Weekly Sounds Of Brass News 29th March

Hello and welcome to this week's Sounds of Brass round up of the latest news, contest

results and the developments from the vibrant world of brass bands.

I'm Peter and over the next 15 minutes we'll bring you the essential stories shaping the

brass band community in the UK, Europe and beyond. Let's start off with an eminent Scottish

composer Peter Graham who was being commissioned by the Kirk-Intellic Band to write a special

piece of music in memory of the late Peter Fraser NBA. The composition is to be called

Keeper of the Flame, which Professor Graham has described as a tribute to Peter Fraser,

whose lifelong dedication to the Kirk-Intellic Band. His great passion,

sustained its both musically and behind the scenes, built on the melody of a lochlamond,

the work reflects a deep sense of tradition and continuity. The Kirk-Intellic Band is delighted to

announce that thanks to the generosity of supporters, 65% of the just giving target to fund

the commission has now been reached. The campaign was established to commission the new work

in memory of Peter Fraser, a deeply respected and much love figure within the Scottish and the

European banding community. Professor Graham added the title honours those who quiet commitment

keeps tradition alive. Peter Fraser was such a figure, a steadfast presence whose loyalty,

current service helped to carry the band's spirit from one generation to the next.

In this sense, he was truly a keeper of the flame.

Entries for the popular Red Admiral Him and March contest

at the Academy's flagship entertainment contest are now being welcomed by event organizers.

The Him and March event will take place in the village of Crosston in Lancashire on Sunday

the 5th of July. Bands will perform a chosen Him and a contest match on Crosston,

village green, with a total prize of £3,000. This year's Bands will also be required to perform

a road match with the organizers asking Bands to choose a match that encompasses the academy,

mantra, making music fun, making music together. Red Admiral's entertainment contest

will take place on Sunday the 27th of September in Charlie Lancashire. Last year's saw over 40

Bands competing across five sections with a prize fund of £8,000. A academy leader Danny Brooks

committed by saying Red Admiral now offers a trio of contests across the banding year. 34 Bands

will be part of the revived Fleetwood contest after an absence over 13 years and we look forward

to Bands joining us for our other two events. Banding Trust in registering should contact

Red Admiral via Red Admiral Contest at Outlook.com. That's Red Admiral Contest at Outlook.com.

Brass Bands England has announced initial details for two of the annual nationwide campaigns.

Every summer BBE's popular national initiative brings a focus on a brass banding in school

playgrounds and Bands stands across the country. Sir Reborn, programmes and fundraisers in

director come to by saying Brass Band Week and proms in the playground are returning this year

and we encourage as many members as possible to participate in this free-to-access opportunity.

This year we're bringing more initiatives and prizes for our member Bands who participate,

so please don't miss out. Full information about member benefits and registration process for BBE

member bans will be available from Wednesday the 22nd of April. Also Brass Band Week which is an

annual UK-wide festival of brass banding launched in summer 2024. Now is in the third year and this

week-long celebration of brass banding will take place Saturday 4th Sunday 12th July 2026.

If you love brass banding as much as BBE does then it's time to shout about it. Brass Band Week

listings are exclusive to BBE members and every band who submits a listing for a summer event will

be entered into a prize draw for brass band related goodies. Alongside opportunities to

nominate your summer projects for the brass band week awards. A highlight of the school brass calendar

is proms in the playground which is an annual campaign encourages brass bands to bring live

music to schools across the country. The fifth iteration will take place from Monday the 6th

to the 24th of July 2026. Taking part is simple, team up with your local school to offer a

performance in the playground this summer and join the bands reaching thousands of children each

year. As in previous years the BBE team will be on hand to support making your school with a

success with resources and guidance for any questions then getting touched with the BBE team

at info at bbe.org.uk that's info at bbe.org.uk

A major development in the brass band world this year is the launch of an ambitious new

music commissioning project spearheaded by the Corporation Band, Corrie Band, Flowers Band,

Tredgar and Forland Band in partnership with BBC Radio 3. The initiative aims to bring established

composers from outside the brass band tradition into the fold injecting fresh creative energy into

the repertoire. The first commission orbital by Richard Blackford is inspired by Samantha Harby's

Booker Prize winning novel and explores themes of existence, faith and humanity's place in the

universe. The work is described as a virtuosic and dramatic with each of the five collaborating

bands scheduled to give premier performances throughout 2026. The project's goal is to create

music that will be widely adapted by bands and to foster ongoing collaborations with composers

from divide diverse backgrounds. BBC Radio 3's continued support following the success of the

brass banding with Hannah Peele's series underscores the growing recognition of brass bands within the

broader cultural landscape. Further commissions are already in the discussion, promising an exciting

future for new music in the movement. On the international front, the French national

championships in Forge Leox, Normandy saw halls at the France brass band crown champions for

the seventh consecutive year. Under Luke Verteman, the band delivered a commanding performance of

theory delirules, Normandy Land and Nigel Clarke's dial H for Hitchcock. Earning an average score

of 95.5, Paris brass band and alias brass band completed the podium with sedate gaskwires of

hearts at the France, named best soloist and Paris brass band percussion section recognized

for excellence. The contest highlighted the strength and consistency of French banding at the

very highest level. Elsewhere in Europe, the eye can of the archivic visual arc brass band

celebrated international women's day with a concert in Bergen's Greg Hallen featuring the world

premiere of Elizabeth Vanubes, Trombon Concerto, the event underscored the growing prominence of

female composers and conductors in the brass band world.

The national youth brass band lived great Britain's Easter concert for 2026,

almost here. With the majority of tickets already sold, don't miss your chance to experience

over 90 of the UK's finest young brass and percussion players under the direction of guest

conductor, professor Nicholas Charles, with guest soloist Mike Cabana on baritone. This year's

concert a themed new horizons will feature horizons by Paul Leicouper, world premiere suite for brass,

inspired by the work of Victoria Wood and arranged by Andrea Price, turbulence tied and talk,

concerto for baritone by Peter Graham with soloist Mike Cabana. He rose by Bruce Broughton,

a fantasy of joy by Frederick Schneider, Milton Revival by Peter Graham, pulse by Thomas Doss

with soloist Mike Cabana, Avermeria by Charles Gronod, soloist Mike Cabana and an age of

kings by Edward Gregson. Easter concert won in Leyburn on Saturday the 11th of April of 2026,

commences at 5 o'clock and finishes at 7 pm. The garden rooms at Tenant's Hangby Road, Leyburn,

DL85SG, tickets at £18 general, £15.50 concessionary and free on the 18th plus booking fee.

The Easter concert too, being held in Manchester, will be held on Saturday the 18th of April

2026, commences at 6 pm and finishing at 8 pm, doors open at 5 pm. It's being held at the

Royal Northern College of Music, 124 Oxford Royal Manchester, M139RD, tickets at £19 general,

£16.50 concessioners and free on the 18th. For more information, go to www.rncm.ac.uk,

4-slash performance, 4-slash the-national-uf-brass-band-of-great-britzen.

And finally, the north of England Regional Championships held in Durham last weekend,

saw ever-ready get their hands back on the trophy for the first time in 10 years.

The band gave a blistering performance of LB's Elgar variations under musical director David

Martin, which also saw them pick up all but one of the best instrumentalists awards on offer.

A sportsman for the band stated, we are incredibly proud to be crowned north of England Regional

Champions at our 37th early title and our first win in 10 years. It's been a long time coming

and it makes this one feel even more special. This didn't happen overnight, it's been built up

on months, years of hard work, determination and prep work from Johnny and a real sense of

togetherness and today everything came together when it mattered the most.

As we look forward to the upcoming weeks, the brass band world is imposed for further excitement

and achievement. The spring festival in Birmingham, the European Championships in Lins

and the build up to the national finals, promise memorable performances and news stories.

The community movement, resilience, creativity and sense of community continue to shine,

supported by dedicating news issues, educators, organisers and of course the loyal fans.

Anyway, thank you for joining us on this week's broadcast of the world brass band news.

For more news, recordings and updates, visit your favourite band website, follow contest coverage

on world play and the four bars rest and stay tuned for our next edition until then keep supporting

live music and enjoy the best of a brass banding. Let's keep brass banding alive wherever you are.

I'm Peter Webster and that was your weekly brass band, brass band entertainment and brass

band world news here from Sam's brass radio.