*
banner

2025 4BR CD of the Year

There were impressive recordings from impressive bands — but one stood out from the rest in 2025.

4BR aWARDS
  Black Dyke Band's musical trip to the Eternal City was the clear CD of the Year winner

Winner: Respighi (Black Dyke Band)

2. Festivities — Cornerstones Vol. 3 (Cory Band)
3. Storm (Hauts de France)

The Yorkshire champion continues to produce CDs of the highest artistic quality under the baton of Director of Music Prof Nicholas J Childs — with 'Respighi' claiming their tenth 4BR CD of the Year award.

The Doyen release was a long term project that was cultivated into a stunning release featuring performances of 'Roman Festivals', 'Fountains of Rome' and 'Pines of Rome', and gained an imposing 9 first choice preference votes from the panel.

The latest release in Cory's long term 'Cornerstones' project of recordings was a deserved runner-up as Philip Harper's band continues to breath new life into classic banding repertoire, whilst the engaging 'Strom' release from French Champion, Hauts-de-France was third.

Panel:

The Awards Panel consisted of: Iwan Fox (4BR Editor); Chris Thomas (4BR & BBW); Malcolm Wood (4BR & BBW); Josie Sleigh (musician); Gordon Simpson (brass band statistician); Sarah Groarke-Booth (conductor/adjudicator); Michael Franz (Editor Brass Band News Switzerland); Liv Appleton (Content Creator/itsnotatrumpet.com); Camila Soderstrom Tveit (musician/adjudicator); Alexander Zwann (conductor/journalist); Tim Mutum (brass band historian); Henk Van Loon (Editor Emotions on Stage); Philippa Edwards AOM (conductor/performing arts producer); Stein Skorpholm (broadcaster/musician).

Past Winners:


2024: Bliss: Works for Brass (Black Dyke Band)
2023: Force of Nature (Black Dyke Band)
2022: Vaughan Williams on Brass (Tredegar Band)
2021: Festmusik — A Legacy (Onyx Brass)
2020: Gregson: Music of the Angels (London Brass)
2019: The Music of Bliss & Howells (Brighouse & Rastrick Band)
2018: Metropolis (Black Dyke Band)
2017: Dances & Arias (Black Dyke Band)
2016: War Memorials (Cory Band & Tredegar Band)
2015: Dark Arteries (Tredegar Band)
2014: Gaia Symphony (Eikanger Bjorsvik Musikklag)
2013: When Worlds Collide: The Music of Nigel Clarke (Brass Band Buizingen)
2012: Masquerade (Foden's Band)
2011: Only for You: The Music of Paul Lovatt-Cooper (Black Dyke Band)
2010: Romeo & Juliet (Eikanger Bjorsvik Musikklag)
2009: Maestro (Foden's Band)
2008: New Music for Brass Band (Foden's Band)
2007: Vienna Nights (Black Dyke Band)
2006: Heaton: Volume 4 (Black Dyke Band)
2005: Tales and Stories (Eikanger Bjorsvik Musikklag)
2004: Music of the Spheres (Yorkshire Building Society Band)
2003: Bourgeois in Brass (Yorkshire Building Society Band)
2002: The Heaton Collection (Black Dyke Band and the ISB)
2001: Butterworth (Black Dyke Band)

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 amabassadors

National Youth Band Ambassadors set for London showcase

August 12 • The NYBBGB Ambassador Band can be heard right in the heart of London this weekend with an afternoon open air concert at St Martin in the Fields.


That's banding

New exhibition at Brass Band Archive

August 12 • New voices to be heard with Brass Band England's 'That's Banding' exhibition at Heritage Quay at Huddersfield University.


BBSS

40th anniversary success for Brass Band Summer School

August 12 • The long standing summer school course sets itself new benchmarks for the future after successful anniversary debut in Gloucestershire.


Brazil

Baker returns from Brazilian festival visit

August 12 • Brett Baker has return to Brazil for the first time in over a decade to reconnect with trombonists.


Regent Hall Concerts - Cross Bones Trombone Quintet

Friday 21 August • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Sherborne Town Band - Free-Music in the park

Sunday 23 August • Sherborne, Dorset-Pageant Gardens DT9 3NP


Sherborne Town Band - Free-Music in the park

Sunday 13 September • Sherborne, Dorset-Pageant Gardens DT9 3NP


Regent Hall Concerts - The Band of the Grenadier Guards

Thursday 17 September • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - The Duchess of Edinburgh String Orchestra

Friday 18 September • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Chinnor Silver

August 12 • Our COMMUNITY BAND meets again on MONDAY (17th) in our bandroom at 11am. We welcome players of all abilities who want a friendly relaxed rehearsal with tea and cake.. Playing with us doesn’t affect your own band it’s just an extra blow.


Chinnor Silver

August 11 • OurCOMMU ITY BAND meets again on Monday 17th at 11am in our .bandroom.. Why not join us for a relaxed friendly rehearsal where all abilities are welcome.. There ‘s tea and cake and. It’s all free.. So join us this Monday..


Chinnor Silver

August 11 • We are looking for Bb BASS AND PERCUSSION PLAYERS to join our hardworking and friendly team.Good book of concerts and contests planned which includes a trip abroad in 2027.. Rehearsals are on a Wednesday in our own bandroom.


Dr Brett Baker

BSc (Hons), ARCM, PG Dip
Marketing Lead, Denis Wick & Alliance Products; Artist at Michael Rath Instruments


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd