The 46th Brass in Concert Festival, presented in association with World of Brass, Banks Group and Yamaha, sees the long-anticipated return of the event’s gala concert, World of Brass in Concert, plus a revamped ‘Aspire’ education programme and pre and post-event entertainment for the Championship itself.
Gala Concert returns for 2023
In a change for 2023, World of Brass in Concert, hosted by Frank Renton, will take place on Friday 17 November, featuring Fountain City Brass Band, star trombonist Isobel Daws and the critically acclaimed BONE-AFIDE quartet.
The ensembles will take to the Sage 1 stage at 7:45pm, giving audiences the chance to travel to Gateshead after the working day. Not only will the groups perform individual sets, but they will collaborate on brand-new works throughout this one-off concert.
Speaking on behalf of Brass in Concert, CEO Nigel Stevens commented: “We’re once again delighted to welcome Fountain City across from the United States for the main competition, and as a firm-favourite of our audiences we couldn’t miss the opportunity to hear them play twice on one weekend. In the hands of Musical Director Joe Parisi, this concert is sure to deliver new and exciting repertoire to UK audiences - a rare masterclass in brass band entertainment that isn’t to be missed!”
He continued: “BONE-AFIDE have proven themselves to be extremely popular within the international chamber music world and are made up of some of Europe's leading young trombonists. Isobel Daws is no stranger to the Sage 1 stage, having won the Best Soloist prize at Brass in Concert in 2021, so having all three of these talented acts team up for this performance is going to be extremely special.”
Tickets for the event will be £25 + booking fee.
‘Aspire’ education programme paves the way for future generations
Aspire Day, presented in association with Brass Bands England (BBE), will see over 250 local young musicians perform at Sage Gateshead on Friday 17 November prior to the World of Brass in Concert event. Throughout the day there will be a series of workshops delivered by BBE’s Brass Foundations team, which will then culminate in a final concert on the main Sage 1 stage.
The young people taking part in this year's Brass in Concert Aspire programme have been selected from local schools and Music Education Hubs within the North East of England. The workshop programme - which also consists of school visits prior to the final performance day - and final concert, will form an important part of the 2023 Brass in Concert Festival, which aims to celebrate the very best of brass banding and support young people as they begin their brass-playing journey.
Brass in Concert trustee and education lead, Fiona Johnstone, commented: “It’s great to return to the Sage this year following on from last year’s successful relaunch of the education programme. Giving these young people the chance to perform on such an iconic stage is a life-changing opportunity, and we will do all that we can to support them in carrying on this amazing hobby in the future.”
The final performance is open to the public, starting at 3:30pm. Please note that seating for this event is open - you will be able to choose any available seat within the stalls.
Tickets for Aspire Day cost just £2.50, with under 16s attending for free (but please book via the box office).
Pre and post-event entertainment for Brass in Concert - join the party!
Following the overwhelming success of last year’s event, the Brass in Concert Championship will be bookended by performances to keep the atmosphere alive throughout the entire day.
Oxford University Brass Band, as winner of the Shield Section of Unibrass 2023, has been invited to perform on the concourse as audiences arrive on Saturday 18 November. The band’s performance will start at 10.00am and will last for 45 minutes, ending just before the first competing band takes to the stage.
Backstage Brass returns as the after-party band, having made a great impression in 2022, and will strike up its first notes immediately after the conclusion of band number 11. All players and ticket holders will have the opportunity to stay in the concourse area of the Sage - with a bar extension secured until 11:30pm - for entertainment provided by the brass ensemble, which will perform a range of classic and modern tunes throughout the evening, also keeping the bands and audience entertained until the results are announced on the concourse - a first in Brass in Concert history!
The 46th Brass in Concert Championship
11 of the finest brass bands in the world will come together, each offering a uniquely crafted performance devised to entertain. They are:
Grimethorpe Colliery, Brighouse and Rastrick, Friary Brass, Eikanger-Bjørsvik Musikklag, Hammonds, Foden's, Carlton Main Frickley Colliery, Tredegar, Aldbourne, Flowers and Fountain City Brass.
Nigel Stevens added: “Notable amongst this year's line-up is the rare opportunity to hear international favourites, North America's Fountain City and current Norwegian and Siddis champion, Eikanger-Bjørsvik, so we have a really fantastic field.”
Nigel concluded: “We also hope to make a very exciting announcement in the next few weeks about the return of Youth Brass in Concert in 2024, so look out for that news when it appears. For now though, we look forward to as many brass music lovers as possible joining us at Sage Gateshead in November for what promises to be one of the most enjoyable Brass in Concert weekends we have ever hosted.”
Tickets will be available for £30 or £38.50 + booking fee.
Schedule and ticket sales
Friday 17 November
- 3.30pm: Aspire Day (finishes c. 5.30pm)
- 7.45pm: World of Brass in Concert: Sage 1
Featuring Fountain City Brass Band, Isobel Daws and BONE-AFIDE
Saturday 18 November
- 10am: Concourse performance: Oxford University Brass Band
- 11am: Brass in Concert Championship: Sage 1
- 8pm: After-party: Concourse, Backstage Brass
- 8.30pm: Results: Concourse (timings approx.)
- 9pm: After party continues: Concourse, Backstage Brass - till late! (timings approx.)
More music for your money will be available with the Brass in Concert 2023 Combi Ticket, which includes entry to all three of the main Festival events (Championship [higher priced seats], World of Brass in Concert, and Aspire Day) across the weekend as well as the free events on the concourse.
Tickets for all events will go on sale at 10am on Wednesday 12 July from the Sage Gateshead website and box office. Save the date in order to avoid disappointment. To be alerted when sales open please register for the Brass in Concert newsletter.