New BBW edition out now!

December 2016 / January 2017 edition out now, featuring:

BBW INTERVIEW - HOWARD SNELL
Now in his 80th birthday year, the keynote speaker at Brass Bands England’s recent first National Conference, Howard Snell, shares his fascinating views on brass bands with fellow musician - Sandy Smith.

LET'S DEBATE - CREATIVE RISK-TAKING!
European Brass Band Association President, Ulf Rosenberg, responds to criticism about test-piece selection by major contest promoters and explains his organisation’s strategy of commissioning talent from European host countries to expand the pool of repertoire and compositional talent.

COLLECTIVE VISION
Despite disappointing delegate band support, the first National Conference, hosted by Brass Bands England, provoked lively discussion and a lens on what the future might look like with collective consensus.

KNOW THE SCORE – LET THE PAGEANTRY BEGIN!
David Read MBE provides an introduction to the 2017 UK top section Regional test-piece, Pageantry by Herbert Howells

2016 – THE HIGHS AND LOWS
Christopher Thomas surveys the highs and lows of the last 12 months, and discovers there were more highs than lows.

THE BLUE SHEEP
NMC Recordings - responsible for the recently released War Memorials disc that has drawn plaudits for brass bands from national press critics - is the ‘blue sheep’ of the recordings market. BBW investigates.

BRITAIN INSPIRES BALTIC SUCCESS
Find out how the British brass band culture has raised the aspirations of young people in Lithuania - host to the 2019 European Championships.

‘EURO’ STARS
Which contenders in seven of Europe’s national contests, from Sweden to Switzerland, are booking their passages to the 2017 Ostend ‘European’? Which Norwegian and US bands secured their tickets to the UK’s 2017 Brass in Concert Championship and which Welsh rivals drew at the end of the season?

BOOK YOUR PLACE
There have never been more platforms for brass bands, soloists and ensembles - BBW offers a snapshot of international festivals, competitions and summer schools in the New Year, from the 2017 European Championships in Ostend to the International Brass Band Summer School in Wales.

BRASS EDUCATION
Find out about the New Year Open days at the Junior RNCM and Birmingham Conservatoire, along with detail about Trinity College London’s new aural and improvisation tests.

PRO PRACTICE
Roger Webster delivers the first in his new series of BBW master classes, launching them with advice about developing that all-important ability to concentrate.

PRO PLATFORM
Robert Childs catches up with fellow Welshman and former euphonium player, Kevin Morgan, now Principal Tuba of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

BBW CASTAWAY
Katrina Marzella delves into the desert island listening of top trombonist, Nick Hudson and discovers his ingenious plan for making it back to civilization!

YOUNG VOICES
Mark Good meets cornet player, Dominic Longhurst, who occupies the top chair at one of the most famous bands in the world – Brighouse and Rastrick.

BBW CENTRE BAND
Pioneering Austrian band – Brass Band Oberösterreich, has just secured a hat trick victory of the Austrian National Championships under the baton of Tredegar Town Band’s Musical Director, Ian Porthouse.

…AND ANOTHER THING
In festive mood, John Barber and resident cartoonist, Nezzy, sprinkle a little Christmas magic!

RETROSPECTIVES
All the action and photographs from the 40^th Brass in Concert. Championships and the Scottish Open.

BRASS BAND WORLD NEWS
New Year transfer season kicks off
British Composer Wind or Brass Award
2017 Butlin’s Festival countdown
BBC Radio 2 Young Brass Award semi-finalists announced
RAF forms new Royal Auxiliary Air Force Band
Brass in Concert audio downloads first
Brass for Africa to appoint Alison Balsom fellow

REVIEWS OF THE LATEST CD RELEASES
Sandy Smith reviews Celebration – An 80^th Birthday Tribute to Howard Snell.
Michael Fowles reviews Celebrate the Season by The International Staff Band.
Dr. Brett Baker listens to Duel by Betrand and Jocelyne Moren, whilst David Childs enjoys a Q&A with the duo.

NEW MUSIC REVIEWS
Dan Price reviews John Doyle’s Blue and The Beauty of Blue from the Marcato Brass Publishing stable.
David Childs reviews Carolers’ Favorites from The Salvation Army Eastern Territory USA.

CONCERT REVIEWS
Tubular Brass plays Tubular Bells in Bristol
Owen Farr leads International Flugel and Tenor Horn Day in Fife
Black Dyke and James Morrison wow in the World of Brass in Concert at The Sage Gateshead.

TIS THE SEASON TO GIVE…
BBW’s Christmas countdown counterspy of some of the best gifts around and David Childs comes up with some bedtime stories for imaginative young minds.

RANKINGS
With Gordon Simpson of BrassStats.com

DIARY DATES
What's on around the World in December 2016 and January 2017?

THIS MONTH’S CONTRIBUTORS?
Christopher Thomas
Dan Price
David Childs
David Read MBE
Dr. Brett Baker
Dr. Richard Jones
Dr. Robert Childs 
Gordon Simpson
Ian Clowes - Goldy Solutions
James Case
John Barber
John Stirzaker
Katrina Marzella
Lisa Fitzgerald-Lombard
Mark Good
Michael Fowles
Nezzy
Nicola Bland
Professor Roger Webster
Sandy Smith
Steve Legge
Thomas Dunne
Ulf Rosenberg

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