Brass Bands on the Record

The dust is settling on the 2023 British Open Championship, and the cheers and songs from the delighted members of Foden’s Band have just about faded away. The band, already the reigning National and North West Regional champion, claimed its first British Open title since 2012, on Thierry Deleruyelle’s Sand and Stars. It was also a first for conductor Russell Gray, as he claimed his first Open win with the baton. You could say it was written in the stars – and it all made for a fabulous time for the renowned Sandbach band…

On the weekend bands and audiences are descending on Birmingham for the 2023 British Open Championship, celebrations are in order for a prominent Scottish figure in the banding scene. John Boax will be honoured with the Mortimer Medal by the Worshipful Company of Musicians for his work in fostering new generations of brass band players. It's alongside Gavin Higgins, who will receive the Iles Medal for his significant contribution to the brass band world. John’s career in brass music education has taken him far and wide, enjoying contesting success with some of Scotland’s finest bands and working alongside the likes of Major Peter Parkes and Nigel Boddice MBE. But it’s perhaps at grassroots level that John has enjoyed greatest satisfaction, nurturing generations of young performers, many of whom have gone on to enjoy glittering banding careers all over the world. He’s enjoyed several decades of involvement with the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland, which remains very dear to his heart, and these days is known as an administrator in the Scottish banding scene, in his role as education officer with the Scottish Brass Band Association. It all makes for a remarkable career in banding – but John says news of the medal came as a bit of a surprise…

Welcome to a new podcast series called Brass Bands: On the Record! It features a familiar voice (Mark Good) and a fresh face, in Lillie McCluskie. The pair begin the new series by chatting to Brett Baker, principal trombone of the Black Dyke Band. Brett reflects on his lengthy tenure at the band, looks at contesting successes and discusses performing everywhere from Glastonbury to Bermuda with the famous Queensbury band. He chats about commissioning new music for the trombone, which has been a big priority for him, looks back at his musical roots - and even reveals why he was a millionaire's gardener!

Chief executive officer of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, Mark Bromley, chats to British Bandsman editor, Mark Good. The Youth Band is in the midst of its Easter course at Harrogate Ladies’ College and is busy preparing for a concert on Saturday, April 16, in Huddersfield Town, where it will perform under the baton of guest conductor, Irene Anda, along with the wonderful trombone soloist, Grethe Tonheim. The concert is one of several engagements for the NYBB in 2022, as it celebrates its 70th anniversary. Mark discusses how the year is shaping up for the band and the organisation’s attempts to strike a balance between preserving proud brass band traditions while bringing the genre, and music education, to a more diverse audience. He also chats about forging strong links between the NYBB and its band of alumni. Subscribe to British Bandsman today!

Chief executive officer of Brass Bands England, Kenny Crookston, looks ahead to the 2022 European Brass Band Festival, as the prestigious event rapidly approaches. He discusses planning for the festival while facing the ongoing challenges of the pandemic, and explains how this year’s festival, in Birmingham, is taking shape. Kenny also looks back on his own banding career, from following in the footsteps of his brothers by joining Broxburn Band in West Lothian, to enjoying celebrated times with Whitburn Band under the direction of the likes of Phillip McCann and Major Peter Parkes. Never stuck for something to say, Kenny chats about how his big mouth (those are his words) led to him becoming involved in banding administration and management, a lengthy tenure as editor of British Bandsman magazine and ultimately, on the path to where he is today at Brass Bands England. (Note: this interview was recorded before the withdrawal from the European Championships of Concord Brass Band). Subscribe to British Bandsman today!

Composer, conductor, orchestral arranger and session musician, Simon Dobson discusses hearing his trombone concerto Shift performed by the London Symphony Orchestra’s principal trombonist, Peter Moore, and Tredegar Band at the 2022 RNCM Brass Band Festival in Manchester. He also reflects on his musical roots, from growing up in banding to his early thoughts about how music was constructed and how it made him feel. Twenty years on from winning the European Brass Band Composers’ Competition, Simon, who’s now 40, discusses the relationships he’s enjoyed with bands all over Europe. He also lifts the lid on his diverse, multi-faceted musical career – and admits he wouldn’t have it any other way. Subscribe to British Bandsman today!

Freelance performer, conductor, educator and adjudicator, Bryan Allen has enjoyed a long and distinguished musical career, from travelling the world with celebrated chamber group Fine Arts Brass to staging the Brass Explosion festivals in Birmingham and guiding the next generation during his tenure as head of brass at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. The 63-year-old was recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease – but he isn’t letting it get him down, and is in the midst of a fundraising drive to help support young people buy brass instruments. It’s seeing him aim to walk 500 kilometres and run 500 more. Bryan reflects on his career and returning to his banding roots – but begins by discussing how his crowdfunding project came about. Subscribe to British Bandsman today!

Having been raised in a Scottish mining town with a rich banding tradition, it might be fair to assume that composer, arranger, conductor and educator, Alan Fernie, fell in love with brass from the beginning – but that isn’t strictly the case, as he explains. Eventually, though, Alan did catch the bug and has gone on to enjoy a diverse and fascinating career in the world of music, from nurturing the next generation to adding to his seemingly endless catalogue of compositions and arrangements. Alan reflects on his musical journey so far, some of his major influences and his treasured experiences, including his involvement in the charity Brass for Africa. But first, how is Alan faring in what continue to be some challenging times? Subscribe to British Bandsman today!

Tuba star and general and artistic director of River City Brass Band, James Gourlay discusses River City Brass Band's upcoming composer competition, and has all the details on how to get involved. Speaking from his office in the band's bustling headquarters, he also looks at how the connection to the American organisation came about and its transformation over the past few years. James reflects on growing up as a young boy in Fife and his journey from Buckhaven and Tullis Russell Mills bands to sitting in some of the finest symphony orchestras in the world - though it wasn't always plain sailing! But first, how is life in the world of James Gourlay? Subscribe to British Bandsman today!

Director of music at Amersham Band, Paul Fisher, discusses the Buckinghamshire organisation’s transformation of recent years. From raising £500,000 to build its impressive new bandhall to expanding into a multi-level, musical powerhouse, Paul lifts the lid on the band’s journey of recent years. He also discusses some of the things Amersham does slightly differently in an effort to recruit and retain players when they walk through the door (spoiler alert, it seems to be working very well). Paul speaks frankly about the balance of concerts and contesting, and the way in which he believes current rules are in danger of driving some people away from banding. But first, time to set the scene and find out more about this remarkable organisation. Subscribe to British Bandsman today!

Conductor Russell Gray and cornet player extraordinaire, Mark Wilkinson, look back on an impressive performance and victory for Foden’s Band at the 2021 National Brass Band Championship of Great Britain in London’s Royal Albert Hall. The pair reflect on the band's performance of Bruce Broughton’s Heroes and the preparation of the piece, including the successful working relationship between the band, Russell and Mike Fowles, who undertook much of the band’s work on the piece. Mark, who’s occupied the principal cornet chair at Foden’s for around 29 years, lifts the lid on his secret to flourishing in tricky exposed passages in a high-pressure environment and discusses Foden’s plans for the coming weeks and months. Russell reflects on a very special weekend in the Gray household after wife Mareika guided Ratby Co-operative to fifth place in its debut at the event, and began by confirming whether or not the sore heads had calmed down after celebrating a double success! Subscribe to British Bandsman today!

Multi-Emmy winning composer, Bruce Broughton, composer of Heroes, the set test-piece for the 2021 National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain, chats to British Bandsman editor, Mark Good. Bruce, who’s 76, is a renowned composer in the world of film and television; you might have heard his work featuring in everything from Silverado to Tombstone, The Rescuers Down Under and Miracle on 34th Street, as well as episodes of Dallas, Quincy, Hawaii Five-O and How the West Was Won. Bruce discusses Heroes and how the piece came into being. He also charts his musical roots and early experiences playing in Salvation Army bands. Bruce ponders how he might find the experience of listening to not one, not two, but 19 performances of his piece in one day, such is the way of brass band contesting, and discusses his admiration for some legendary brass players with which he crossed paths. But first, Bruce reflects on the past eighteen months, from the perspective of a composer.

Nicóla Shaw, the newly-appointed flugel player with The Fairey Band, discusses settling into her new surroundings and the positivity around the stand as Faireys prepares to hit the ground running. She also looks back on a lengthy spell with Wingates, charting her progress from back row to her treasured flugel seat. Nicóla chooses her Piece of the Podcast and discusses her banding journey, from being too small to play trombone to performing at Symphony Hall, the Royal Albert Hall and taking centre stage in the BrassPass.tv Best of Brass Festival. But first, how is life in her new musical surroundings?

Jonathan Bates, principal horn of Foden’s Band and a member of the A4 Brass Quartet, discusses the quartet’s second studio album, Mosaic, which is out now, and looks back on the ensemble’s humble beginnings which came when the players were all first year students at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. Jonny also discusses his own musical journey, from growing up in a banding family to hitting the slow melody circuit and catching the banding bug. He reflects on his successes to date and lifts the lid on a busy schedule, crammed with playing, conducting and composing. But first, Jonny describes what it feels like to be gradually getting back to in-person music making.

Mark Good chats to Helen Williams, flugelhorn player with the number one ranked band in the world, the Cory Band. Helen looks back on a historic victory with Marple Band, 25 years ago at the British Open Championship at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester. She became the first – and so far, only – female principal cornet player to take the title, as well as the prize for best instrumentalist. Helen also charts her musical career to date, from the little girl given her dad’s old trumpet to her lengthy spells at Poynton, Marple and Foden’s. Helen discusses nearly retiring from playing and making a life-changing decision with husband Glyn that took the couple to the south Wales valleys where the rest, as they say, is history.

British Bandsman editor Mark Good chats to Jim Hayes, a Geneva artist and the principal cornet player with the cooperation band. Jim recently released his latest solo album, Jonny Midnight – The Edge of Forever so chats about the release and the creative process involved in bringing the project together. He also reflects on his musical career to date, from being left a battered old instrument as a youngster to enjoying a lengthy tenure in the top chair at one of Scotland’s finest bands. Jim discusses his musical influences and describes just what it felt like to be getting back to banding action. But first, he reflects on life during the COVID pandemic.

Mark Good looks back at the 2021 Best of Brass Festival, which took place at the Victoria Theatre, Halifax, and was streamed via BrassPass.tv. The one-day festival showcased high quality brass music making from Black Dyke, cornet soloist Tom Hutchinson, Hammonds and Wingates bands, along with the JSVB Legacy Ensemble. The day featured a range of world premieres and saw everyone involved adhering to COVID guidelines.

UniBrass Foundation trustee Abi Groocock and organising committee chair, Voirrey Baker, discuss how plans are taking shape for the 2021 UniBrass Contest, which is taking place in Sheffield on June 26. In a ‘first’ for brass band contesting, the competition will run in a hybrid format, featuring a mixture of in-person and pre-recorded performances. Abi and Voirrey reflect on the challenges faced by UniBrass over the past year and discuss the organisation’s innovative work to serve the university band community during lockdown. From producing a distance banding album to racking up the miles in a fundraising run and introducing a dedicated university section as part of the Cory Online Championship, keep listening to hear how UniBrass has been working hard throughout lockdown. The pair also look ahead to UniBrass’ first Band Camp, a new residential course under the baton of Grimethorpe Colliery Band’s musical director, David Thornton – and yes, it is possible to pitch your tent and actually go camping.

Since trumpet soloist Matilda Lloyd burst on to the scene with successes in the BBC Young Musician of the Year brass final and what was then the BBC Radio 2 Young Brass Awards, she has cemented her reputation as one of the outstanding performers of her generation. Now 25, she’s combining her busy solo career with studies in Malmo with trumpet legend, Håkan Hardenberger. Matilda looks back on her musical career to date, including a performance with Cory Band that she credits among her favourite concert experiences. She discusses her musical roots, from finding an old trumpet in the back of her parents’ cupboard to experimenting with the cello and finding her passion for standing out front as a soloist. Matilda, who was speaking from Germany, also discusses life in lockdown, which meant practising amongst the cattle at her parents’ farm, and she looks ahead as her diary of engagements starts to look a little more like normal once again. But first, how has she been getting on during these very strange times?

Elland Silver Youth Band’s inspirational musical director, Samantha Harrison, joins British Bandsman editor, Mark Good. From its formation, the band has grown into a hugely successful multi-level setup, enjoying a host of competition wins including national and European titles. Sam reflects on some of the highlights so far and discusses how the organisation is planning for a brighter banding future. Sam, who was born into a banding family, also charts her own musical path, from being invited to play a violin to having a tenor horn shoved in her hands before taking flight with the cornet. But first, she discusses some of the ways the organisation has kept engaging with its members during 14 months like no other.