*
banner

Final countdown starts for line-up at 170th British Open

Time is ticking for the bands competing at the British Open Championship to put their final musical stones in place

British Open
  The countdown is on to see who will become the 2024 Champion

Time is ticking away fast as the 18 bands competing at this year's British Open Championship at Symphony Hall in Birmingham put their final touches to their preparations on Jan Van der Roost's intriguing test-piece, 'The Lost Circle'.

Open rehearsals

There are a number also giving their free open rehearsals this evening too, so if you are in the area why not go along and find out more about the piece yourselves.

https://www.4barsrest.com/news/61187/enjoy-a-lost-circle-preview-ahead-of-symphony-hall

The 170th Championship kicks off at 10.00am on Saturday morning, with the action also being covered by the live stream broadcast by World of Brass on the www.wobplay.com media platform

The line up has been confirmed as follows:

The competing bands:


Aldbourne (Ivan Meylemans)
Black Dyke (Prof. Nicholas Childs)
Brass Band Treize Etoiles (Frederic Theodoloz)
Brighouse & Rastrick (Prof. David King)
Carlton Main Frickley Colliery (Allan Withington)
Cory (Philip Harper)
Flowers (Paul Holland)
Foden's (Russell Gray)
Grimethorpe Colliery (Michael Bach)
Hammonds (Morgan Griffiths)
Hepworth (Ryan Watkins)
KNDS Fairey (Philip Chalk)
Leyland (Daniel Brooks)
Northop Silver (Erik van de Kolk)
Oldham Band (Lees) (John Collins)
the cooperation band (Glenn Van Looy)
Tredegar (Ian Porthouse)
Whitburn (Michael Fowles)

Tickets:


Tickets for the 170th British Open Championship:

https://bmusic.co.uk/events/170th-british-open-brass-band-championships

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    


Civic Hall

Result: 2026 Midlands Regional Championships Second Section

March 15 • Harborough Band claims the last Midlands title on offer for this year as they are joined in York by Leicestershire Co-op.


markham

Results: 2026 Welsh Regional Championships

March 14 • Cory reclaims the Welsh title as Parc & Dare, Markham & District, City of Cardiff (M2) and Gwaun Cae Gurwen claim section honours.


Pendennis

Results: 2026 West of England Regional Championships

March 14 • Flowers reclaim Area title with section wins for Lympstone, Lanner & District, St Pinnock and Pendennis Brass in Torquay


Shine

Ready to shine? NYBBGB offer audition skills workshops

March 14 • There are a trio of FREE audition skills workshops on offer from the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain to help young player's skills sets.


Regent Hall Concerts - London Central Fellowship Band

Saturday 7 March • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - Regent Hall Band of the Salvation Army

Tuesday 10 March • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - Queen Victorias Consort

Friday 13 March • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - Slide Effect Trombone Quartet

Friday 20 March • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London. . W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - Welsh Guards Band Septet

Friday 20 March • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


St John's Band (Mossley)

March 15 • We are a friendly, welcoming 4th section band based in Tameside, Greater Manchester. Following our 4th place at the North West regionals, we are looking for a SOLO CORNET player (position negotiable). We rehearse on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.


St John's Band (Mossley)

March 15 • We are a friendly, welcoming 4th section band based in Tameside, Greater Manchester.. . . Following our 4th place at the North West regionals, we are looking for a BBb BASS player.. . . We rehearse on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.


Linthwaite Band

March 14 • We are a welcoming 4th section contesting Band with a vacancy for a kit player. Our calendar is filling up with various contests and engagements to fulfil through the year.


Ronnie MacNiven

MMus GRSM LRAM
Trombonist, composer, conductor


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd