The Brass bulletin #3
Friday 21st January 2022

From festivals to radio appearances, here are this week's top stories from the banding world.
So grab a brew (or a tipple, it is Friday after all!) and dive into this week's edition of The Brass Bulletin!
Contents
RNCM Brass Band Festival Returns
Trio of Learning Workshops from SBBA
Gregson is Composer of the Week
National Youth Brass band Championships of Great Britain Line-Up
BrassPass to Stream Unibrass Championship
BBE to Host One-Off Special Webinar
Sheona Wade Appointed New Chairperson of AoBBA
RNCM Brass Band Festival Returns

After 2 long years, the RNCM Brass Band Festival is back!
Audiences will be able to enjoy 2 full days of fantastic brass band music performed by some of the country's best bands, alongside youth ensembles and RNCM student musicians.
Although the event has been given the go-ahead, Covid-19 has caused a little disruption along the way, resulting in a revised lineup and the event beginning on Saturday 29th January, rather than Friday 28th.
Cory Band and Foden's Band have both, sadly, withdrawn from the event, along with American Trumpet Star, Rex Richardson, but without a doubt, it will be worth the wait to see them in the 2023 event.
However, Sunday's event will be bolstered by a performance from the WFEL Fairey Band, who have stepped in at the last minute to fill Cory's slot.
It looks to be a fantastic weekend of music and if you're wondering what musical delights you can expect to enjoy, here is the programme for the RNCM Brass Band Festival
Saturday 29th January 2022
RNCM Brass Band | 11:00am | RNCM Concert Hall
Featured Soloist: Justine Gormley - Piano
Conductor: David Thornton
Programme:
'Four Minute Mile' - Judith Bingham
Piano Concerto - Bill Connor
'Chrome' - Errollyn Wallen
'Four Scottish Dances - Malcolm Arnold
Young Musicians Showcase | 1:30 pm | RNCM Theatre
This session, presented by Dr Jennie Henley (RNCM's Director of Programmes) and Philip Goodwin (RNCM Engage Senior Tutor), will showcase the work of the RNCM Engage Project.
The project brings RNCM student ensembles and local youth brass bands together to inspire the next generation of brass band players.
Saturday's programme will feature young musicians from:
Astley Youth Band
Stockport Schools Band
Wirral Youth Band
Tredegar Town Band | 3:00 pm | RNCM Concert Hall
Featured Soloist: Peter Moore - Trombone
Conductor: Ian Porthouse
Programme:
'Flourish for Brass' - Ralph Vaughan Williams
'English Folk Song' - Ralph Vaughan Williams
- 1. March: Seventeen Come Sunday
- 2. Intermezzo: My Bonny Boy
- 3. March : Folk Songs from Somerset
'Shift' (Trombone Concerto No.1) - Simon Dobson
'Rhosymedre (from Three Preludes founded on Welsh Hymn Tunes) - Ralph Vaughan Williams (arr. Paul Hindmarsh)
'These Are Our Footsteps' - Judith Bingham
'Variations for Brass Band' - Ralph Vaughan Williams
Junior RNCM Brass Band | 4:45pm | RNCM Theatre
Conductors: Les Neish, Juan Ortuno
Programme:
'With a Little Help From My Friends' - Lennon & McCartney (arr. Leigh Baker)
'Concert Overture' - Harry White
'Tree Song' - Gavin Higgins
'Rebellion' - Simon Dobson
'Blackbird Special' - Gregory Davis (arr. Reid Gilje)
Black Dyke Band | 7:30pm | RNCM Concert Hall
Featured Soloist: Brett Baker - Trombone
Conductor: Nicholas Childs
'A Fantasy of Joy' - Fredrick Schjelderup
'Four Cornish Dances' - Malcolm Arnold
'Beethoven' - Philip Wilby
'The Royal Border Bridge' - Arthur Butterworth
'The Light Fantastic (commissioned by Brett Baker)
'Heroes' - Bruce Broughton
Sunday 30th January
Grimethorpe Colliery Band | 11:00am | RNCM Concert Hall
Conductor: David Thornton
Programme:
Overture: 'Henry the Fifth'
'Innovation' - Liz Lane
'Sinfonietta: At the Edge of Time' - Ray Steadman-Allen
'Elegy (In Memoriam Gerard Schurmann) - Jack Stamp
'Caledonian Suite' - Buxton Orr
2022 John Golland Award Final | 1:30pm | RNCM Theatre
Students from the RNCM will perform works for brass ensemble written by the finalists of the 6th John Golland Award for Young Composers.
Shortlisted works:
'Scherzo Piccolo (for Brass Sextet)' - Joel Kirk
'Pavan (for Brass Quintet)' - Joe Bloom
'Willow (for Brass Quintet)' - Alice Brookes
WFEL Fairey Band | 3:00pm | RNCM Concert Hall
Conductor: Adam Cooke
'Little Suite No. 1' - Malcolm Arnold
'Pilgrim Variations' - Wilfred Heaton
'Penlee' - Simon Dobson
'A Moorside Suite' - Gustav Holst
'Padstow Lifeboat' - Malcolm Arnold
Brass Bands England Presentation | 4:45pm | Carole Nash Recital Room
Join Sarah Baumann (Education and Development Manager at Brass Bands England), who will outline BBE's youth strategy and update on the progress of their national project with youth brass bands and school children.
Brighouse and Rastrick Band | 6:30pm | RNCM Concert Hall
Conductor: Professor David King
Programme:
March: 'Pelorus Jack' - Alexander Owen
Suite: 'The Unfortunate Traveller' - Imogen Holst
'Prelude on Randolph' - Ray Steadman-Allen
'Meditation on Aberystwyth' - Wilfred Heaton
'Paganini Variations' - Philip Wilby
For more information about the 2022 RNCM Brass Band Festival, check out the dedicated web page here: