*
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    


NYBBGB Horizons

National youth organisations build musical bridges across borders

January 27 • The National Youth Bands of Great Britain and Switzerland have announced the third cohort of young players to be part of the Besson Horizons exchange programme.


Crfoton

Music Trust gains leading consultancy support

January 27 • Haigh Consultancy Services is backing the free access growth of a new generation of young brass players in Yorkshire.


Brookwright

BrookWright Music: All Your Anxiety (Edward Joy arr. Jonathan Rowsell)

January 27 • A work that explores the tension between human unease and the promise of peace found in faith.


Whitburn

Whitburn ready for cross border trip to English banding heartlands

January 27 • The Scottish champion will head to Manchester and Dobcross this weekend.


Dobcross Silver Band - Whitburn Band

Sunday 1 February • c/o Dobcross Band Club. Platt Lane. Dobcross Saddleworth OL3 5AD


Contest: Norwegian National Brass Band Championships

Friday 6 February • Grieghallen, Bergen, N-5015 N-5015


Contest: Norwegian National Brass Band Championships

Saturday 7 February • Grieghallen, Bergen, N-5015 N-5015


Regent Hall Concerts - Oompah Brass XXL

Friday 27 February • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - Royal Greenwich Brass Band

Friday 27 February • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Cambrian Brass

January 24 • We are a friendly, inclusive and hard-working brass band, welcoming players of all ages and abilities. We are particularly keen to fill our Soprano Cornet, Flugelhorn and EEb Bass positions.


Newtown Silver Band

January 24 • Newtown Silver Band are recruiting a Musical Director. We seek a leader with brass band experience who can motivate and develop players. A charismatic individual who can shape and deliver concert programmes to be enjoyed by both players and audience.


Newtown Silver Band

January 24 • Newtown Silver Band invites applications for the position of Musical Director.. The band rehearse every Thursday evening from 1930 - 2130 . The Musical Director will take a leadership role working with the senior band and will liaise with the training ban


Dr. Stephen Arthur Allen

D. Phil. (Oxon) [Ph.D Oxford University], GBSM, LTCL, ABSM, ALCM, Cert. Ed.


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd