*
banner

Rankings: End of year/January update

The final World of Brass – 4barsrest Rankings for 2008 confirm Cory as the world’s leading band, following a year that saw it win the European Championship for the first time in 28 years.

Cory band logo
 

In addition, Cory won the Brass in Concert Championships for the first time ever. The World of Brass Rankings Trophy was presented a on 13th December at the band’s concert with Honley Male Voice Choir in Huddersfield Town Hall, where Dr. Robert Childs was the recipient of the glass globe for the second year in succession.

Cory was also the band that picked up the most points during 2008, while the highest new entry into the top 200 in 2007 was Stockholm Brass Band, which performed superbly at both the European and Swedish championships.

The contests taking place since the last update were:

North Wales BBA – won by Beaumaris
Durham BBA – won by Felling.

To view all the ranked bands, go to:

www.4barsrest.com/rankings/default.asp

Moving into 2009

As we enter 2009, the four bands at the top are a long way ahead of the rest, and their performances at the major contests especially will likely determine which of them will end next year at the top, unless, of course, Brighouse and Rastrick, Leyland, Stavanger, Fairey, Brass Band Willebroek or Carlton Main Frickley Colliery can pull off a few shocks and infiltrate what has become a very elite group over the past two or three years.

2008 was a good year for...

2007 2008 Band Total +/-

1, 1, Cory, 1,633.71, 351.97
3, 3, Foden’s, 1,399.21, 241.43
17, 7, Stavanger, 427.08, 229.05
2, 2, Grimethorpe Colliery, 1,475.14, 202.93
32, 21, Brass Band Fribourg, 113.18, 65.06
7, 6, Leyland, 446.22, 55.60
47, 25, Buizingen, 70.91, 43.85
126, 35, Aeolus, 45.12, 38.67
19, 16, Kirkintilloch, 201.23, 38.37
13, 10, Carlton Main Frickley Colliery, 287.38, 38.34
96, 36, EYMS, 42.54, 32.60
26, 23, Eikanger-Bjørsvik, 89.67, 31.69
50, 29, Manger Musikklag, 56.14, 30.22
63, 34, Redbridge Brass, 46.29, 27.63
107, 38, Festival Brass Band, 35.41, 27.04
39, 26, Brass Band 13 Etoiles, 65.48, 25.75
15, 13, Tredegar, 249.21, 24.96
22, 19, BTM, 131.69, 22.82
10, 8, Fairey, 362.70, 21.95
25, 24, Mount Charles, 77.93, 19.38

And a bad year for...

2007 — 2008 — Band — Points — +/-

6,11, YBS, 266.13, -234.45
5, 5, Brighouse and Rastrick, 632.69, -148.28
8, 14, Scottish Co-op, 240.94, -143.75
9, 15, Whitburn, 239.17, -115.83
14, 17, Rothwell Temperance, 167.35, -61.86
20, 22, Reg Vardy, 110.01, -34.55
29, 46, Fountain City Brass Band, 26.41, -27.22
34, 61, SWT Woodfalls, 19.75, -25.69
23, 32, Brisbane Excelsior, 51.58, -24.66
12, 12, Desford Colliery, 265.60, -22.24
18, 18, Hepworth (Cookson Homes), 152.38, -21.17
41, 69, Unison Kinneil, 17.79, -18.06
35, 47, Camborne Town, 25.60, -17.71
24, 31, Brass Band Oberösterreich, 53.41, -16.20
21, 20, Flowers, 120.87, -15.25
31, 41, Fishburn, 33.88, -14.43
30, 39, Brass Band of Central Florida, 35.25, -13.94
57, 96, Chicago Brass Band, 9.09, -13.30
37, 44, Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel, 26.86, -13.00
42, 53, Staffordshire, 22.61, -12.54

Ten best new entries

Ranking — Band — Points

63. Stockholm Brass Band Sweden, 19.52
77. Jaren Hornmusikkforening Norway, 14.22
98. Point of Ayr Wales, 8.45
104. Kirkbymoorside Town North, 7.80
111. Ascot Park Hotel of Invercargill New Zealand, 7.36
129. Helston Town West, 5.99
130. Brassband Limburg Netherlands, 5.96
131. Warringah Concert Brass Australia, 5.92
134. Haslingden & Helmshore North West, 5.70
149 Bayerische Brassband Akademie (3BA) Germany 4.65

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    


Brass in Concert

Just 10 and counting for Brass in Concert

October 18 • There are now just 10 tickets left before the sold-out signs are posted for the Brass in Concert Championships.


Jenkins

Armed Man comes to Swansea

October 18 • Sir Karl Jenkins will lead the Aldbourne Band in the Welsh premiere of his new brass band version of 'The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace' at the Brangwyn Hall on Sunday.


Tivoli

Dutch bands prepare for Gregson National challenges

October 18 • Works by Edward Gregson will test the competing bands at the Dutch National Championships in Utrecht.


Rochdale

Full day of contest action in Rochdale

October 18 • If you are in the area why not pop along to enjoy the competitive action at Wardle Academy


Regent Brass - Brett Baker

Friday 17 October • The Salvation Army (Regent Hall), 275 Oxford Street, London WC1 2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - Berkeley Brass

Friday 17 October • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. WC1 2DJ W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - Wigfield Brass Quintet

Friday 17 October • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. WC1 2DJ W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - Regent Brass

Friday 17 October • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. WC1 2DJ W1C2DJ


Oxted Brass Band - Tom Smith (Brighouse & Rastrick)

Saturday 18 October • St John’s, Hurst Green, Kent RH8 9EA


Hathersage Band

October 17 • BASS TROMBONE. Hathersage Brass Band is a thriving, non-contesting community band. We enjoy our music making, play a wide variety of music and have a good gig schedule. Are you the right person to join our happy band?


Crewe Brass

October 16 • 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

October 16 • 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.


Ian Porthouse


Cornet soloist, clinician, conductor and adjudicator


               

 © 2025 4barsrest.com Ltd