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.

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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).

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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.

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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.

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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?

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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?

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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.

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