It’s time to take a deep dive into one of the most defining aspects of brass band culture — its music!

In this episode, Kenny & Sarah explore how commissioning and composition have shaped the sound of banding for over a century, from the historic Labour and Love in 1913 to today’s bold new works. The conversation traces how that commissioning culture built the very foundations of brass band repertoire, and why keeping it alive is vital for the future.

Kenny recalls the golden era of the 1970s and 80s when every new contest brought another unforgettable work — Cloudcatcher Fells, Harmony Music, Contest Music — each pushing players and audiences alike. But are today’s contests and, of course, bands more generally, doing enough to commission new works that match that same spirit of adventure?

We’ve got a fascinating conversation with decorated composer Gavin Higgins (winner of a Royal Philharmonic Society Award, Sky Arts Award, Critics Circle Award and two Ivor Novello Awards), whose acclaimed works such as So Spoke Albion and Destroy, Trample, as Swiftly as She have redefined modern brass band writing. Gavin speaks passionately about why brass bands must champion living composers, arguing that without new music, “we just become a museum”. He also reflects on his long-standing collaboration with Tredegar Band, his experiences at the Proms, and how the brass band world can and should open its doors wider to diverse voices and bold ideas, particularly those from outside the brass banding world.

Sarah speaks with emerging composer Naomi Hill, whose thoughtful insights as both an educator and a writer highlight the challenges, but also the hopes, of young musicians breaking into the scene. Naomi discusses what inspired her to compose, the importance of normalising composition for young learners, and shares an idea about how we might make it easier for bands and composers to connect.

For more information, visit our website at https://www.bbe.org.uk and follow us on social media. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star review and share your favourite moments using the hashtag #BrassBandPodcast.

Thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Arts Council England and Youth Music for their support. To hear any of the tracks played in this series in full, head to www.wobplay.com.

Hosts: Kenny Crookston & Sarah Baumann (CEO & COO, Brass Bands England)

Episode Guests:

• Gavin Higgins (Composer)
• Naomi Hill (Composer & Educator, Conductor of Elland Starter Band)

Music Featured (Courtesy of World of Brass):

• So Spoke Albion (Gavin Higgins), Tredegar Town Band

Podcast Producer: Peter Baumann

This special episode captures one of the standout sessions from the recent Brass Band Conference — The Next Generation of Brass Band Leaders. Hosted by Katrina Marzella-Wheeler at Redhills Durham Miners Hall, the panel brings together four remarkable young voices shaping the future of brass banding: composer Franklin Onyeso, content creator and writer Liv Richardson, fundraiser and band manager Gregor Spence, and conductor-composer Daniel Hall. Together, they tackle one of the most vital questions in banding — how can we empower the next generation of leaders to take the stage, the stand, and the strategy room with confidence?

From age bias and mentorship to modernising contests and harnessing the power of social media, the conversation brims with honesty and insight.

Back in the studio, hosts Sarah Baumann and Kenny Crookston reflect on the conference’s highlights — from Martin Green’s stirring keynote to the Flowers Band’s creative workshop — and pay tribute to the late Duncan Beckley MBE, a true pioneer of brass banding. And if all that’s not enough, we’ve got a MAJOR update on Sarah’s banding progress!

This episode reminds that tradition and innovation aren’t opposites but partners in progress. We hope you find it an inspiring listen that celebrates the passion, talent, and determination shaping the next chapter of the brass band world.

For more information, visit our website at https://www.bbe.org.uk and follow us on social media. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star review and share your favourite moments using the hashtag #BrassBandPodcast.

Thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Arts Council England and Youth Music for their support. To hear any of the tracks played in this series in full, head to www.wobplay.com.

Hosts: Kenny Crookston & Sarah Baumann (CEO & COO, Brass Bands England)

Episode Guests:

• Katrina Marzella-Wheeler (Conductor)
• Franklin Onyeso (Composer, Conductor and Pianist)
• Liv Richardson (Content Creator, Writer at It’s Not A Trumpet, Digital Marketing Specialist & Brass Band Musician)
• Gregor Spence (Band Manager of The Flowers Band)
• Daniel Hall (Professional Composer, Arranger and Conductor)

Podcast Producer: Peter Baumann

We promised you updates on Sarah’s cornet-playing challenge… and here’s a quick one!

This time on The Brass Band Podcast, Sarah Baumann and Kenny Crookston are joined by a very special guest: Dr Anita Collins – a globally respected music educator, researcher and advocate. Known for her TED Talk What If Every Child Had Music Education From Birth?, Anita brings decades of expertise on how music-making transforms the brain.

Brass banding is so much more than notes on a page. Sarah and Kenny reflect on their own music education journeys. From Kenny’s start in the 1970s to Sarah’s more ‘traditional’ route, both explore how learning an instrument shaped not only their musicianship but also their outlook on life. Together, they consider the intergenerational nature of brass bands – from children sitting beside seasoned players, to parents rediscovering music alongside their own kids – and the powerful sense of community this fosters.

Anita then takes listeners deep into the science. She explains how playing an instrument physically reshapes the brain, boosting language skills, executive function, memory, resilience and social connection. From the way brass players’ heartbeats synchronise when breathing together, to the fascinating hidden link between music and surgical dexterity, this episode will change the way you think about practice and performance.

The episode also tackles advocacy: how to persuade schools, parents and communities that music isn’t a luxury, but a necessity. Anita shares real-world stories of schools using music to improve academic results, and medical faculties urging future surgeons to pick up an instrument.

This one is packed full of essential tips and tools for musicians, students, teachers, parents and guardians alike!

For more information, visit our website at https://www.bbe.org.uk and follow us on social media. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star review and share your favourite moments using the hashtag #BrassBandPodcast.

Thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Arts Council England and Youth Music for their support. To hear any of the tracks played in this episode in full, head to www.wobplay.com.

Hosts: Kenny Crookston & Sarah Baumann (CEO & COO, Brass Bands England)

Episode Guests:

• Dr Anita Collins
• Sheila Allen (Brass Foundations Programme Manager)

Music Featured (Courtesy of World of Brass):

• A Gabrielli Fantasy (Bert Appermont), Brass Band Treize Etoiles

Podcast Producer: Peter Baumann

We’re back for Series Two! Kenny Crookston and Sarah Baumann are back in the studio after a whirlwind year that included a buzzing Brass Band Conference in London, a record-breaking Youth Champs in Hull, and, of course, a vibrant Youth Fest in North London. This series is all about The Next Generation — new voices, new music, and the future we can all build together. We’re also sharing clips from living composers throughout the series, thanks to our friends at World of Brass.

Our guests for this episode are Richard Wilton and Craig Brown from Shepherd Brass Band in York — a standout example of how to grow an organisation that truly includes everyone. From a senior band with just 13 players 15 years ago to an ecosystem catering for over 200 musicians today, their story is full of practical graft and proper community spirit. We chat about youth pathways, adult learners finding their place, partnerships with local music services, and the little decisions that make a big difference. They also talk about the role of organisations like UniBrass, which give young people opportunities to organise and lead brass banding activities, the challenges of constant player changeover, and they share their secrets to success, the innovative ways they work, and their high hopes for a “fantastically brassy” future.

There’s plenty on the changing culture of contesting too — costs, purpose, and what “success” looks like in 2025 — alongside a celebration of what Shepherd’s do so well: concerts that pack the room, projects with real social impact, and those crowd-pleasing film events (Wallace & Gromit and The Snowman). The Shepherd Youth Band’s recent win at the BBE Youth Champs gets a proud mention, as does their upcoming appearance at Youth Brass in Concert at The Glasshouse.

We also set the scene for what’s coming up across BBE: our youth-led conference in Durham on 27 September — free tickets for under-23s and a travel bursary to help you get there — with a programme focused on the next generation of brass band leaders. And yes, Sarah has agreed to a forfeit if the cornet practice doesn’t happen… if that’s not an incentive to keep listening for the grand finale, we don’t know what is!

For more information, visit our website at https://www.bbe.org.uk and follow us on social media. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star review and share your favourite moments using the hashtag #BrassBandPodcast.

Thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Arts Council England and Youth Music for their support. To hear any of the tracks played in this episode in full, head to www.wobplay.com.

Hosts: Kenny Crookston & Sarah Baumann (CEO & COO, Brass Bands England)

Episode Guests:

• Richard Wilton and Craig Brown (Shepherd Brass Band)

Music Featured (Courtesy of World of Brass):

• Firefly (Simon Dobson), Foden’s Youth Band

Podcast Producer: Peter Baumann

That's right — the Brass Band Podcast is back!

Series 2 — The Next Generation — will explore how brass bands are evolving and highlight the role young voices, new leaders, and fresh ideas will play in shaping the movement for years to come.

Hosted by Kenny Crookston and Sarah Baumann, produced by Brass Bands England, and kindly supported by Arts Council England, Youth Music, and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, this new five-part series launches on 11 September 2025.

Follow now so you don’t miss an episode!

Politics and brass bands have been intertwined since the earliest days of banding, from the industrial roots of colliery and works bands to modern debates over funding and public perception.

Starting with the formation of early brass bands by industrialists, hosts Sarah Baumann and Kenny Crookston dive into how bands were used as tools for advertising, community morale, and even social control. They trace the impact of political shifts, like the decline of industry and the miners’ strikes, which marked the beginning of the end for many colliery bands. The episode reveals how band names evolved alongside their sponsors and how bands have navigated shifting political landscapes from the Victorian era to today.

Guests include David Hirst, who shares his deep knowledge of Black Dyke’s industrial heritage, and journalist Iwan Fox, who discusses the crucial but often contentious role that politics plays in banding today. Iwan reflects on the changing landscape, from funding battles to the influence of popular culture, and Tredegar Town Band’s involvement in the film Pride. He also highlights the ongoing political power that bands can wield when they engage effectively with their communities and policymakers.

We also hear from Hannah Beach, a young trustee of Brass Bands England, who offers a fresh perspective on how brass bands have maintained their resilience through eras of political change, and how they can continue to thrive by embracing their community roots.

Packed with expert insights, rare archival finds, and thought-provoking conversations, this episode paints a vivid picture of brass bands’ political past and their fight for a sustainable future.

For more information, visit our website at https://www.bbe.org.uk and follow us on social media. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star review and share your favourite moments using the hashtag #BrassBandPodcast.

To explore the Brass Bands Archive, visit www.brassbandsarchive.com

Thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Arts Council England and the Scottish Power Foundation for their support. To hear any of the tracks played in this episode in full, head to www.wobplay.com.

Hosts: Kenny Crookston & Sarah Baumann (CEO & COO, Brass Bands England)

Episode Guests:

• David Hirst (formerly of Black Dyke Band)
• Iwan Fox (historian and journalist, editor at 4BarsRest.com, Tredegar Town Band)
• Hannah Beech (Trustee, Brass Bands England)

Music Featured (Courtesy of World of Brass):

• B.B. & C.F. (James Ord Hume), Grimethorpe Colliery (UK Coal) Band, from The History of Brass Band Music: The Early Years

Podcast Producer: Peter Baumann