*
banner

Strong line-up for Dublin Festival of Brass

Nine bands from across the eastern United States will be in Ohio later this month for the second Dublin Festival of Brass.

dUBLIN fESTIVAL OF bRASS
  The Dublin Festival of Brass promises to be a great weekend of high quality music making

It has been announced that eight bands from across the eastern United States will travel to Dublin, Ohio later this month to join hosts Dublin Silver Band for the second annual Dublin Festival of Brass.

The festival takes place from Friday 23rd — Monday 25th March and will also see Besson artist Steven Mead leading a conducting masterclass as well as performing on the opening evening.

The following day (Saturday 24th March) all nine bands will compete at the Dublin Jerome High School Performing Arts Center (8300 Hyland-Croy Road, Dublin, OH 43016). Performances begin at 11.00am with the doors opening an hour earlier.

Bands

Featured bands include:
Arkansas Musicworks Brass Band (Bentonville, AR)
Chesapeake Silver Cornet Brass Band (Hockessin, DE)
Cincinnati Brass Band (Cincinnati, OH)
Crossroads Brass Band (Franklin, IN)
Dublin Silver Band (Dublin, OH)
Eastern Iowa Brass Band (Mount Vernon, IA)
Fillmore Philharmonic Brass (Cincinnati, OH)
Oakland University Brass Band (Oakland, MI)
Prairie Brass Band (Arlington Heights, IL)

Prizes

Bands will compete for several prizes, including 'Best March', 'Best Slow Melody', 'Best Major Work', and the Grand Champion Prize — the Paul E. Droste Shield, named for the former Director of the Ohio State University Marching Band and former President of the North American Brass Band Association.

Steven Mead will adjudicate the competition using his criteria-based assessment rubric.

In addition to band prizes, individual prizes will be awarded to the best players including soprano, cornet, flugel, tenor horn, baritone, trombone (or trombone section), euphonium, bass section and percussion.

Dr. William Ballanger, Director of the Ohio State University School of Music, will be the adjudicator for these prizes.

Steven Mead will also perform while the awards are finalized.

On Sunday morning (10.45am) Steven Mead will perform with the Chapel at Worthington Woods Corps Band at the Chapel at Worthington Woods (760 Worthington Woods Boulevard, Columbus, OH 43085).

Steven Mead will adjudicate the competition using his criteria-based assessment rubric4BR

Ticket information:

Friday and Sunday's events are free (donations to support future festivals are welcome); tickets for Saturday's main event are $15.

More information, including a link to ticket sales, can be found at the festival website dublinbands.com/dfob

Become a supporter and help make our future secure.

4barsrest continues to be a proudly independent voice. There are no paywalls to overcome to be able to enjoy what we do to keep our journalism at the heart of the brass banding world. Support us with a one-off donation or subscribe from just £2.50 per month.

Support us    


Spring Festival

Spring Festival feedback welcomed by Mortimers

May 5 • If you have constructive feedback to offer on the recent Spring Festival weekend, then the organisers welcome your responses.


podcast

4BR Review podcast — European and Spring Festival focus

May 5 • Plenty of issues to discuss on the live podcast this Wednesday at 7.00pm — and you can have your say.


jOHN gILLAM

Death of John Gillam

May 4 • The death has been announced of the hugely respected player and administrator.


British Open

Result: 2026 Spring Festival Grand Shield

May 3 • Milnrow claims the Grand Shield honours to return to the British Open with Hepworth joining them.


Regent Hall Concerts - FiveBy5 Trumpet Quintet

Tuesday 5 May • Charlton House and Gardens. Charlton Road, . London. . SE7 8RE


Regent Hall Concerts - Royal Greenwich Brass Band

Friday 8 May • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Wardle Anderson Brass Band - Wardle Junior Blast

Friday 8 May • Milnrow Parish Church, 16 Westward Ho, Milnrow, Rochdale OL16 3JX


Regent Brass - Woodbridge Excelsior Band and Russell Gray

Saturday 9 May • The Salvation Army (Regent Hall), Oxford Street, London W1C 2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - Woodbridge Excelsior Band

Saturday 9 May • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Glossop Old Band

May 5 • Our friendly second section band are looking for a BB bass player to join us for contests, concerts and exciting new projects. Glossop Old Band is situated between Manchester and Sheffield and rich in history


East London Brass

May 5 • Solo Cornet: fresh off the back of our promotion to the Grand Shield, ELB are on the look out for a solo cornet player to complement our existing section. The band is ambitious and has an exciting second half of the year ahead.


Chinnor Silver

May 5 • Our COMMUNITY BAND are meeting again on Monday (11th) at 11am and welcome players of all abilities.. Come and enjoy a relaxed rehearsal mixed genres of music with some very friendly folks with tea and cake. It does not impact your own band and its free


Jack Capstaff

Bmus (Hons)
Conductor | Composer


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd