*
banner

2025 Spring Festival judges announced

The team of judges that will make the decisions at the 103rd British Open Spring Festival in Blackpool have been confirmed.

Spring Festival
  The Spring Festival is hosted at Blackpool's Winter Gardens

The adjudicators for the 2025 British Open Spring Festival to be held at Blackpool's Winter Gardens on Saturday May 10th has been announced.

The list comprises (in alphabetical order): Lt Col David Barringer MBE, Morgan Griffiths, Alan Morrison, Lynda Nicholson, Andrea Price and Helen Varley. The details of which sections each has been allocated will be announced on the day of the contest.

Experienced

British Open Championship Music Advisor, Dr Robert Childs told 4BR: "We are delighted to have secure the services of such experienced musicians. Further details in regard to the Spring Festival will be announced in due course.

We look forward to welcoming the bands, audience and our team of judges to Blackpool in May."

Test pieces:


Grand Shield: Dances and Arias (Edward Gregson)
Senior Cup: Terra Australis (Martin Ellerby)
Senior Trophy: Fantasy for Brass Band (Malcolm Arnold)

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    


Besson

4BR Christmas Quiz

December 26 • How good is your brass band knowledge? Good enough to win a cornet and goodies for a young player?


Special Award

2025 4BR Special Award: Richard Marshall

December 25 • One of the finest cornet players of this or any other brass band generation is the recipient of the 4BR Special Award.


Band of the Year

2025 4BR Band of the Year

December 25 • One band once again stamped its class and authority on the banding world this year — with the promise of even more to come in 2026.


Conductor

2025 4BR Conductor of the Year

December 25 • One conductor stood out on the podium from their counterparts this year.


Garforth Brass - Strawberry Fields Primary School

Friday 5 December • Garforth Methodist Church,. Church Lane,. Garforth,. Leeds LS25 1NW


The Hepworth Band - Christmas Brass & Voices

Saturday 6 December • Thornhill Parish Church, Dewsbury WF12 0JZ


Petworth Town Band - Petworth Town Band Christmas Event

Saturday 6 December • Petworth Town Centre GU28 OAD


Haverhill Silver Band - Family Christmas Concert

Sunday 7 December • Castle Manor Academy, Haverhill CB9 9JE


Petworth Town Band - PetworthTown Band Christmas Concert

Saturday 13 December • St Mary’s Church Petworth GU28 OAD


Crewe Brass

December 22 • Crewe Brass are looking for PERCUSSION (TUNED and KIT) to join our highly motivated 4th section band. We are a very welcoming and sociable band, with a positive outlook and a reasonably busy calendar of engagements. Other enquiries are welcome.


Crewe Brass

December 22 • Crewe Brass are looking for a BBb BASS player to join our highly motivated 4th section band. We are a very welcoming and sociable band, with a positive outlook and a reasonably busy calendar of engagements. Other enquiries are welcome.


Crewe Brass

December 22 • Crewe Brass are looking for a Eb BASS player to join our highly motivated 4th section band. We are a very welcoming and sociable band, with a positive outlook and a reasonably busy calendar of engagements. Other enquiries are welcome.


David A. Stowell


Conductor and composer


               

 © 2025 4barsrest.com Ltd