2025 has been an intriguing year in the banding world - a mix of certainties and uncertainties as well as highs and lows that showcased both the movement’s resolve and fragility.
There was still plenty to enjoy and admire though - and that made the choices for this year’s awards, celebrating our 25th anniversary, so difficult. It wasn't a vintage year by any means, but it was still one where the postives outweighed the negatives around the world, even if in some banding countires it was argueably the opposite way around.
And as always, we are also sure people will disagree with them too – but that is also a sign of a healthy banding movement, not one prone to self doubt.
They nominees are decided upon by the 4BR Editor after some considered consultation. The final decision on the winners of each of the nine categories though lies with a panel of critics and informed observers of the global movement – the 4BR Editor also giving his opinion which acts as a casting vote in the event of a tie.
Agree or disagree
And as always, we are also sure people will disagree with them too – but that is also a sign of a healthy banding movement, not one prone to self doubt.
The announcement of the winners will be made on a busy Christmas morning – alongside the recipient of the 4BR Special Award.
To see the special 4BR Awards podcast and find out more about why the nominees were chosen go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMugGsKP2ak&t=1939s
2025 Band of the Year
As has been the criteria for some considerable time now - these are the bands that we felt excelled in their competitive as well as artistic ambition to reach out to a wider audience in 2025.
Find out more about why the nominees were chosen go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMugGsKP2ak&t=1939s
Nominations:
1st Old Boys
Athena Brass Band
Brass Band Willebroek
Brighouse & Rastrick
Eikanger Bjorsvik Musikklag
Fountain City
Hauts de France Brass Band
the cooperation band
Valaisia Brass
Wellington Brass
Past Winners:
2024: Brass Band Treize Etoiles
2023: Brass Band Treize Etoiles
2022: Brighouse & Rastrick
2021: Foden’s
2020: Foden’s
2019: Cory
2018: Valaisia Brass Band
2017: Eikanger Bjorsvik
2016: Cory
2015: Cory
2014: Black Dyke
2013: Cory
2012: Foden's
2011: Brighouse & Rastrick
2010: Tredegar
2009: Cory
2008: Cory
2007: Grimethorpe Colliery Band
2006: Grimethorpe Colliery (UK Coal) Band
2005: Black Dyke
2004: Yorkshire Building Society
2003: Yorkshire Building Society
2002: Foden's Richardson
2001: Yorkshire Building Society
2025 Conductor of the Year
As always there were numerous conductors to consider with their excellence and musical vision in 2025 – be it on the contest, concert, recording or project platforms, with each leading bands with a fusion of talent, insight and inspiration to make their mark far and wide.
Find out more about why the nominees were chosen go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMugGsKP2ak&t=1939s
Nominations:
Margaret S Antrobus
David Bremner
Erik Janssen
Sara Maganzini
Katrina Marzella-Wheeler
David Morton
Jaap Musschenga
Franz Violet
Ryan Watkins
Glyn Williams
Past Winners:
2024: Paul Holland
2023: Frederic Theodoloz
2022: Russell Gray
2021: Arsene Duc
2020: Philip Harper
2019: Philip Harper
2018: Arsene Duc
2017: Ingar Bergby
2016: Philip Harper
2015: Philip Harper
2014: Nicholas Childs
2013: Philip Harper
2012: Allan Withington
2011: David King
2010: Ian Porthouse
2009: Robert Childs
2008: Robert Childs
2007: Allan Withington
2006: Allan Withington
2005: Nicholas Childs
2004: Ray Farr
2003: David King
2002: Russell Gray
2001: David King
2025 Player of the Year
As always, arguably the most difficult task of all. There are so many outstanding performers who made a major musical impression during the past year - and not just on the contest platform.
These though were the ones we felt not only excelled under the spotlight, but also inspired others around them too.
Find out more about why the nominees were chosen go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMugGsKP2ak&t=1939s
Nominations:
Lewis Barton
Jeremy Coquoz
Tom Hutchinson
Kyle Lawson
Tim de Maeseneer
Richard Marshall
Andrew McMillan
Chris Robertson
Ashley Tighe-Hall
Kevin Van Giel
Past Winners:
2024: Paul Richards
2023: Gary Curtin
2022: Richard Poole
2021: Isobel Daws
2020: Yu-Han Yang
2019: Tom Hutchinson
2018: Chris Thomas
2017: David Morton
2016: Helen Williams
2015: David Childs
2014: David Childs
2013: Glenn Van Looy
2012: Steve Stewart
2011: Glen Van Looy
2010: David Childs
2009: Mark Wilkinson
2008: Peter Moore
2007: Hans Gansch
2006: Katrina Marzella
2005: David Childs
2004: David Childs
2003: Martin Winter
2002: Morgan Griffiths
2001: Peter Roberts
2025 Test Piece of the Year
A really interesting year when it came to test-piece choices around the world - with some organisations being proactive in the promotion of new works, whilst others wanted what they saw as a much needed appreciation of established repertoire.
It certainly made for engaging listening with a number of new as well old gems unearthed in the process.
Find out more about why the nominees were chosen go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMugGsKP2ak&t=1939s
Nominations:
Arden Forest (Philip Wilby)
Embracing Duality (Ingebjorg Vilhelmsen)
Four Brief Actions (Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen)
Ghosts of Industry (Lucy Pankhurst)
I, Daedalus (Andrea Price)
Introduction, Elegy & Caprice (Morley Calvert)
King Kong on Rue Igor Stravinsky (Paul McGhee)
Partita (Edward Gregson)
Symphony in Two Movements (Edward Gregson)
Thought Gap (Simon Dobson)
Past Winners:
2024: The Lost Circle (Jan Van der Roost)
2023: Sand and Stars (Thierry Deleruyelle)
2022: The World Rejoicing: Variations on a Lutheran Chorale (Edward Gregson)
2021: The World Rejoicing: Variations on a Lutheran Chorale (Edward Gregson)
2020: Neverland (Christopher Bond)
2019: Dear Cassandra… (Ludovic Neurohr)
2018: Concerto Grosso (Derek Bourgeois)
2017: Fraternity (Thierry Deleruyelle)
2016: Fraternity (Thierry Deleruyelle)
2015: The God Particle (Rolf Rudin)
2014: Vita Aeterna Variations (Ed de Boer writing as Alexander Comitas)
2013: Of Distant Memories (Music in an Olden Style) (Edward Gregson)
2012: Goldberg 2012 (Svein Henrik Giske)
2011: Breath of Souls (Paul Lovatt-Cooper)
2010: Saint Saens Variations (Philip Sparke)
2009: Titan's Progress (Hermann Pallhuber)
2008: The Dark Side of the Moon (Paul Lovatt-Cooper)
2007: Music for Battle Creek (Philip Sparke)
2006: Vienna Nights (Philip Wilby)
2005: Eden (Dr. John Pickard)
2004: St. Magnus (Kenneth Downie)
2003: Festival Music (Eric Ball)
2002: Masquerade (Philip Wilby)
2001: Albion (Jan Van der Roost)
2025 Lower Section/Youth Band of the Year
The same criteria continues to apply here as for those nominated in the ‘Band of the Year’ category - with plenty of bands doing great work on and off the contest stage as well as in the heart of their community and beyond.
All embraced the need to look outwards, inspire their participants and audiences alike.
Find out more about why the nominees were chosen go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMugGsKP2ak&t=1939s
Nominations:
Arbroath & Carnoustie
BML Talents
Brassband Amersfoort
Dobcross Silver
Hordaland Ungdoms Brass Band
National Children’s Band of Great Britain
Regent Brass
Shepherd Youth Band
Wardle Academy
Ytrebygda Skolekorps
Past Winners:
2024: Brass LT
2023: Smoras Skolemusikk
2022: Campbeltown Brass
2021: Youth Brass 2000
2020: Tewit Silver Band
2019: Wardle Academy Youth
2018: Oldham Band (Lees)
2017: BD1 Brass
2016: Youth Brass 2000
2015: Ebbw Valley
2014: Manger Skulemusikklag
2013: National Children's Band of Great Britain
2012: National Youth Band of Great Britain
2011: Bjorsvik Brass
2010: Hazel Grove Band
2009: Oldham (Lees) Band
2008: Smithills Schools Senior Band
2007: Sellers International Youth Band
2006: Pennine Brass
2005: Marsden Riverhead Brewery Band
2004: Smithills School Senior Band
2003: Smithills School Senior Band
2002: St. Dennis Band
2001: Peter Hawke Garages Lindley Band
2025 Contest Performance of the Year
As always, a minefield of opinion and discussion in a year when it could be argued that truly memorable performances from the contest stage were perhaps not as plentiful as people may have thought.
These were the ones we felt in context that had that extra pinch of the exceptional about them and left indelible impressions on the minds of listeners.
Find out more about why the nominees were chosen go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMugGsKP2ak&t=1939s
Nominations:
Valaisia Brass Band (Mnemosyne Phrases – O/C Swiss National Championship)
Brighouse & Rastrick (Star Crossed Lovers – British Open Championship)
the cooperation band (La Premiere – Brass in Concert Championship)
Manger Musikklag (A Gabrieli Fantasy – O/C Norwegian National Championship)
Eikanger Bjorsvik Musikklag (*****, Concerto No 10 – O/C European Championship)
Brass Band Willebroek (Transitions in Energy – S/W European Championship)
Hordaland Ungdoms Brass Band (Premier Section - European Youth Championship)
South Yorkshire Police (Suite from Adam Zero – Second Section National Final)
Koperensemble de Waldsang (Occasion – Third Division Dutch National Championship)
Wardle Academy Youth Band (Tech Takeover – Youth Brass in Concert Championship)
Past Winners:
2024: Brass Band Treize Etoiles – The Lost Circle (British Open Championship)
2023: Foden’s – Sand and Stars (British Open Championship)
2022: Tredegar – So Spoke Albion (European Championship)
2021: Foden’s – Heroes (National Championship of Great Britain)
2020: Manger Musikklag – Midnight’s Butterflies (Norwegian National Championship)
2019: Cory – Titan’s Progress (National Championship of Great Britain)
2018: Manger Musikklag (Siddis Entertainment Championship)
2017: Eikanger Bjorsvik — Fraternity (European Championship)
2016: Cory — The Triumph of Time (British Open Championship)
2015: Cory — Spiriti (National Championship of Great Britain)
2014: Brass Band Bugermusik Luzern — Trance (Swiss National Championship)
2013: Tredegar — Arabian Nights: Fantasy on Rimsky Korsakov's Scheherazade for Brass Band (British Open Championship)
2012: Foden's — Daphnis et Chloe (National Championship of Great Britain)
2011: Cory — Red Priest (British Open Championship)
2010: Fairey (Geneva) — Eden (English National Championship)
2009: Fountain City Brass Band — Dreams (Scottish Open Championship)
2008: Eikanger Bjorsvik — Riffs & Interludes (Norwegian Championship)
2007: Brass Band Oberosterreich — Titan's Progress (European Championship)
2006: Black Dyke — Vienna Nights (British Open Championship)
2005: Black Dyke — Journey to the Centre of the Earth (European Championship)
2004: Black Dyke — Montage (British Open Championship)
2003: Buy As You View Cory — Revelation (European Championship)
2002: Yorkshire Building Society — Concerto Grosso (European Championship)
2001: Foden's — Les Preludes (British Open Championship)
2025 Newcomer of the Year
It’s always encouraging to find newcomers making a positive impression on the banding movement - and the spheres that they do make their mark has evolved over recent years too.
Each of our nominations brought something different to engage with a wider audience in solo and ensemble performances, collaborations, promotions, new voices and new ideas.
Find out more about why the nominees were chosen go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMugGsKP2ak&t=1939s
Nominations:
Alec Banner (percussionist)
Brass Banding with Hannah Peel (BBC Radio 3)
Brass Matters (podcast)
Carys Wood (cornet/trumpet player)
Easher Austin (NYBBGB Children’s Band composer)
Eline Storheim (conductor)
Fife Daytime Brass (community band)
Mountain Brass in Concert (Swiss entertainment contest)
That's Not Banding (podcast)
Will Everitt (NYBBGB composer)
Past Winners:
2024: Ingebjorg Vilhelmsen
2023: Brass Bands England – Elevate Project
2022: Fredrick Schjelderup
2021: WobPlay.com – In Concert Series
2020: Cory Band Online Championships
2019: Sky Arts – Battle of the Bands television series
2018: Thomas Nielsen
2017: Ingar Bergby
2016: Thierry Deleruyelle
2015: Dark Arteries — Rambert Ballet and Tredegar Band
2014: The Band of the King's Division
2013: Korpsfiksert! — Eikanger Bjorsvik television series
2012: Brass in Concert
2011: Venezuelan Brass Ensemble
2010: Exit Brass
2009: Lucy Pankhurst
2008: Paul Duffy
2007: Proms Brass Day
2006: English National Championship
2005: Brass Band Aid
2004: The National Children's Band of Great Britain
2003: Emma Farrow
2002: Simon Dobson
2025 CD of the Year
Whilst the long-term future of commercial brass band CD recordings remains endangered, 2025 did show that there are bands and ensembles willing to invest time, money and high class preperation and production to make a lasting artistic impression as well as reach out to a wider audience of potential customers and listeners.
The CDs considered for the 2025 Awards were those published on the 4BR reviews page up to the 17th December. Others after this date will be considered for 2026.
Find out more about why the nominees were chosen go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMugGsKP2ak&t=1939s
Nominations:
Antiphones – Contemporary Premieres (Black Dyke Band)
Brass Odyssey – Robin Stevens (Tredegar Band)
Dancing on the Sand (Cory Band)
Festivities – Cornerstones Vol. 3 (Cory Band)
Heritage Series Vol. 8 – Music from the 2000s (International Staff Band of The Salvation Army)
Mike Lovatt’s Brass Pack – Live!
Respighi (Black Dyke Band)
Storm (Hauts de France Brass Band)
4BR Reviews:
Antiphones – Contemporary Premieres (Black Dyke Band)
https://www.4barsrest.com/reviews/products/cd784.asp
Brass Odyssey – Robin Stevens (Tredegar Band)
https://www.4barsrest.com/reviews/products/cd796.asp
Dancing on the Sand (Cory Band)
https://www.4barsrest.com/reviews/products/cd799.asp
Festivities – Cornerstones Vol. 3 (Cory Band)
https://www.4barsrest.com/reviews/products/cd795.asp
Heritage Series Vol. 8 – Music from the 2000s (International Staff Band of The Salvation Army)
https://www.4barsrest.com/reviews/products/cd789.asp
Mike Lovatt’s Brass Pack – Live!
https://www.4barsrest.com/reviews/products/cd785.asp
Respighi (Black Dyke Band)
https://www.4barsrest.com/reviews/products/cd792.asp
Storm (Hauts de France Brass Band)
https://www.4barsrest.com/reviews/products/cd780.asp
Past Winners:
2024: Bliss: Works for Brass (Black Dyke Band)
2023: Force of Nature (Black Dyke Band)
2022: Vaughan Williams on Brass (Tredegar Band)
2021: Festmusik – A Legacy (Onyx Brass)
2020: Gregson: Music of the Angels (London Brass)
2019: The Music of Bliss & Howells (Brighouse & Rastrick Band)
2018: Metropolis (Black Dyke Band)
2017: Dances & Arias (Black Dyke Band)
2016: War Memorials (Cory Band & Tredegar Band)
2015: Dark Arteries (Tredegar Band)
2014: Gaia Symphony (Eikanger Bjorsvik Musikklag)
2013: When Worlds Collide: The Music of Nigel Clarke (Brass Band Buizingen)
2012: Masquerade (Foden's Band)
2011: Only for You: The Music of Paul Lovatt-Cooper (Black Dyke Band)
2010: Romeo & Juliet (Eikanger Bjorsvik Musikklag)
2009: Maestro (Foden's Band)
2008: New Music for Brass Band (Foden's Band)
2007: Vienna Nights (Black Dyke Band)
2006: Heaton: Volume 4 (Black Dyke Band)
2005: Tales and Stories (Eikanger Bjorsvik Musikklag)
2004: Music of the Spheres (Yorkshire Building Society Band)
2003: Bourgeois in Brass (Yorkshire Building Society Band)
2002: The Heaton Collection (Black Dyke Band and the ISB)
2001: Butterworth (Black Dyke Band)
2025 Solo/Ensemble CD of the Year
Solo CDs were in danger of disappearing a couple of years ago, but now it has been somewhat rejuvenated by performers willing to experiment, explore new works and compositional voices, formats and artistic links.
The CDs considered for the 2025 Awards were those published on the 4BR reviews page up to the 17th December. Others after this date will be considered for 2026.
Find out more about why the nominees were chosen go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMugGsKP2ak&t=1939s
Nominations:
Beyond the Paradox (Tim de Maeseneer)
Connection (Imogen Whitehead)
Introduction (Kyle Lawson)
Neoteric Ensemble Vol. 1 (Neoteric Ensemble)
Shift (Peter Moore)
The Heroic Trombone (Brett Baker)
Transatlantic (Onyx Brass)
Virtuoso – Music for Euphonium and Brass Band (David Childs)
4BR Reviews:
Beyond the Paradox (Tim de Maeseneer)
https://www.4barsrest.com/reviews/products/cd779.asp
Connection (Imogen Whitehead)
https://www.4barsrest.com/reviews/products/cd791.asp
Introduction (Kyle Lawson)
https://www.4barsrest.com/reviews/products/cd793.asp
Neoteric Ensemble Vol. 1 (Neoteric Ensemble)
https://www.4barsrest.com/reviews/products/cd778.asp
Shift (Peter Moore)
https://www.4barsrest.com/reviews/products/cd781.asp
The Heroic Trombone (Brett Baker)
https://www.4barsrest.com/reviews/products/cd797.asp
Transatlantic (Onyx Brass)
https://www.4barsrest.com/reviews/products/cd788.asp
Virtuoso – Music for Euphonium and Brass Band (David Childs)
https://www.4barsrest.com/reviews/products/cd782.asp
Past Winners:
2024: RE:BUILD (Slide Action)
2023: Oskar Bohme: Trumpet Concerto & Pieces (Matthias Hofs)
2022: Keep the Music Playing (James Fountain)
2021: Resurrection (Prof David King)
2020: Eire Time (Gary Curtin)
2019: The Symphonic Euphonium II (David Childs)
2018: Life Force (Peter Moore)
2017: The Demonic Virtuoso (Owen Farr)
2016: Fantasy (Philip Cobb)
2015: Parallel Realities (David Thornton)
2014: The Symphonic Euphonium (David Childs)
2013: Stories of Life (Glenn Van Looy)
2012: Diamonds (Steven Mead)
2011: Dreaming of the Masters (Jens Lindemann)
2010: Moto Perpetuo (David Childs)
2009: Salt of the Earth (Les Neish)
2008: Audacious (Steven Mead)
2007: Eminence (Richard Marshall)
2006: The World of the Euphonium: Volume 5 (Steven Mead)
2005: Blaze (Richard Marshall)
2004: Legend (Peter Roberts)
2003: A Winter’s Tale (Martin Winter)
