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Thursday, 23 October, 2025
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