BBCA Past Events
Brass Band Conductor supported by the BBCA 2023
Read on to find out about this new award.
Wychavon Festival of Brass
BBCA were pleased to be represented at the Wychavon Festival of Brass in Evesham on 29th October 2023, with members of the exec running a trade stand. We're always keen to meet members or those interested in taking up the baton for a chat.
BBCA at the Brass Band Conference 2022
The BBCA was pleased to be represented at the Brass Band Conference on 22nd October at the LifeCentre, Sale, Greater Manchester. Chair James Holt, John Fricker and other Exec members were there to meet delegates and promote the BBCA.
BBCA Conducting Competition winner conducts Foden's
The BBCA 2022 Conducting competition winner Boris Oppliger conducted Foden's at their concert at Regent Hall on the eve of the Nationals. Boris was also invited to assist Foden's conductor and BBCA President Russell Gray in their contest preparations. Read the full article
BBCA flagship Conducting Competition
Brass Band Conductors' Association was delighted that its 'live' flagship conducting competition in 2022 returned to Eccles Town Hall on 18th June. The standard of conducting was extremely high, and the BBCA are thrilled to announce the winners:
1st place - Boris Oppliger
2nd place & highest-placed UK Entrant - Jack Capstaff
3rd place - Emil Björklund
Boris Oppliger was presented with the Roy Newsome Conductors Shield, a £200 cash prize and a year’s free membership of BBCA. As part of his prize Boris was invited to conduct the Foden's Band at the Regent Hall, London on 14th October and assist President Russell Gray with the band's preparation for the contest. Read the full article.
BBCA AGM 2022
This year's AGM was held on zoom on Saturday 16th July 2022 at 10am. We are pleased to welcome Jack Capstaff as the new Public Relations Officer.
Youth Champs 2022 Wand Workshop
BBCA's John Fricker helping budding young conductors.
Over 100 young brass players taking part in this year’s National Youth Brass Band Championships of Great Britain (Youth Champs) waved their conducting wands enthusiastically in front of the British Army Band Tidworth playing Grieg's 'In the Hall of the Mountain King' at this recent event. With professional guidance from the Brass Band Conductors’ Association's James Holt, John Fricker and Tom Hancock, the budding conductors learned their magic patterns and words and put them to effect to produce amazing results!
The two workshops led by the BBCA were the first to be held at a Youth Champs event. BBCA Chair James Holt commented “It was a superb event, and the Association are thankful to the organisers, Brass Bands England, for the chance to be involved. The way the young musicians engaged with the opportunity to conduct was incredible. They offered some insightful comments and really demonstrated some fantastic abilities. My thanks to the British Army Band Tidworth for providing such excellent musicians for the event. I look forward to future events to deliver conducting workshops in the future”
Audience member, Carol Porter said "We loved the conducting workshop! A totally magical experience for all involved. It was amazing watching so many youngsters learning skills in conducting and gaining a more in-depth understanding of what their conductor might be asking for. Bravo and thank you to all involved."
BBCA Conductors' Drop-in at Butlin's Skegness
The BBCA invited conductors to their drop-in at the Butlin's Open Festival weekend in January 2022, as an opportunity to meet members of the exec in person and find out more about BBCA activities. Here are executive members Rosie Banham, John Clay, Jane Clay and Alex Parker.