Articles /2026
2026 First Section National Championship of Great Britain — Preview
September 17, 2026
A testing journey of discovery awaits the musical explorers if they are to become National Champions.
2026 Second Section National Championship of Great Britain — Preview
September 16, 2026
Courage in the face of the foe. Who will triumph with the same sense of certainty as Eric Ball shows in his uplifting tone poem?
2026 Third Section National Championship of Great Britain — Preview
September 15, 2026
A taste of Swiss alpine delights to master for bands wishing to be crowned the Kings of 'Snow Island' in York.
2026 Fourth Section National Championship of Great Britain — Preview
September 15, 2026
Who will become the newly crowned 'Heroes of the North' in York on the weekend?
2026 British Open Championship — Podium adjudications
September 15, 2026
The adjudications of Martyn Brabbins, Arsene Duc and David Hirst for Foden's, Brass Band Willebroek and Brighouse & Rastrick.
2026 British Open Championship — Test piece review
September 10, 2026
Despite its popularity Philip Sparke's musical rhetoric in 'Music of the Spheres' is still a proposition few have really mastered.
2026 British Open Championship — Symphony Hall preview
September 8, 2026
Resolute ambition is driving the oldest major championship in the world - but changing times still brings its challenges if it is to retain its global appeal.
The Sparke of revolution — How Music of the Spheres changed the contesting world
September 6, 2026
Philip Sparke may be a most unlikely revolutionary figure, but in 2004 he changed the contesting world forever...
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle — Images from the 2026 NYBBGB Summer Course
August 14, 2026
Photographer Marc Gascoigne captured plenty of great images from this year's National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain Summer Course and Concert.
The recycling theme — Simon Dobson's new work is music for our consumer times
August 7, 2026
Simon Dobson's talks about his latest work, 'MACHINE!' to be performed by the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain conducted by Lieutenant Colonel Lauren Petritz-Watts.
In Memoriam: E.H. — Brabbins tribute to Elgar Howarth
August 6, 2026
Conductor Martyn Brabbins talks about his tribute to the legacy of Elgar Howarth which will be premiered by the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain led by Lieutenant Colonel Lauren Petritz-Watts.
Knight rider — Tuba virtuoso looks forward to NYBBGB solo debut
August 5, 2026
Ross Knight looks to bridge the gap between the orchestral and brass band world with his solo appearance with the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain this weekend in Bath.
Participation to Pathways — Building a sustainable future for rural community bands
July 24, 2026
Julie Hoggarth, Director of Drum and Brass, a Cumbria-based community music organisation, wonders if we are asking the wrong questions about the future of brass banding?
Black Dyke Band at The Proms — Images of a memorable day at the Royal Albert Hall
July 23, 2026
Official photographer Chris Christodoulou was on hand to record Black Dyke Band's BBC Proms appearance.
Sponsored Content — Combatting red rot
July 22, 2026
Rosehill Instruments shares its technician-approved cleaning regime for your instrument to stop its worst enemy.
2026 World Music Contest — Kerkrade preview
July 8, 2026
Thankfully there will be no hydration breaks, VAR or even political interference at the brass band version of the World Cup in Kerkrade this weekend.
Sponsored Content: Rrrrrosehill! — Remembering Trevor Austin
June 24, 2026
A year on from Trevor's death, Rosehill Instruments reflects on the legacy of its founder in the banding world.
Nordic investment funds — Musical dividends paid to young and old
June 11, 2026
Long term investment and inspirational leadership has seen a brass band playing renaissance in one small part of Norway.
Hey Diggle, Diggle — 2026 Whit Friday images
June 5, 2026
Well known brass band photographer John Stirzaker enjoyed the Whit Friday music making at Diggle through the lens of his camera...
Opinion debate — The luck of the draw or data driven evidence?
May 18, 2026
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, 2026
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, 2026
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, 2026
Increased size and wider vision underpins EBBA's ethos behind its flagship event - but concerns about the direction of future travel remain...
A Laugh Less Ordinary — A musical tribute to Victoria Wood
April 8, 2026
Simon Watts of the NYBBGB talks to composer Andrea Price ahead of the world premiere of her work celebrating the life and laughs of the unique Victoria Wood.
Opportunity knocks — Can we make the most of the renewed interest in us?
April 7, 2026
With brass banding undergoing one of its cyclical upturns in profile from the wider musical world, 4BR Editor Iwan Fox wonders if we are in the position to make the most of our latest opportunity.
Take 5 — Regional Championship debating points
April 6, 2026
Five issues to think about, debate and perhaps even come up with an answer to following the recent series of Regional Championship events around the country.
Take 5 — A quintet of female works to be enjoyed on more than the one day a year
March 5, 2026
8th March marks International Women's Day. The 4BR Editor picks five compositions by female composers that deserve to be celebrated in performance all year around.
Interpreting the post Covid Area numbers — What's your answer?
February 28, 2026
Are we really combating the decline of our competing numbers with the small sustainability changes and choices that are being made at the Regional Championships? Check the recent numbers and see what you think.
Beware shifting sands — The need for banding to read the warning signs
February 21, 2026
Brass Bands England very nearly paid the price for not heeding the warning signs of shifting financial sands - but their close call can instil optimism for the future.
The Regional Championships — The bedrock of British banding
February 20, 2026
As competitors prepare for the series of regional qualifying contests, Tim Mutum explains how they came about by hard work and persuasion, and why, 60 years ago, the whole thing nearly came crashing down.
What the papers say — Brass bands and the mainstream media
January 22, 2026
The banding movement has it challenges, but even the BBC Music Magazine seems to offer little in support of the efforts to break free of stereotypes
Take 5 — A quintet of early seasons events to enjoy
January 2, 2026
Five festivals, championships, concerts and contests to make a date in you diary to attend in January and February.
