How long have you played with GUS Band and what position do you currently hold?
I joined GUS Band in 2018, so just over five years; I feel proud to occupy the solo baritone chair. This is actually my second stint with the band, previously playing with the band in 2006-7. During that time I played both solo baritone and solo euphonium but had to leave due to work and family commitments.

What’s the best thing about playing in a brass band?
For me playing in a brass band gives me the chance to switch off from the day-to-day pressures of work and totally absorb myself in playing music with other fantastic musicians. The level of concentration required playing for GUS means that you can’t help but become completely absorbed in the music.

What’s your highlight so far with GUS Band?
There are so many to mention. In the last five years I’ve played in some fantastic performances – our 2020 area contest winning performance of Philip Sparke’s A Tale as Yet Untold stands out as really special. I’ve also had the good fortune of playing some great solos with the band, John Golland’s Rhapsody No 2 for Baritone being a particular favourite. At every rehearsal, I look around at the quality of the musicians and conductors, and the memorabilia on display around the band room from contest wins over the last nine decades, and feel privileged to be a member of a band with such heritage and pedigree.

How did you get involved with playing a brass instrument?
I grew up in a Yorkshire village that had its own brass band. My parents ran the local working men’s club for a few years and every now and then the band would rehearse there. I remember thinking how amazing it sounded. Both my brother and I wanted to join immediately.

What was your earliest musical experience?
As a young child my brothers and I were regularly involved in the local village pantomime, however the experience that had the most profound impact on me was going to the Yorkshire area contest as a young teenager in 1987 to listen to the Championship Section play George Lloyd’s Diversions on a Bass Theme. The venue, St George’s Hall in Bradford, was so full that people had to sit in the aisles to listen and each performance sent shivers down my spine. Even now just thinking back to it gives me goose bumps.

Who has been your biggest influence?
When it comes to playing in brass bands I don’t think there has been just one person; I’ve been lucky to work with many great musicians and conductors over the years. If I had to single out a few then I would say that in my teenage years Alan Morrison was really influential. At the time he was principal cornet at Grimethorpe and the conductor of my first contest winning band, Allerton Bywater Colliery Band. He showed me what being a championship level player and conductor was all about. I was in the band that recorded his Satchmo – Oh Yeah solo CD and for two whole days he recorded solo after solo after solo, and all were faultless.

Later on Dave Roberts at Rothwell was also a conductor that I admired and really looked up to. Not only was he a talented conductor who knew exactly what he wanted from his players, he was a genuine, all-round nice guy who was “one of the gang”. Dave, and his family, nurtured a real sense of being a part of a “band family” whilst at the same time managing to create performances of the highest level, something most bands only aspire to. I have fantastic memories of playing at Rothwell, especially winning the Swiss Open and Pontins Championships literally in the space of four weeks, in 2000.

Do you enjoy practising or find it a chore?
As a kid I never practised and hated it, but these days I love practising. I find it really relaxing and a way of switching off from the outside world. I have a really busy life so tend to practice in my car before work and during my lunch break, earning the nickname “Tooter”. I often laugh watching people walk past the car bemused!

Were your parents musical?
When my brother and I joined our first brass band they were both recruited too, my dad on trombone and mum on cornet. They didn’t play for long though.

What piece of music do you most enjoy playing?
I enjoy all of the music we play but especially a good competition piece, something difficult that makes you work hard and improve as a player.

What’s the best and worst things about performing?
For me the best thing is experiencing that absolute focus and concentration. I think athletes refer to it as “being in the zone” – at that moment literally nothing else matters. If there is a “worst thing” it would be the amount of waiting around we have to do before performances, particularly when performing at a competition. 

What can audiences expect from a performance by GUS Band?
The audience can expect a really entertaining, high octane performance from a GUS Band that is playing at its best with a sublime team of soloists. I hope everyone enjoys the show!

How long have you played with Rothwell Temperance Band and what position do you currently hold? 
I joined Rothwell in 2019 and I currently play the position of third cornet in the band. 

What’s the best thing about playing in a brass band?
Spending time with family and friends creating quality music and being part of such an amazing sound. Both my parents also currently play in Rothwell. My dad plays cornet and mum plays the baritone. 

What’s your highlight so far with Rothwell Temperance Band?
My biggest highlight so far was qualifying for the National Championships in 2022 on the piece Contest Music and having the opportunity to play in the Royal Albert Hall. Also winning the Grand Shield in the same year on the piece Dynasty, gaining invitation to the British Open. 

How did you get involved with playing a brass instrument?
Brass banding runs in my family with both my parents and other family members playing at high levels. 

What was your earliest musical experience?
In 1997, when I was six months old, I sat in the National Finals Trophy held by my Uncle Martin who played with the winning band, Brighouse & Rastrick Band.

Who has been your biggest influence?
Both my parents have been my biggest influences throughout my banding career. 

Do you enjoy practising or find it a chore?
I mostly enjoy practicing, depending on the piece of music. 

What piece of music do you most enjoy playing?
I enjoy playing a variety of different pieces, but I enjoyed playing Wilfred Heaton’s Contest Music the most. 

What’s the best and worst things about performing?
The best things about performing are being able to entertain different audiences and being part of a team producing music to the highest standard. 

What can audiences expect from a performance by Rothwell Temperance Band?
A very musical, entertaining, diverse programme with playing of the highest quality.

How long have you played with Flowers Band and what position do you currently hold?
I was invited to a Flowers Band rehearsal in May 2019 by a friend I’d met in the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain some years earlier. I enjoyed the challenge of playing at such a high level, and I joined Flowers Band in May 2019 on 4th solo cornet at the age of sixteen. The band, and conductor Paul Holland, have been very supportive of my development as a player, and I gradually progressed up the solo cornet line to the principal cornet position, to which I was appointed in 2022.

What’s the best thing about playing in a brass band?
That’s a difficult question as there are so many aspects of being part of a brass band that I enjoy. The high level of music making is definitely up there; we’re able to produce some fantastic performances in world class venues which wouldn’t be possible without playing in the band. I’ve also been fortunate to travel for international playing opportunities which wouldn’t have been possible without the connections I’ve made through banding. The other thing for me is the social aspect. As we spend a lot of time together as group we’re close and never miss the opportunity for a pint, a curry, or to celebrate a special occasion together.

What’s your highlight so far with Flowers Band?
With the amount of personal practise and rehearsal time as an ensemble we put in for contest performances, achieving a good contest result is incredibly rewarding. For me, my first British Open performance in 2019 will always stand out. This is not only because of the good result for the band, coming fifth, but because it was my first time performing at such a prestigious contest which from my earliest playing days had been described as the pinnacle of brass band competitions. On the concert stage, our appearance at The Three Choirs Festival in 2023 was a great experience. To be the first brass band to feature in concert at the event in around 40 years was really special. We performed three times at the festival, the final of which was a concert in Gloucester Cathedral to over 500 people, playing several major works. It was a heavy programme and a lot of work to prepare so much music in the band’s busy schedule, but the amazing reception definitely made it all worth it.

How did you get involved with playing a brass instrument?
I originally started learning the violin at school but was always drawn to the brass section at the back of the orchestra. Knowing this, my mum investigated the best way for me to learn and I went down to my local band fifteen minutes down the road, Shipston Town Band. There, I received an instrument, tuition, and membership of the band for free, and the rest is history, as they say.

What was your earliest musical experience?
My earliest musical banding experience was playing in the band’s own solo contest. I was eight years old, and I stood in front of the audience ready to play Victorian Ballard from the Team Brass book but before starting, I couldn’t even play a tuning note. Hopefully things have progressed since then!

Who has been your biggest influence?
This is difficult to answer as there are many people who I could talk about. Richard Marshall, Tom Hutchinson, Roger Webster, Philip McCann, Kirsty Abbotts; the list is long, and it’s impossible to name everyone whose playing I take inspiration from. Somebody I really must mention is Dave Birch, who gave me my first 30-minute lesson and continues to be a huge supporter of everything I currently do and have achieved to this date. My early days in Shipston Town Band were so crucial to my development as a player and I’ll always be thankful to the people who were patient with me, pointing, and singing rhythms for me when I was younger. In Flowers Band, I have the privilege to sit in front of Paul Richards on soprano cornet. Paul plays with such musicality and emotion and has given a lot of guidance to me. Hearing his playing week in, week out is just sensational, he really is the best in the business and is one of those people you never stop learning from.

Do you enjoy practising or find it a chore?
In short, yes. I like a challenge, and so having stretching music to play at band really motivates me to practice. I do enjoy playing in general, so I guess that makes it easier. That isn’t to say that I don’t have days when I don’t feel as motivated or get extremely frustrated with myself!

Were your parents musical?
Not at all, but they have always been extremely supportive of my banding and playing aspirations. Although neither of them can read music, they can tell a good performance at a contest, and will never be shy of offering an opinion on a performance or the progression of a contest day! My mum can often be seen selling programmes, CDs, and raffle tickets in our local concerts, so is definitely part of the extended Flowers Band family.

What piece of music do you most enjoy playing?
In general, I tend to like anything with a good melody. However, one piece that will always be special to me is Sand and Stars by Thierry Deleruyelle. As part of my languages degree I studied in Switzerland for a year and was fortunate to play on the front row with the brass band, Treize Etoiles. They commissioned Sand and Stars for the ‘Own Choice’ aspect of the Swiss Brass Band National Championship. We were lucky enough to win the contest, qualifying for the 2023 European Championship in Malmö, Sweden. The band used the piece once again for the ‘Own Choice’ part of the competition, and the reception from the audience after the performance will stay with me for a long time. It really was just fantastic to win the contest overall, being crowned European Champion.

What’s the best and worst things about performing?
I love performing to an audience, because it’s an opportunity for the band to demonstrate the hard work that we put in in the band room, and I get a huge amount of personal satisfaction when we play to our best. I love the sound of a brass band and haven’t found anything yet that can possibly compare to it. The most difficult thing has to be nerves… it can be daunting walking on to the contest stage, and it doesn’t get any easier! That said, the satisfaction at the end of a good performance makes it totally worth it.

What can the audience expect from a performance by Flowers Band?
Our programmes are really eclectic. There really is something for everyone, with brand new works, brass band classics, film music, solos and more. When we’re on stage, I think you can see that we’re really having fun with what we do, and that we thoroughly enjoy playing for our audiences. Our conductor Paul is a great compere as well. His light humour, and occasional tangents, always adds an extra layer to the music making.

How long have you played with Brighouse & Rastrick Band and what position do you currently hold?
I have played at Brighouse & Rastrick since 2016 and am the flugel horn player with the band.

What’s the best thing about playing in a brass band?
The best thing about playing in a brass band is the team work and connection you get with people through it. Along with concerts, competitions are a big part of brass banding. You spend a lot of time working on a piece for a competition, whether that’s at home with individual practice or at rehearsals. When it all comes together on the day of the competition, it’s a great experience.

What’s your highlight so far with Brighouse & Rastrick Band?
I think the highlight has to be being part of the band that won the British Open again. The band won it in 2022, but the last time before that was 1978. It was a very special day to be part of the band.

What was your earliest musical experience?
My earliest musical experience would have been when I was about eight, and performing in my first concert with my primary school brass band. It was a joint concert with the Stocksbridge Steels Band, who my teacher at the time conducted. I remember hearing a guy called Martin Winter play a cornet solo, and I was hooked from that moment.

Who has been your biggest influence?
There have been many influences in my musical path and I have been fortunate to play alongside so many amazing musicians. I try to learn from everyone I have the pleasure of playing alongside.

Do you enjoy practising or find it a chore?
Practise is a joy and I look forward to it every day… at least that’s what I tell my students. If I’m honest, it can be a chore at times, but you have to remember what you’re practising for. If it’s not the most enjoyable piece to play its hard work, but then you get some great pieces to play and practising is a lot of fun. I think the key is finding things you enjoy to practice, to break up the tough sessions.

Were your parents musical?
Not anymore. They both tried to learn when I started, to support me, and we all played in the same band for a bit. My mum was on trombone, and dad was on tuba. Sadly, they both stopped playing.

What piece of music do you most enjoy playing?
I don’t have a favourite band piece as we play so many different pieces. I guess, anything with a nice flugel solo is a bonus.

What’s the best and worst things about performing?
The best thing about performing is the musical connection you get to make with people. When it goes well and you can see the audience lost in the music, it’s wonderful to see. I’d have to say the worst is probably the pressure you get in certain performances. It’s very intense when you’re competing in the Albert Hall for example.

What can the audience expect from a performance by Brighouse & Rastrick Band?
An audience can expect playing of the highest level, with a nice, varied mix of music to suit everyone’s taste… and of course, The Floral Dance.

How long have you played with Grimethorpe Colliery Band and what position do you currently hold?
I’m currently the band’s Principal Cornet and have been since April 2022.

What’s the best thing about playing in a brass band?
Playing in a brass band really pushes musicians to their extremes, and is the perfect place for progression. That and the social side, of course!

What’s your highlight so far with Grimethorpe Colliery Band?
The two performances of Brassed Off Live at the Royal Albert Hall for sure!

How did you get involved with playing a brass instrument?
My brother initially started playing with his local youth band, and I followed suit (I had to be better than him!). That youth band was actually lead by Grimethorpe’s first horn player, Jim Fletcher, so there’s a nice connection there!

What was your earliest musical experience?
I always remember playing the sleigh bells in St Paul’s Hall in Huddersfield at six years old (I was the soloist!).

Who has been your biggest influence?
There are too many to count, but if there had to be one it would be Darren Stott, my first teacher, who was a very fine cornet player. He certainly gave me the best advice from a young age.

Do you enjoy practising or find it a chore?
I find practise to be the most fun when you have a goal in mind as well as a purpose. As a musician, it’s very easy to practise for the next performance. Learning how to improve is fun!

Were your parents musical?
Not at all, but they listen to it!

What piece of music do you most enjoy playing?
My favourite piece of brass band music is Blitz by Derek Bourgeois, but there’s nothing quite like playing McArthur Park at the end of a Grimethorpe concert.

What’s the best and worst things about performing?
The best thing is certainly sharing something you work very hard at with other people. The worst part is when they don’t like it!

What can the audience expect from a performance by Grimethorpe Colliery Band?
Grimethorpe is the most famous brass band in the world for a reason, its entertaining concerts. There will be a mixture of some Brassed Off favourites, some new ground-breaking repertoire as well as some of the finest soloists you will ever find. You will be entertained!

How long have you played with Black Dyke Band and what position do you currently hold?
I am now in my 25th year with the band and in all of that time I have had the pleasure of playing second cornet.

What’s the best thing about playing in a brass band?
Playing in a band is quite unique, as well as playing a very wide range of music you get to play alongside wonderful people and have opportunities to meet other similarly minded musicians all the time.

What’s your highlight so far with Black Dyke Band?
There have been so many, but I must say, my absolute personal favourite has been our tours of Japan in 2016, 2017 and 2019.

How did you get involved with playing a brass instrument?
At primary school we didn’t really have music lessons as such, so my first real experience came at secondary school. I took instantly to music and went to ask the music teacher if I could sign up for an instrument but they had all gone by the time I got to her. I pestered her so much that she agreed to give me lessons on the recorder for half an hour a week, until someone decided that playing an instrument just wasn’t for them, so I leaped at the opportunity, it just happened that it was a brass instrument and I have never looked back.

What was your earliest musical experience?
As a baby I was briefly exposed to some Black Sabbath, apparently I screamed the place down until it stopped. As a toddler though my father told me that I would wander around the house incessantly singing the chorus to Yellow River by Christie with the words “Lellow River”! As a participant though, my first real musical experience that I remember was performing in my high school choir in our first Christmas concert, my parents were extremely proud.

Who has been your biggest influence?
Even though she died when I was fifteen, I would have to say my mother, for her positive outlook and the kindness she always showed to everyone and anyone.

Do you enjoy practising or find it a chore?
As a burgeoning musician at school I used to love practicing, though our neighbours and my younger brothers used to have a different response to the amount I used to do. If it’s done properly, it’s never a chore, it can be hard work, but it is always ultimately rewarding.

Were your parents musical?
My father wasn’t no, my mother did have piano lessons as a girl though I never heard her play. My grandfather (on my mother’s side) was a very big fan of opera, the music of Verdi and Puccini in particular and at one time he had an extensive collection of 78rpm records.

What piece of music do you most enjoy playing?
Contest Music by Wilfred Heaton is my all-time favourite piece of music for brass band.

What’s the best and worst things about performing?
The best thing about performing is seeing the joy and pleasure that you give to audience members, being able to share wonderful musical experiences with them. The worst thing about performing for me is that I do suffer from cold sores, when one decides to erupt, they make it very difficult and sometimes almost impossible to be able to play, never mind play to the ability that you are normally able, it’s the frustration and powerlessness of effectively being prevented being able to perform to your normal standard.

What can the audience expect from a performance by Black Dyke Band?
Exceptionally high standard of musicality, a wide variety of music, thoroughly enjoyable entertainment. At the end of the night, they will be wishing that they could just hit a replay button and experience the concert all over again.

Please tell us a little bit about how you came into being a composer.
I studied music at undergraduate and postgraduate levels in both the UK and the USA. Musicology was a key subject of focus that fascinated me, I took every chance I could to discover how and why composers wrote their music, and looked at the style, instrumentation, structure, cultural perspective, purpose and timeline in which it was written. Across my portfolio career I have spent time teaching and exploring the process of composition at GCSE and A Level as well as writing and arranging music for talented groups of young people. The interest in composition grew from here and opportunities for this have increased over time…

Who and what are your musical inspirations and how have they influenced Autumn?
My inspiration for Autumn comes from the hurricane season in the Caribbean, where nature is a powerful force that can move from being a calm, blissful tropical setting to something that changes quickly, gathering momentum, with air currents moving towards becoming a full blown hurricane and storm.

Autumn is a time of change, and I’m thinking of the Windrush Generation who came to the UK and made crucial and indispensable contributions to life in the UK. Many of them have passed on and this brings to the generation after them a time of change and adjustment.

I’ve been thinking about the science of how currents circulate and gather momentum to create a storm. Consequently, in the first and third movements there are lots of circular themes that evoke the joy and the calm of a tropical setting or which gather momentum in certain places to simulate the way in which air currents mobilise to create a storm.

The middle movement starts with a bass motif (borrowed from a theme near the end of the first movement) which is overlaid with dissonant harmonies, which is later joined by a plaintive melody, setting the mood for the dark and sad reflections on the aftermath of a storm.

How does it feel being back in Leeds with a world premiere of this significance?
It’s wonderful to have this opportunity to participate in a cultural event in Leeds after spending my formative years in the city, it’s a great cultural centre.

What are you most looking forward to about hearing Autumn performed live in concert for the first time?
Hearing violin soloist Ellinor D’Melon interacting with steel pan player Leon Foster Thomas and the Manchester Camerata orchestra to create a vibrant, expressive and musically imaginative interpretation of the score.

What would be the five pieces of music, book and luxury you’d take to a desert island with you?

The five pieces of music I’d take with me would be:
– JS Bach’s Cantata No 51, Jauchzet Gott in Allen Landen, BWV 51, performed by Kathleen Battle, Wynton Marsalis and the Orchestra of St Luke’s, conducted by John Nelson.

– Gregory Porter’s Painted on Canvas, performed with the Metropole Orchestra.

– Arturo Márquez’s Danzón No 2 performed by Orquesta Sinfónica Simón Bolívar and conductor Gustavo Dudamel.

– Valerie Coleman’s Umoja performed by Imani Winds.

– Afro Cuban All Stars’ Amor Verdadero.

The book I’d take would be Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory: The Life of Rosa Parks by Douglas Brinkley, and my luxury item would be a very fine digital radio so I could listen to music and all that’s going on in the world.

Please tell us a little bit about how you came into being a composer, songwriter and music producer.
I’ve always been interested in how things work, why certain elements connect seamlessly, and why others don’t. The more I listened to music and experienced live performances, the more my interest in the creation process developed.

Who and what are your musical inspirations and how have they influenced The Last Summer?
Quincy Jones, Earth Wind & Fire, Stevie Wonder, and James Brown are a few of my inspirations, although you won’t really hear them in The Last Summer. My influence for this piece comes directly from the culture and the people of the Caribbean, and particularly by the passing of my grandfather on 25 November 2022.

My grandfather’s transition revealed a truth that I’d not considered before this experience, that many members of the Windrush generation are approaching the age where they’re experiencing their last summers, and eventually, this will be the end of an era. For this reason, I chose to write The Last Summer as a collection of my grandfather’s memories and experiences of finding his feet, and “building a foundation of his own” in England.

It’s also dedicated to the people of the Caribbean, the men and women who came to the United Kingdom to help rebuild its economy and shape new dreams for themselves.

What are you most looking forward to about hearing The Last Summer performed live in concert for the first time?
Experiencing it as an audience member and not as a composer.

What would be the five pieces of music, book and luxury you’d take to a desert island with you?
I don’t need much, if I was on a desert island, I’d just kick back and chill.

How long have you played with Fairey Band and what position do you currently hold?
I joined Fairey in 2021 during lockdown and I play the soprano cornet.

What’s the best thing about playing in a brass band?
My favourite thing about playing in a brass band is the sense of community. As well as making good music, performing and travelling, the best thing is spending time with good people and good musicians.

What’s your highlight so far with Fairey Band?
So far my highlights with Fairey Band have been my first nationals in 2021 and performing at the AO Arena for the Queen’s Jubilee.

How did you get involved with playing a brass instrument?
I got involved with brass playing through my brother and sister who were taught through Rochdale Music Service. After always believing I never wanted to play an instrument to instead play football, I soon realised I wasn’t very good at football so I decided to learn the cornet and haven’t looked back since.

What was your earliest musical experience?
My earliest musical experience was playing at Symphony Hall, Birmingham with my local junior band at Music for Youth. But the most memorable experience was playing Joy Webb’s Share My Yoke at a school talent show when I was nine years old.

Who has been your biggest influence?
I have been lucky enough to be involved with organisations such as the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, the National Youth Band of Switzerland and the European Youth Band. I’ve met some of the best musicians from all around the world with some amazing guest soloists. My biggest influences for playing soprano cornet are Peter Roberts and Alan Wycherley. The power of Peter Roberts makes every soprano player jealous, but there’s nothing more impressive than Alan Wycherley’s slow playing.

Do you enjoy practising or find it a chore?
I don’t find practicing a chore due to wanting to become the best. It gets difficult to find motivation on some days and I might not feel great about my playing, but it’s important to find the end goal and push myself as much as I can.

Were your parents musical?
My parents aren’t musical but my grandpa played drums for a jazz band and my grandad played the organ at his local church. Although my mum was always the “taxi”, she’s started learning the baritone at our local training band.

What piece of music do you most enjoy playing?
I’ve been very fortunate to play a wide range of repertoire. My favourite test piece has to be Sand and Stars from the 2023 British Open, but as a concert piece it would be Astor Piazzolla’s set from Brighouse and Rastrick Band’s 2022 Brass In Concert programme. I was lucky enough to play this with the National Youth Band of Switzerland.

What’s the best and worst things about performing?
The best thing about performing is the reward at the end of it. Because we spend so long preparing and working hard for pieces, the reward of being able to perform it and hear the audiences reaction is always worthwhile. The worst thing about performing is my nerves. Due to being on soprano, it’s one of the hardest and worst exposed instruments. I feel the pressure more playing soprano because the mistakes are more noticeable. The way I combat my performance anxiety is just by working harder.

What can the audience expect from a performance by Fairey Band?
The audience can expect a fantastic programme with some of the best soloists in the country.

How long have you played with Hammonds Band and what position do you currently hold?
I have played soprano cornet with Hammonds since December 2021.

What’s the best thing about playing in a brass band?
The fellowship and friendship of a closely bonded team all striving for the same goals and levels of expertise.

What’s your highlight so far with Hammonds Band?
The French Open trip was very eventful and memorable in more ways than one, not least becoming French Open Champions.

How did you get involved with playing a brass instrument?
My father was a semi-pro trumpet player and taught me how to play, firstly on trumpet and then cornet.

What was your earliest musical experience?
At eight years old I played in the Ryedale Music Festival Brass Solo Competition and won, but had to settle for second place because the adjudicator made a mistake in reading the results.

Who has been your biggest influence?
After my father, Harry James was my favourite trumpet player, and James Shepherd was my idol as a cornet player. I used to listen intently to both and try to play along with them.

Do you enjoy practising or find it a chore?
When I was young I couldn’t put it down. As a pro musician it became necessary work, but now I just play for enjoyment, so if I don’t fancy it, I don’t do it.

Were your parents musical?
You know about my father, my mother was totally non-musical but developed a very keen ear and knew what was good and not so good.

What piece of music do you most enjoy playing?
The test-piece we are working on at the time? It becomes all consuming, until the next one!

What are the best and worst things about performing?
The buzz of performing live in concert and on a contest stage. Brass bands are unique in their quest for absolute perfection in a contest performance and the challenge is often exciting but sometimes frustrating.

What can audiences expect from a performance by Hammonds Band?
Something different played to a high standard. Our repertoire explores pieces of music not normally played by other bands, some which have been discarded in the past, forgotten about, or lost. Many of these pieces are absolute gems and deserve to be heard again and played well.