Boarshurst Bandroom Concert Opportunities
The famous Boarshurst Band Club in Greenfield, Saddleworth, warmly invites brass bands to perform concerts as part of the weekly 'Sunday Brass' programme.
Several dates are available from the beginning of March through to the end of the year. Our concerts are from 8 'til 10pm, £2-£3 on the door with a raffle. We will advertise your concert in the local press and via the Boarshurst Band website and Facebook, along with posters in the local area. All door receipts and proceeds from the raffle will go directly to the performing band.
This is a great opportunity for your band to play in one of the countries longest established band rooms, steeped in brass band tradition.
Please make your enquiries to John Whittle (Boarshurst Silver Band) on 07840 540 231 or email boarshurst.events@yahoo.co.uk

Nelson Brass Are Looking for New Players
Please go to our ''Players Wanted' Page for more information.

NWABBA Handbook 2012
By now all of our member bands should have received their copy of the new NWABBA. Handbook
We hope that you have had time ot have a quick read through.  It is full of useful information that should come in useful for your band.  We try to keep the forms available up-to-date on the website.
Please keep the Handbook safe and pass it on if your job is taken over by someone else. 
There are two up-dates - please alter them in your book.
Section A Page 2 - The telephone number for our Treasurer should read 01706 843169

Band Contacts List - The telephone number for Steve Newcombe of Farnworth & Walkden Band has changed to 01204 571506. 

Butlins Championships

The NWABBA offer sincere congratulations to its member bands on their success at the recent Butlins Championships. 

Section Two Champions are Mossley Band, with Uppermill in 2nd place and Haslingden & Helmshore in 4th.

Section Three Champions are Boarshurst Band, with Whitworth Vale & Healey in 4th.

Section Four saw Greenfield Band take 2nd place.

Well done to them all.

Buxton Adjudicators Announced
Adjudicators for the Buxton Contest to be held on 29th April will be John Berryman and Steve Pritchard-Jones.  The sections they will be judging will only be announced close to the date.
Entry Forms are available for downloading from our Download page.

New Mills Band Celebrate 200 Years

2012 will be a very special year for New Mills Band.  This year they will celebrate 200 years of continuous existence.  To help the celebrations, they will be joining with near neighbours Thornsett Brass and Chapel-en-le-Frith Town Band for a day of music and fun on Saturday, 30th June. The Fairey Band will join them to make the day complete.  (see the full details on our Band Events page.
To tell the story of those two hundred years, a book will be published, with its launch at New Mills Town Hall on Friday, 24th February at 7.45 p.m.
Our very best wishes to New Mills Band for many more years of music making.

Cadishead Band MD retires.

After 37 years as Musical Director of the Cadishead Public Band, Roy Hesford retired from the post at the Band's recent Christmas Concert held at Irlam Catholic Club on the 10th December.    Roy was presented with a Carriage Clock and a Waterford Crystal Photo Frame, along with a framed Citation and Photograph of the Band, by the Band Chairman, Tony Sanderson and the Vice-Chairman Ken Whitworth.   Roy's wife and daughter were present on this special occasion and his wife, Rita, was presented with a bouquet by the Band's Supporters Group Chairman, Mrs. Christine Hudson.     Roy thanked the Band for all the years he had enjoyed being their MD and wished them well for the future and said he would watch their progress with great interest.  Roy is a Life Member of the Band and has also marked both his 50 and 60 years in banding whilst being with Cadishead Band.    The Band wish Roy a long and happy retirement and look forward to seeing him from time to time.

We are delighted to announce that Malcolm Brownbill has agreed to become our President.  Malcolm was a close associate of our late President Roy Newsome.  We are sure that Roy would be pleased with our choice of his successor.
For more than 40 years.Malcolm has been a a strong supporter of bands in the North West.
He started his banding career in the Salvation Army at Prescot, which introduced him to the thrill of both solo and ensemble performance from an early age.  An experience he now views as invaluable to his musical career.

Malcolm widened his experience with continued study, which included performance and the conducting of brass and military bands, as well as orchestral and choral work.

As a police officer, he completed over 20 years as Musical Director of The Merseyside Police Military Band, which involved organising and directing many prestigious engagements. He has also been involved with Wingates, Rochdale, Wilson’s, Cory and Laporte Industries bands, and has guided and coached several Lower Section bands to the Championship Section, conducting many bands to victory.

Malcolm Brownbill is also actively involved in teaching piano and brass, as well as in the field of adjudication throughout Europe and the UK, having judged at Championship Section Final in London’s Royal Albert Hall and at Symphony Hall, Birmingham. He says he takes great pride in being a Council member of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain and holds the position of Public Relations Officer for the Association of Brass Band Adjudicators.

After reviewing a short list of possible candidates for the office the Executive Committee voted in favour of Malcolm's appointment because of his integrity and devotion to our banding movement.  We look forward to working with him in the future.

Buxton Brass Band Festival Date Change

Following a booking error by the venue, the Buxton Brass Band Contest will now take place on Sunday 29th April.  (This is one week before the normal May Day Bank Holiday weekend).
Details, rules and entry form can be down loaded from our 'download' page.
The Contest is an 'own choice test piece' contest
There are 4 Sections
Championship-First   Second  Third  Fourth Sections
Venue The Octagon, Pavilion Gardens, St. John Road, Buxton.
Full details, rules and entry form can be down loaded from our 'Download' page.

Brass the Baton
Brass The Baton is an exciting new project for 2012 designed to increase participation in the Brass Band Music art form on an unprecedented scale never attempted before from a single event. It provides a unique opportunity for brass musicians, and conductors, of all ages, to perform a new music commission as part of a high profile, high quality, nationwide celebration of brass band music making for the 2012 Cultural Olympiad.
Brass The Baton is basically a relay race involving 5 conductor’s batons, each representing one of the 5 Olympic rings and coloured accordingly. Starting in Europe in May at the prestigious European Brass Band Championships each of the 5 batons will be passed by participating Brass Bands / Ensembles across the UK and Internationally, until they reach their final destination:- the London 2012 Festival in July.
For more information go to our 'Events'  then the Brass the Baton page.

St George's Day Parade 2012 

Bands wanted. Please go to our 'Bands Wanted' page for further details.

Want to Communicate With Us?

You can use our email contact or we now have a link with the new brass band community site www.mad4bb.com 

Just go to the website and sign in - look for the list of members - you will find the NWABBA listed - join our list of members.

A New Social Network Website for Brass Bands

Terry Luddington, the new Liaison Officer of the BFBB has launched a new website based on the Twitter Network.

Bands can register and have a band page which is private to them.  They can post comments and follow a particular discussion thread.

The site is free of charge and your band does not have to be members of the BFBB to take part.

Why not have a look for yourself at www.mad4bb.com 

Vetting and Baring Scheme

The Government has halted the introduction of the new Vetting and Barring Scheme and will review it to see if it needs amending in line with its policy of looking at new legislation to see if it is necessary.

You will still need to get CRB Checks for your band members working with young people or vulnerable adults in the mean time.

NWABBA Member Bands' Links

If you would like an email and/or your band website link put in our listing, please send the information into us by the 'CONTACT US' link

NWABBA Member Bands

Have You Looked at our Bands Wanted Page?

We get regular requests from event organisers wanting bands.  We post all requests on our Bands Wanted page.  Make sure you visit the page.  It may be to your band's advantage.

Want to advertise your events, items for sale, missing equipment?  Let us have your information and we will be happy to post it on the web site. 

   

    NWABBA Unveils New

    Long Service Medal

Following requests from our member bands, the NWABBA have had a special medal struck to celebrate long service.

The medal is gold plated, with bars on which details of the service may be engraved.

Requests for the award may be made on behalf of NWABBA band members who have served for a minimum of 50 years.

A request form is available on our 'downloads' page or in your band's 'Band Administration Handbook'.

Please allow a minimum of two weeks for your request to be fulfilled..