RNCM Festival of Brass 2017
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RNCM Festival of Brass 2017
Jan. 27 - 29, 2017
Royal Northern College of Music, 124 Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9RD.
The RNCM Brass Band Festival is the only place to see all of Britain’s top brass bands in a non-competitive environment, including the current National, Open and European Champions. This year, we welcome six of the foremost bands in the land, who will be joined by world-class soloists plus outstanding student bands from the RNCM and the Junior RNCM. We’re also delighted to welcome the James Madison University Brass Band, who hail from Virginia, USA, for a rare UK visit. With trumpeter Rex Richardson and conductor James Gourlay also making the trip from the USA to appear at the Festival, the main theme of the weekend explores the musical connections between the UK and the USA, including many brass band originals and new arrangements.
To make our American visitors feel right at home, the main artistic theme this year is the musical connections between the UK and USA. You’ll be able to hear new brass band arrangements of pieces by classical composers who have links to the US. And for the Festival finale, the Cory Band will join forces with the James Madison musicians to play a Sousa march.
This year’s other themes include a retrospective of the work of Martin Ellerby - who celebrates his 60th birthday in 2017 - including a rare performance of his Cabaret Concerto, one of only four piano concertos written for brass band. We also celebrate Howard Snell’s 80th birthday and the Grimethorpe Colliery Band’s 100th anniversary.
Each year the RNCM Brass Band Festival presents a number of significant premières and 2017 is no exception as we feature eight world and five UK premières.
We’re very excited about this year’s Transatlantic extravaganza and look forward to welcoming you to share the experience!
Click here for more details.
Click here to download the itinerary.