Funding Boost for Brass In Concert

The organisers of the Brass in Concert Festival, to be held at Sage Gateshead on the weekend of 18-19 November in association with Yamaha, Banks Group and British Bandsman, have announced significant funding boosts ahead of this year’s event.

The additional funding, from Arts Council England’s Grants for the Arts scheme, the Sir James Knott Trust, the Joicey Trust, the Barber Foundation and the William Leech Charity, will underpin the fringe events at Sage Gateshead.

Speaking on behalf of the event’s organising team, John Woods expressed his delight, telling A4B: “We have this year launched a concerted effort to secure the additional funding required to secure the financial future of this event, which as this year’s line-up confirms, is of great importance within the world of brass bands. The outcome really does demonstrate to the brass banding community that funding opportunities are available, particularly when a coordinated and collaborative approach is taken. We would like to thank the executives and trustees of Arts Council England, the Sir James Knott Trust, the Joicey Trust, the Barber Foundation and the William Leech Charity for their considerable contributions and look forward to presenting what are sure will be yet another phenomenally successful Brass in Concert Festival in 2017.”

The Brass in Concert organising team has also announced that it is to host a concert by Grimethorpe Colliery Band to celebrate the centenary of the most successful band in the 40-year history of the leading entertainment contest.

Revealing details of the event, Brass in Concert Chairman John Woods commented: “For some time it has been our intention to expand the Brass in Concert Festival’s activities and the centenary of the most successful band in the event’s history, with 16 victories since 1977, seems like an ideal reason to start.” John Woods continued: “With support from Banks Group, a longstanding sponsor of Brass in Concert, we will present Grimethorpe Colliery in Concert at Durham Cathedral at 7.30pm on Saturday 14 April. 2018. Grimethorpe will play a varied and entertaining programme, also featuring its outstanding soloists. Full programme details will be released prior to the concert, but it promises to be an unforgettable event that will have great appeal to the banding community in the north of England and beyond.”

Looking ahead to future events of this type John Woods concluded: “This is the first in what we anticipate will be an ongoing series of events around the country, featuring bands that have been supporters of the Brass in Concert Championships over the years. Banding culture in the north of England has benefitted greatly from the existence of Brass in Concert, but we recognise the multi-faceted benefits of spreading our wings and taking the very best of banding entertainment to new places.”

Tickets for World of Brass in Concert on Saturday 18 November, featuring Brass and Voices at the Movies with Cory Band and Only Men Aloud (priced £27.00, £18.00 and £10.00) and the Brass in Concert Championship on Sunday 19 November (£30.00, £22.00 and £12.00), are available at www.sagegateshead.com or from the Ticket Office on 0191 443 4661.