iwan Fox takes a closer look at the set-works to be played this weekend from Thomas Doss, Andreas Ziegelback, Otto M Schwarz and Thomas Murauer.
2026 European Brass Band Championships: Own choice selections
April 21 • 4BR finds out more about the own-choice works to be performed by the bands in the Championship and Challenge Sections in Linz.
2026 European Brass Band Championships: Welcome to Linz
April 20 • Increased size and wider vision underpins EBBA's ethos behind its flagship event — but concerns about the direction of future travel remain...
Concert: Women in Brass Australasia
May 18 • A memorable evening of excellence, community and mentorship led by the inspirational Sheona White.
Concert: RNCM Tribute to Elgar Howarth
May 15 • A fine reminder of a musical polymath who linked brass bands to the wider musical world.
Concert: National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain
April 20 • There was nothing ordinary about the spirit of fun and fearlessness on display by the talented youngsters of the NYBBGB in Manchester.
| # | Band | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eikanger-Bjørsvik | 971.10 |
| 2 | Brighouse and Rastrick | 860.34 |
| 3 | Brass Band Treize Etoiles | 822.07 |
| 4 | Cory | 791.88 |
| 5 | Foden's | 711.59 |
| 6 | Flowers | 586.54 |
| 7 | Black Dyke | 547.59 |
| 8 | Brass Band Willebroek | 517.67 |
| 9 | Valaisia Brass Band | 471.82 |
| 10 | the cooperation band | 469.21 |
Harlow Brass Band - SPRING CONCERT - AN ANIMATION SENSATION
Saturday 16 May • St Andrew's Methodist Church. The Stow. Harlow. CM20 3AF
Sherborne Town Band - Free-Music in the park
Sunday 17 May • Dorchester- Park Bandstand DT1 1RG
Newstead Brass - Mansfield MVC - Brass and Voices
Sunday 24 May • Forest Town Arena. Clipstone Road West,. Mansfield NG19 0EE
Contest: Whit Friday March Contests
Friday 29 May • Saddleworth & Tameside OL3
The Hepworth Band - Brassband Burgermusik Luzern
Saturday 30 May • Dewsbury Minster, Vicarage Road, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire WF12 8DD
Cambrian Brass
May 16 • We're always happy to hear from anyone interested in joining a friendly and supportive band, whether you're returning to banding or looking for a new challenge.
Delph Band
May 15 • We are seeking an enthusiastic and musically skilled Associate Conductor to lead and develop our band alongside our current Musical Director Phil Goodwin. . Rehearsals are Mondays and Wednesdays, 8-10pm at Delph Band Club.
Tintwistle Band
May 15 • We have a vacancy for a soprano cornet, and with lots of exciting engagements coming up we would love to get this seat filled!. We rehearse every Monday and Thursday 8-10pm at our own bandroom in Tintwistle, under the baton of our superb MD, Jim Henson.
David A. Stowell
Conductor and composer