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Sunday, 24 August, 2025
The organisers of the Brass in Concert Championships have announced important changes to the governance of the leading entertainment contest.
Strengthening ties with Brass Bands England (BBE), which has been the main delivery partner since 2021, the Brass in Concert Board will now comprise four directors linked to BBE. The new members are BBE Chairman Mike Kilroy, BBE CEO Kenny Crookston and BBE COO Sarah Baumann, who join incumbent Brass in Concert CEO Nigel Stevens on the board. Together they bring huge experience and have a clear vision for the event’s robustness and future sustainability. Importantly, BBE and BiC will remain separate organisations, each retaining their own charitable status and operating as independently funded entities.
Retiring Brass in Concert Chairman, Paul Beere, said: “Alongside our sponsors Yamaha and Banks Group, and principal partner World of Brass, we’re hugely grateful to Brass Bands England for their professional delivery of Brass in Concert in recent years. Their involvement has been key to the event’s development over the last five years, and as we approach our 50th anniversary in 2027, it’s reassuring to know the future of this vital brass band event is in such safe hands.”
Paul, whose father Cyril Beere was one of Brass in Concert’s founders, added: “I want to thank everyone who has helped make Brass in Concert a success since it began in 1977. This event has always aimed to be brass banding’s most friendly and enjoyable competition. Thanks to BBE’s expertise and management, we have enjoyed remarkable growth in recent years, and solidifying this relationship is the best way to ensure that Brass in Concert continues to thrive into the future.”
BBE and new Brass in Concert Chairman Mike Kilroy commented: “This is a significant moment in Brass in Concert’s history. We honour the amazing contribution of everyone involved over the years, including Cyril Beere, David Bennett, Peter Hartley, Dr. Roy Newsome, Paul Beere and his late wife Jackie. We also want to recognise Trevor Caffull, whose partnership with Paul Beere was vital in bringing Brass in Concert to the Glasshouse in 2005 and who remains closely linked through World of Brass. Brass in Concert’s impact on brass band culture over nearly five decades is immense, and its ongoing success is vital for the future health of the brass band community. BBE’s involvement in recent years has brought positive progress, and we’re honoured that the previous board has entrusted us with the future of this great event.”
Mike added: “Brass in Concert will not look or feel any different to the audience members, performers, volunteers, traders or sponsors. The focus on core values will remain firmly in place and we will provide a welcoming, friendly and relaxed environment for everyone as always. Operationally, it will be ‘business as usual.’ Retiring Treasurer Marie Bedford and board member Hugh Stephenson will remain involved in advisory roles on the BiC delivery working group, and we look forward to working with them over the coming years. Jess Wilson, BBE’s Events Manager, will continue leading operations, working closely with participants, partners and volunteers to deliver a fantastic occasion. The 2025 Brass in Concert ticket sales are once again at record levels and we encourage anyone wishing to attend to book very soon via the Glasshouse Box Office.”
Presented in association with Yamaha, Banks Group, and World of Brass, the Brass in Concert Championship taking place at the Glasshouse International Centre for Music on the weekend of 15-16 November 2025, will feature 11 leading bands competing for the largest single-event prize fund in the brass band world, performing entertaining programmes of 20-25 minutes each. Proceedings begin at 11:00am on Saturday 15 November and run until about 8:00pm, followed by a results party with live music and celebrations on the Glasshouse Concourse. On the Sunday, Youth Brass in Concert will showcase seven top youth brass bands in what has become one of the most uplifting events on the brass band calendar.
Tickets for both contests are available via the Glasshouse website.