(All images in this article are courtesy and copyright of Tynesight Media)

A year ago, Brass Bands England’s annual conference, held close to the Houses of Parliament in the heart of London, offered an impressive endorsement of an organisation confident in its abilities to meet future challenges.

It came a decade after Chairperson Mike Kilroy delivered a passionate speech to a paltry audience of just 28 people at a Holiday Inn in Barnsley - one that set in motion a radical overhaul in ethos and ambition based on well-defined foundation stones of measurable progress.

By 2024 it had seen BBE become the representative body of over 530 organisations funded to the tune of around half a million pounds a year. Success had long since cast aside the precarious ‘recovery mode’ years, followed by a period of resilience and sustainability, to achieve a high-profile level of collaboration and consultation within the arts sector.  

As we well know though, a year is a long time in politics. 

With a new Labour Government in power and a new Arts Council England (ACE) funding cycle due in April 2026, there was a belief (repeated on numerous occasions) that BBE was more than hopeful of enjoying another major boost to its core funding.

As we well know though, a year is a long time in politics. 

Fast forward

Fast forward 12 months and BBEs annual conference hosted at the splendid Redhills Durham Miners’ Association Hall (above) came against what was described as a backdrop of “considerable financial challenges.” 

It has meant that BBE’s Arts Council England (ACE) funding of £405,000 per annum is now likely only to increase by around 1.5% at best to March 2028 - a result of ACE having its own funding card well and truly marked for operations and governance review after years of dysfunctional management.

It has meant that BBE’s Arts Council England (ACE) funding of £405,000 per annum is now likely only to increase by around 1.5% at best to March 2028 - a result of ACE having its own funding card well and truly marked for operations and governance review after years of dysfunctional management.

One step back

For the first time in a decade, BBE has had to consider taking a significant step back in order to take two future steps forward.

Voluntary redundancies from the award winning Brass Foundations Team, and an internal restructuring were only reluctantly revealed last month, as BBE stated that it had missed its own fund-raising target by £80k, with not a single success with a grant this financial year – including a major National Lottery Heritage Fund application and additional funding on which hopes had been placed.  

PR advice

To his credit, BBE CEO, Kenny Crookston (above - who will now work three days a week) did not shy away from addressing the issue in his welcome address to the 150 people from over 50 organisations that arrived for a day of information sharing and presentation at the Miners Parliament Hall.  

Privately though, people who spoke to 4BR admitted that in hindsight the decision to run with the tin-eared external PR advice given over the redundancies was a clumsy mistake at best. To link it to the current trend of politicised jargon – the ‘optics’ on it didn’t look good.

To link it to the current trend of politicised jargon – the ‘optics’ on it didn’t look good.

That said, they admitted that it certainly renewed their own focus to ensure BBE was resilient enough to weather the ‘harsh headwinds’ (to borrow the Chancellor the Exchequer’s recent phrase) that were heading its way (and the Arts Sector as a whole) in the coming years.

Amended form

That will now see the Brass Foundation initiative continue in an amended form, although for the time being at least, it is unlikely to match Mike Kilroy’s belief, stated in 2021, that as “the most significant brass band-specific education outreach programme of recent times”  it will be able to “provide the foundations for a sustainable, rewarding and diverse banding community for many years to come."

Critics would also argue that the recent redundancies also highlighted the need for BBE to refocus its energies away from subsidiary ambitions. 

The future messaging though needs to forego hubris and concentrate on the actuality.  

Future messaging

The running of the Brass in Concert Championships, the hosting of the 2028 European Championship in Birmingham, and its alleged championing of a rival National Championship of Great Britain event at the Southbank in London, do not, they would argue, reflect Mike Kilroy’s message from 2013 in saying BBE should be “a supportive not controlling interest”.

The future messaging though needs to forego hubris and concentrate on the actuality.  

Credit in the bank

With that context in mind, and even with actual finances stretched, BBE still has a great deal of credit in the bank – and as shown at this year’s conference, one that can be effectively invested in securing future sustainability for the organisation and the wider banding movement in England.   

BBE still has a great deal of credit in the bank – and as shown at this year’s conference, one that can be effectively invested in securing future sustainability for the organisation and the wider banding movement in England.   

With 683 member organisations, over 1350 protective BOPAs issued and over 40,000 child performances supported to go with its host of effective webinar presentations, information guides, a highly successful Youth Champs, Youth Fest, Bold as Brass, Brass Band Week, Proms in the Playground and Elevate programme etc, there is a great deal of evidence on which to build a case for renewed and improved funding for the organisation.

The Next Generation

This year the conference focus was on ‘The Next Generation’ – a somewhat pejorative all embracing term perhaps, but one given the individual examples led by the guest speakers and presenters, that offers a huge amount of progressive hope.

Super performance

Following registration and refreshments there was a super cameo performance given by the Redhills Youth Brass Band (above) – themselves beneficiaries of the type of Brass Foundations outreach work that has gained BBE deserved plaudits.

Kenny Crookston’s concise address highlighted both the positives and negatives that had arisen in the past year, before the delegates were invited to choose between the mid-morning presentations.

Practical strategies

‘Passing the Baton: Brass Banding across Generations’  was led by Heather Ward (below), the Brass Projects Officer for Redhills CIO and Band Manager for Durham Miners Association Band.

It explored practical strategies for engaging young people in brass banding—from school age to university—highlighting how involvement beyond playing, student retention, and outreach to university bands can strengthen long-term participation across generations.

Absorbing insight

At the same time, ‘If I’m Allowed: An exploration into the experiences of women within the brass band community’  was presented by Anna Campbell (below), and offered an absorbing insight into her research as part of her BMus studies at the University of Sheffield in 2023. 

Although framed by anecdotal evidence, her considered appreciation of her data spotlighted the challenges faced by female players in bands ranging from youth to championship level, assessing issues of gender imbalance, experiences and future aspirations. 

BBE still has a great deal of credit in the bank – and as shown at this year’s conference, one that can be effectively invested in securing future sustainability for the organisation and the wider banding movement in England.   

It was a study BBE could well use for further research to strengthen its case for additional funding streams. 

Video gaming

After a short break, members of Flowers Band spoke about their youthful appreciation of video gaming as a topic to showcase at the Brass in Concert Championships, whilst there was an enlightening presentation given by Craig Boulton (below) and Lou Flandrin of London Metropolitan Brass (based near Alexandra Palace in North London).

Their passionate enthusiasm in engaging with adult learners in their area was a beacon of hope for any band struggling to rejuvenate their ranks or having trouble extolling the benefits of simply playing a brass instrument with friends.  

They would have certainly found an advocate in keynote speaker Martin Green – the Ivor Novello Award winning composer and broadcaster.

Tourist opinions

In recent years BBE has admirably offered the keynote platform to personalities with strong opinions – and he did not disappoint.

In recent years BBE has admirably offered the keynote platform to personalities with strong opinions – and he did not disappoint.

Although describing himself as “a tourist” to the banding world, his regular visits have already produced spectacular results – notable the stage play ‘Keli’  and his ‘Love, Spit and Valve Oil’  radio series.

Ultimate expression

His heartfelt, emotive understanding of brass banding music making and the communities from which it springs may well have found its ultimate expression in the ferociously brilliant ‘Keli’, but there was no doubting where her DNA sprang from.

His passion for the banding community and his connection to it, left a lasting impression on those in attendance. 

In recent years BBE has admirably offered the keynote platform to personalities with strong opinions – and he did not disappoint.

Unfortunately, train delays meant that the proposed presentation on ‘Youth Voice; Why it matters and how to embed it meaningfully into your work’  had to be cancelled, although it did allow the opportunity to find out more about the ABRSM’s new ‘Directing Diplomas’, which offer conductors a structured pathway to accessible qualifications that will benefit their conducting ambitions. 

Made their mark

Katrina Marzella-Wheeler then led an open Q&A session with four ‘Next Generation’ representatives who have already made their mark on their chosen brass band careers – composers Franklin Onyeso and Daniel Hall, Flowers Band Manager, Gregor Spence and social media content creator and digital marketing specialist, Liv Richardson.

Aged 20 to 28, these are the future driving forces to be engaged with in the present – talented, inquisitive, informed and above all else, passionate about doing something good for banding as a whole.  

Aged 20 to 28, these are the future driving forces to be engaged with in the present – talented, inquisitive, informed and above all else, passionate about doing something good for banding as a whole.  

Deserved awards

An engaging and relevant day closed with the presentation of the BBE Annual Awards, with thoroughly merited nominations resulting in well deserved winners in Gregor Spence (Young Bandsperson); Anna Minear (Services to Youth); Alex Banner (Rising Star); Katrina Marzella-Wheeler (Conductor of the Year); The Brass Brigade (Band Project of the Year) and Threads in the Ground: Ancestral Reverb (Green Hero).

The financial realities of the present may well temper immediate ambitions, but the future still offers hope with its youthful aspirations.

The special awards marked the ‘Outstanding Contribution’ given by the Beere family and David Bennett to the Brass in Concert Championships, and to the ‘Lifetime Achievement’ of composer Edward Gregson.

As for BBE?

The financial realities of the present may well temper immediate ambitions, but the future still offers hope with its youthful aspirations.

Iwan Fox