March edition of BBW out now!
The March edition of the Brass Band World magazine is now out, and it's packed with fantastic features, articles, reviews and interviews from around the globe…
BBW COVER INTERVIEW
Chandos has just released the CD Fanfares, featuring Onyx Brass conducted by
John Wilson of the John Wilson Orchestra. BBW’s Chief Contributor, Christopher Thomas, caught up with the iconic, busy conductor, whose stellar worldwide career on the podium started in the brass band percussion section and who would love the opportunity to conduct a brass band.
PRO PLATFORM - ‘DREAM BIG...’
Trumpeter, Niall Keatley, has played with various orchestras and chamber groups, including Onyx Brass, which has just released the Chandos Fanfares CD. Niall originated from brass bands in Northern Ireland - Chief Contributor, Christopher Thomas, enjoys a Q&A with him
PRO PRACTICE - TROUBLESHOOTING TROUBLESOME NOTES
Fed up with fluffing, splitting and missing notes? Professor Roger Webster, BBW’s Pro Practice host, to the rescue with his technical tool-kit and common sense advice
YOUNG VOICES
Mark Good catches up with Royal Conservatoire of Scotland graduate, Ben Hirons, about life in Norway with the all-conquering Eikanger-Bjørsvik Musikklag.
CELEBRATING DIVERSITY
Nicola Bland quizzes European Brass and Wind Band Festival Artistic Director, Stefan Richter, about what’s on offer at the 2018 edition in Bad Schlema, Germany.
2018 REGIONAL BATTLEGROUND
The North West and Yorkshire qualifiers are in - Malcolm Wood reports from the North West and Yorkshire
AMERICAN DREAM ALIVE IN PORTHCAWL
Thomas Dunne was in Porthcawl, Wales, as Filton Concert Brass ‘upped its ante’ with a two-point margin win at the recent Welsh Open.
UNIBRASS IN A CLASS OF ITS OWN
The Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) claimed the Unibrass Trophy for the second year running and the University of Bristol took home the UniBrass Shield for the first time at York Barbican. Thomas Dunne reports.
BBW CENTRE BAND: WARDLE ACADEMY YOUTH
Wardle Academy Youth - the 2017 National Youth Intermediate, Action Medical Research, Saddleworth Whit Friday Youth Champion and 2015 European Development Section Youth Champion prepares to battle for its European title on 6 May in Utrecht, Holland, as well as to defending its UK Intermediate title on 22 April, in Warwick Arts Centre.
BRASS EDUCATION AND CAREERS FOCUS
What’s happening on campus at: the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama; Birmingham Conservatoire; the University of Huddersfield; the Royal Academy of Music, the Royal Conservatoire Scotland and Chetham’s School, plus career ‘opps’ with the RAF Auxiliary Band, plus summer retreats for trumpet at Chateau Charly in the Loire Valley, France, and Eastman Summer Faculty at the University of Rochester’s School of Music in the USA, which combines trumpet tuition with Pilates!
BBE LAUNCHES TRAINING PROGRAMME
BBW’s March education edition sees Brass Bands England’s Interim CEO, Andrew Coe, offer sage advice on band marketing and promotion - a core module in his organisation’s comprehensive training programme for English member brass bands, due to be rolled out at roadshow regional seminars near your band!
LET'S DEBATE: BAND ON THE RUN
Educating and retaining future generations of players has never been more vital to the survival of brass bands. Bromley Youth Music Trust (BYMT) has developed the successful Band on the Run programme, the value of which is debated here by the Trust’s Principal, Ian Rowe, as part of BBW’s extensive March education focus.
DISCOVERING BRASS FOR BEGINNERS
The Wallace Collection has been Discovering Brass - an exciting programme taking valveless instruments into London schools, to introduce beginners to brass music. Clair Tomalin outlines the impressive results
BBW CASTAWAY
This month’s BBW Castaway is Dr. Rodney Newton, whose debut orchestral CD was released earlier this month by Toccata Classics. His music was also celebrated across the UK in February and March, as Section 4 bands tackled his World Tour for the 2018 Regional Contests.
RETROSPECTIVE
Undefeated for the seventh consecutive time, a confident Eikanger-Bjørsvik cruised to its eighth Norwegian National title in the last ten years and is looking evermore unbeatable - BBW’s Chief Contributor, Christopher Thomas, left Bergen’s Grieghalle impressed with the front-runners - particularly with Eikanger
REVIEWS
CDS AND DVDS
John Wilson and Onyx Brass release Fanfares on the Chandos label; Chris Bradley’s Fusion CD; the New York Staff Band prepares to tour Japan with its new Endless Power release and the 2017 Brass in Concert Highlights DVD.
MUSIC
The latest clutch of new music from the publishing powerhouse, Wright and Round
CONCERTS AND EVENTS
Saxhorns shine under the leadership of Katrina Marzella and Helen Varley at the University of Salford, and the New York Staff Band and whacky Mnozil Brass entertain the ‘Big Apple’
COMPANY NEWS
The North Yorkshire Company, Smith-Watkins, receives a very special commission of fanfare trumpets - could they be heard at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s May wedding?
RANKINGS
Foden’s notches up four places and Eikanger one in the top-six of the Rankings, but will Dyke climb back into the top-four in April?
DIARY DATES
Events around the World in March and April.
… AND ANOTHER THING
Resident with, John Barber and cartoonist, Nezzy, become prophets of utopian brass banding… or might that be dystopian banding?
NEWS
Brass in Concert launches Youth Championships; Grimethorpe Durham Cathedral concert on 14 April to support northeast charity. European Championships judges and Soloist Competition contenders revealed; Radio 2 Young Brass Award finalists announce and Banks Group supports North of England ‘Area’
