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