*
banner

2022 4BR Player of the Year

Richard Poole of Foden's rounds off a fantastic year of performance brilliance by becoming 4BR Player of the Year.

pLAYER
  The brilliant Richard Poole of Foden's Band is the 4BR Player of the Year

Winner: Richard Poole (Foden's)


2. Tom Smith (Brighouse & Rastrick)
3. Tom Hutchinson (Cory)

After year in which he was the standout major contest performer as well as producing a series of superb concert appearances and releasing an excellent debut solo CD, Foden's Richard Poole is the richly deserved 4BR Player of the Year.

He was the first-choice preference of 8 of the panel with numerous other votes to add to his personal British Open, National Championship of Great Britain and Brass in Concert honours.

Tom Smith of Brighouse & Rastrick (3 first preference votes) also made a huge impression in 2022 as he grew into his role with increasing maturity, whilst the continued excellence of Cory's Tom Hutchinson also saw him gain 2 first preference votes to come third.

There were also first preference votes for Grethe Tonheim, Murray Borthwick, Andy Moore and Kirsty Abbotts, with the judges also noting the excellence of Will Norman, Dennis Vork and Mathilde Roh.

Panel:


The Awards Panel consisted of:
Iwan Fox (editor 4BR); Michael Bach (conductor/adjudicator); Kerry Baldwin (player/regional development executive ABRSM); Sarah Groarke Booth (conductor/adjudicator); Anne Crookston (conductor/adjudicator); David Gallaher (conductor/adjudicator); David Hirst (player/conductor/adjudicator); Owen Melhuish (New Zealand BBA); Tim Mutum (writer/brass band recording and history specialist); Gordon Simpson (statistician Brass Band World magazine); Stein Skorpholm (Norwegian broadcaster/presenter); Chris Thomas (chief contributor BBW magazine/4BR contributor); Camilla Soderstrom Tveit (player/adjudicator); Luc Vertommen (conductor/adjudicator/arranger); Andrew Wainwright (composer/arranger/designer); Malcolm Wood (4BR chief contributor); Alexander Zwann (chief contributor CU Brass).

Past Winners:


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

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    


bbc pROMS

Black Dyke Band to perform at BBC Proms

April 21 • The Queensbury band to be joined by guest soloist David Childs for a 'Brass Prom' performance showcasing their virtuosity and versatility.


John Wallace CBE

Wallace to be remembered as a Force of Nature

April 21 • Tullis Russell Band will pay a lasting tribute to the late great John Wallace CBE with the commissioning of a brand new work from the pen of Paul Lovatt-Cooper.


gbba

Full day of brass band entertainment on offer in Lydney

April 21 • The popular GBBA Festival of Brass returns with a packed day of brass band entertainment in heart of the Forest of Dean.


Fife

Bands get ready for Fife challenge

April 21 • 10 bands will compete to become Fife Brass Band Festival champions in Dunfermline this weekend.


Regent Hall Concerts - Central Band of the Royal Air Force

Friday 1 May • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - Royal Greenwich Brass Band

Sunday 3 May • St Alfege Church. Greenwich Church Street SE10 9BJ


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


Waterbeach Brass

April 16 • Waterbeach Brass are seeking a talented and confident solo (tutti) cornet player to join our friendly and ambitious band. We offer a welcoming and social environment with a diverse and challenging musical repertoire playing at regular concerts and contests


Chinnor Silver

April 15 • With the dust settling after the areas we are looking for Bb BASS & PERCUSSION players to join us as we look to consolidate as a 1st Section Band.. Varied but realistic diary for the coming year and possible foreign trip in 2027. Rehearsals on a Wednesday


Linthwaite Band

April 15 • We are a welcoming 4th section band with a vacancy for a kit player. Our calendar is filling up with various contests and engagements to fulfil through the year.


Sandy Smith


Conductor, teacher, adjudicator and arranger


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd