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2025 4BR Newcomer of the Year

An exciting year full as exciting new talent emerged in different fields and genres of the brass band movement.

Newcomer
  It was the new 'That's Not Banding' podcast from Brighouse pair Tom and Chris that claimed the award

Winner: That's Not Banding (podcast)

2. Will Everitt (NYBBGB Young Composer winner)
3. Brass Banding with Hannah Peel (BBC Radio 3)

An exciting year for new talent to emerge in different corners and genres of the banding world — from players, composers and conductors to community bands, contests and on-line chat.

It was the 'That's Not Banding' podcast that was launched in 2025 by Brighouse & Rastrick players Chris Robertson and Tom Smith though that certainly caught the imagination and created a buzz with its entertaining mix of irreverence and insight.

It was a neck and neck fight for the accolade with National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain Young Composer winner Will Everitt, with each getting 5 first choice preference votes, with the second and third choice preferences that swung the day for the podcasters.

Third place went to the engaging Radio 3 mix and match exploration of the banding world and its music making from Hannah Peel.

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: Ingebjorg Vilhelmsen
2023: Brass Bands England — Elevate Project
2022: Fredrick Schjelderup
2021: WobPlay.com — In Concert Series
2020: Cory Band Online Championships
2019: Sky Arts — Battle of the Bands television series
2018: Thomas Nielsen
2017: Ingar Bergby
2016: Thierry Deleruyelle
2015: Dark Arteries — Rambert Ballet and Tredegar Band
2014: The Band of the King's Division
2013: Korpsfiksert! — Eikanger Bjorsvik television series
2012: Brass in Concert
2011: Venezuelan Brass Ensemble
2010: Exit Brass
2009: Lucy Pankhurst
2008: Paul Duffy
2007: Proms Brass Day
2006: English National Championship
2005: Brass Band Aid
2004: The National Children's Band of Great Britain
2003: Emma Farrow
2002: Simon Dobson

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Player

2025 4BR Player of the Year

December 25 • So much individual talent shone in the banding world in 2025 — but one player was the shining star of them all.


4BR awards

2025 4BR Test Piece of the Year

December 25 • Lots of fine music to enjoy on the contest stage in 2025 at all levels, but it was a resurrected work that enjoyed an anniversary bonus.


Awards

2025 4BR Lower Section/Youth Band of the Year

December 25 • Such a wide range of bands doing great work on and off the contest stage this year — with a remarkable young band taking the honours.


4BR awards

2025 4BR Contest Performance of the Year

December 25 • In a year of contest winners — there was still one performance that claimed an extra first prize.


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.


Howard J Evans

MA (Dist), Mus.B (hons), ARCM (hons), LRAM, LTCL, PGCE
Conductor, composer, arranger, tutor and pianist


               

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