New trombone addition to St Dennis ranks

January 16 • The experienced Dylan Brewer takes the solo trombone seat at St Dennis Band to extend a family link stretching back a century.

New Year honours and anticipation for Lewis Merthyr

January 16 • Welsh band pays tribute to stalwart player as they look forward to exciting developments in 2021.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

January 15 • Despite the restrictions and the weather there is still a little bit of fun to be had if you want to play together..

Enjoy the 4BR winners at Wobplay

January 15 • You can now enjoy a dozen 4BR 'CD of the Year' releases on the Wobplay.com platform.

BBE strengthens foundation work for bands

January 15 • Brass Bands England has appointed five new Youth Development Brass Specialists to provide essential community help and assist partnership building.

Geneva launches worldwide cornet competition

January 15 • Phillip McCann and Geneva Group launch exciting new cornet competition seeking to inspire the next generation of lyrical performers.

Radio: Sunday Bandstand

January 15 • Chris Helme is reaching out to even more people now as another radio station adds to his list of brass band output.

It's a Prestige offer from Band Supplies

January 14 • If you are looking to purchase a new Prestige or Sovereign cornet — then a £1,000 minimum part exchange deal from Band Supplies is just perfect to give your playing an extra boost this January.

Classic test-pieces revisited No 5: Connotations

July 16 • Prof Stephen Allen takes an in depth look at Edward Gregson's seminal 1977 National test piece.

Classic test-pieces revisited No 4: On Ratcliff Highway

July 1 • Prof Stephen Allen takes an in depth look at one of the classic works for the brass band medium - Ray Steadman Allen's 1978 work, 'Victorian Snapshots - On Ratcliff Highway

Interview with Ian Bousfield

June 25 • 4BR Editor Iwan Fox talks exclusively to one of the world's great brass players - trombonist Ian Bousfield.

5 minute masterclass with David Childs

June 20 • The Besson artist reveals some brilliant tips of how to learn and benefit from playing from memory...

CD review: Flow

January 11 • Mauro Martins. Accompanists: Bernardo Pinhal & Daniel Bernardes. Featuring: Sergio Carolino (tuba) . CD Recording: CDMMF

CD review: Unified

January 5 • Amsterdam Staff Band and Household Troops Band. Bandmasters: Olaf Ritman and Carl Saunders. Soloists: Michel Rosenquist; Steef Klepke; Anthony Smith . SP&S Recordings: SPS 435 CD

CD review: At Home: A Remote Lockdown Recording

January 4 • Ratby Co-operative Brass Band. Musical Director: David Purkiss. World of Sound Recordings: WOS158

Black Dyke Band - Brighouse & Rastrick, Huddersfield Town Hall

Saturday 27 March • Corporation St, Huddersfield HD1 2TA

Contest: 100thSpring Festival

Saturday 8 May • 97 Church St, Blackpool, FY1 1HL

Contest: Whit Friday March Contests

Friday 28 May • Saddleworth & Tameside OL3

Contest: 168th British Open

Saturday 11 September • Symphony Hall, Broad Street, Birmingham. B1 2EA

Contest: Lower Section National Finals

Saturday 18 September • The Centaur, Cheltenham Race Course, Prestbury, Cheltenham GL40 4SH

Foss Dyke Band

January 1 • Front Row Cornet vacancy still up for grabs. Come and join Foss and enjoy our newly refurbished band room with newly appointed MD David Dernley. Foss Dyke are a 1st Section Band with a moderate contest and concert schedule.

Mike Sheppard

B.A. (Hons) Music
Composer, conductor, teacher, author