News | Monday, 2 February, 2025

Join Brass Bands England and expert guest for a special one-off webinar.

The weeks before the Area Contests is a stressful time, even more so when compounded with performance anxiety. To provide support for players during this time, Brass Bands England (BBE) are hosting a free-for-members webinar on Thursday 12 February at 7pm.

Led by special guest Dr Michael Bonshor, who has previously performed as a brass musician and has published widely on banding and wellbeing, Tackling Performance Anxiety will explore why performance anxiety affects so many musicians and the steps musicians can take to manage it. He will be joined by BBE’s Fundraising Service and Development Manager, Beth Lambert, with time built in at the end of the session for questions.

On the webinar, Dr Michael Bonshor commented:

“Some level of performance-related anxiety is a common experience for most musicians and can become a source of concern for many. The numerous benefits of making music have become widely known during recent years, and reducing performance anxiety can help us to reap the rewards of our musical participation.

This webinar will explore the causes and effects of music performance anxiety, examine some of the evidence-based research on the topic, and demonstrate some practical strategies for learning to manage anxiety levels. The session is designed for brass band players, conductors, and band management teams. However, it would be of interest to anyone who takes part in public performances of any kind.”

Tackling Performance Anxiety is free for BBE members and £10 for non-members.

Following positive feedback from both participating bands and audiences, Youth Champs will once again be taking place at King Edward's School on Saturday 17 April 2027.

To celebrate the upcoming Volunteers' Week, we're holding a special Unsung Hero Awards.

We're pleased to announce the appointment of Sarah Baumann as Interim Chief Executive Officer, following a successful transitionary leadership period led by Nigel Stevens from January to the end of April 2026.