RNCM International Brass Band Festival Line Up and Programmes 2026

Everything You Need to Know About the 2026 RNCM International Brass Band Festival

The RNCM International Brass Band Festival is one of the best events in the brass banding calendar. Showcasing the best music the brass band community has to offer played by some of the best brass bands out there and a chance to watch the future of brass banding make their mark - it's honestly a highlight of my year.

Here's what the 2026 event has in store for us!

Inspirational Sparke

This year's event celebrates the incredible brass band works of Philip Sparke; a composer who's work has shaped the repertoire of modern banding and who is celebrating his 75th birthday. Programmes will pay homage to his portfolio of incredible works.

Friday 23rd of January 2026

Festival Prelude: RNCM Euphonium and Baritone Ensemble

Time: 6:15pm

Venue: RNCM Carole Nash Recital Room

Programme:

• Finale from the Gadfly - Dimitri Shostakovich

• Ball of Fire - Peter Smalley

• Loch Lomond - Trad. arr. Ken Williamson

• Fantasy on Charge - Benjamin Roundtree

• She Walked Through the Fair - Trad. Arr. Sean Peterson

• Blaze - Jim Fieldhouse

Foden's Band - Featuring Bones Apart Quartet

Time: 7:30pm

Venue: RNCM Concert Hall

Conductor: Michael Fowles

Programme:

• A Fanfare of Bells - Hermann Pallhuber

• The Green Chapel (IBBF Commission and World Premiere) - Claire Cope

• Tranquil Abiding - Paul Mealor

• Prelude and Courtly Dances from Gloriana - Benjamin Britten arr. Paul Hindmarsh

• Variations on the Shining Silver (World Premiere of a newly re-scored version by Phillip Littlemore) - Edmund Rubbra

• Partita - Philip Sparke

Saturday 23th January 2026

Concord Brass Band

Time: 11:00am

Venue: RNCM Concert Hall

Conductor: Stig Maersk

Programme:

• Dance of the Cockerel - Carl Nielsen arr. Andreas Spang Olsen

• Doing - Per Nørgård

• Trombone Concerto - Launy Grøndahl - performed by Jesper Juul Windahl

• Romance - Hilda Sehested - performed by Jesper Juul Windahl

The 4barsrest Interview

Time: 1:30pm

Venue: RNCM Theatre

Iwan Fox of 4barsrest interviews one of this year’s guests, offering unique insight into their life and work.

Tredegar Town Band

Time: 3:00pm

Venue: RNCM Concert Hall

Conductor: Ian Porthouse

Programme:

• A Spark Forgotten - Tamsin Crook

• Euphonium Concerto - Derek Bourgeois - performed by Glenn Van Looy

• Mellisande (World Premiere) - Phil Lawrence

• Land of the Long White Cloud - Philip Sparke

Junior RNCM Brass Band

Time: 4:45pm

Venue: RNCM Theatre

Conductor: Mark Bousie

Programme:

• March: Star Lake - Eric Ball

• Lucerne Dances (British Premiere) - Philip Sparke

• Shift - Peter Meechan

• Song of Hope - Peter Meechan - Performed by Cornet Soloist, Oliver Tattersall

• Fanfare and Funk - Oliver Waespi

• Starburst - Dan Price

Black Dyke Band

Time: 7:30pm

Venue: RNCM Concert Hall

Conductor: Professor Nicholas Childs

Programme:

• Fanfare for Bradford - Paul Lovatt-Cooper

• Variations - Thea Musgrave

• Gemini - Philip Sparke - Performed by Tom Hutchinson (Cornet) and Adam Bokaris (Euphonium)

• Wildfire - Bruce Broughton (World Premiere)

• Aureum Spiriti (World Premiere) - Jacob Wilhelm Larsen

• Percussion Concerto (World Premiere) - Simon Dobson - Performed by Yasuaki Fukuhara

• Feste Romane - Ottorino Respighi arr. Howard Snell

Sunday 25th January 2025

RNCM Brass Band

Time: 11:00am

Venue: RNCM Concert Hall

Conductor: Katrina Marzella-Wheeler

• London Overture - Philip Sparke

• The Riot at the Rite - Simon Dobson

• Dark or Bright? - Louis Kroni arr. Bertrand Moren - performed by Soprano Cornet Soloist, Louis Kroni

• We Seven - Derek Jenkins - conducted by Chris Binns

• Tabi: The Journey (World Premiere) - Théo Koita

• Gold Saturday - Errollyn Wallen

RNCM Young Low Brass and Young Trombones

Time: 12:30pm

Venue: RNCM Concourses

RNCM Young Low Brass and Young Trombones offers weekly sessions for budding brass players aged five to 12, aimed at nurturing their musicianship, creativity, and technical abilities.

The group will showcase ensemble music in this exciting pop-up performance featuring a lively blend of works.

Yorkshire Youth Band

Time: 1:30pm

Venue: RNCM Theatre

Conductor: Richard Marshall

Programme:

• Concert Prelude - Philip Sparke

• When One Sees Light - Mia Yee

• Concertino for Flugel Horn - William Himes - Performed by Phoebe Mallinson

• Dance Like David - Andrew Mackereth

• Legends in Brass - James Curnow

Cory Band

Time: 3:00pm

Venue: RNCM Concert Hall

Conductor: Philip Harper

Programme:

• Raveling, Unraveling - Philip Sparke

• Light Fantastic - Philip Wilby - Performed by Trombone Soloist - Brett Baker

• Descent (world premiere of the brass band version) - Mark Boden

• Orbital (world premiere)- Richard Blackford

Brass Bands England Discussion

Time: 4:45pm

Venue: Carole Nash Recital Room

rass Bands England supports and promotes brass bands by fostering community engagement, sharing resources, and increasing public understanding of their value. They provide access to funding, training, and resources in key areas like marketing, digital technology, and legislative compliance while encouraging innovation, creative collaboration, and broader audience engagement.

Brighouse and Rastrick Band

Time: 6:30pm

Venue: RNCM Concert Hall

Conductor: David Thornton

Programme:

• B of the Bang - Peter Meechan

• Euphonium Concerto No.2 - Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen - Performed by Euphonium Soloist, Chris Robertson

• Royal Parks - George Lloyd

• Ondinas (World Premiere) - Helena Zykowaska

• Concertino for Tuba and Brass Band (World Premiere) - Dorothy Gates - Performed by Tuba Soloist, Les Neish

• Music of the Spheres - Philip Sparke