Brass Bands England is proud to recognise those individuals and organisations in the banding world that have made an exceptional contribution to brass banding. Be it through inspiring young people, tireless dedication, leading imaginative creative projects and collaborations, or bringing about positive social change. There is plenty to be celebrated!
Awards were presented in a special ceremony at this year’s Brass Band Conference, held on Saturday 19 October at the City of London School. Awards were presented, with thanks, by their sponsoring organisations mentioned below, alongside our COO Sarah Baumann and Brass in Concert CEO Nigel Stevens.
Brass Bands England Awards 2024 Winners
Brass Band Conductor Award, supported by the Brass Band Conductors’ Association: Sarah Woodward
Sarah has been a conductor with the Kirkbymoorside Town Brass Band family for over 20 years, with a decade dedicated to the Junior Sections. In this time she has also set up the Kirkbymoorside Community Band, which is for everyone of all abilities and currently has over 40 players aged 11-89+.
In 2018 she took up the baton for Kirkbymoorside Senior Band, becoming one of the few female conductors of a Championship section band, and now oversees a team of five female conductors, aged 20-50+ leading over 120 musicians.
Congratulations, Sarah Woodward!
Band Project of the Year Award, supported by rooms4groups: ‘I Can Play! With Brass Roots’, Shepherd Group Brass Band
In September 2023, Shepherd Group Brass Band embarked on their "I Can Play! with Brass Roots" project, which sought to create a collaboration between their established Brass Roots groups with the National Centre for Early Music's programme I Can Play!
They began with an Open Play Day on 16 September, ran by the band's Principal Cornet Sean Chandler and Brass Roots tutor Audrey Brown, which welcomed many families from the local York Deaf community. After this introduction, some deaf children felt confident enough to join Brass Roots and became the first deaf students to join the group. The collaboration has helped to provide accessible and inclusive opportunities for D/deaf and hearing players alike.
Congratulations to Shepherd Group Brass Band!
Green Hero Award: National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain
Over the last 12 months, NYBBGB have partnered with Wildlife Trust, commissioning a piece of music by Sir Karl Jenkins called ‘Fragile Earth’, to raise awareness of climate change, global warming and the extinction threat to at-risk animals. This piece highlighted the concern by this generation of young musicians regarding climate change, global warming and endangered species protection.
Outstanding Contribution Award: Kathleen Harrison
Kathleen has been the Secretary of the Elland Silver Band Organisation for the past 41 years. In this time she has undertaken training on new skills in administration and safeguarding and turned her hand to whatever was needed to help the band - from mending uniforms to spending hours after rehearsals being available to organise players. Her years of dedication has seen the Organisation become one of the country's largest, boasting over 120 members, operating six brass bands.
Congratulations, Kathleen Harrison.
Young Bandsperson Award, supported by ABRSM: Jasmine Cosgrove
Jasmine is a reflection of the positive impact banding can have on a person's life and wellbeing. In September 2023 Jasmine and her family were issued a no-fault eviction by their landlord and, until recently, lived in sheltered accommodation. A passionate and talented young percussionist, this upheaval meant she had to sell her drum kit and thus rely on sight reading and learning on the job.
In spite of these hardships, Jasmine remained dedicated to her role in Macclesfield Youth Band, making the 24-mile round trip to band practice and even continued to attend concerts and competitions. For the band’s Christmas contest last year she switched to the glockenspiel, an instrument she had previously never played before.
Congratulations to Jasmine Cosgrove!
Services to Youth Award: Jock McKenzie
Jock's impact on the development of young brass players is far-reaching, having inspired thousands of young musicians. Since 1987 has based his teaching in Hampshire, with 17 years he directed the Hampshire County Youth Bands after eight years as the conductor of the Training Bands. With this band, Jock travelled across most countries in Europe, won the National Youth Championships twice, and performed at the Royal Albert Hall on several occasions.
Jock’s compositions and arrangements for Brass Bands are well-known across the movement, having been selected for both ABRSM and Trinity examination boards.
Congratulations, Jock McKenzie.
Lifetime Achievement Award: Frank Renton
Frank Renton needs no introduction, but we’ll give one anyway. His lifetime of brass banding began as a teenager playing the cornet in Black Dyke. In the years that have followed, he has (to name but a few accomplishments) been Principal Director of Music for the Army, Principal conductor of the British Concert Orchestra, and Brass in Concert compere for over 30 years.
He worked with several brass bands, Broxburn, Cambourne, Kirkintilloch, CWS (Manchester) Wingates, but most famously with Grimethorpe with whom he made several great recordings and won both the Open and the Nationals, and not forgetting his time with the James Shepherd Versatile Brass.
In addition to his life on stage, he regularly presented Listen to the Band on BBC Radio 2 for 23 years, awarded a Paul Harris Scholarship from Rotary for his fundraising activities for them, and a Doctorate of Letters from the University of West London to mark his work in the music industry in general.
He continues to conduct around the world, and is the Chairman of the Geneva Foundation, which has the aim of providing opportunities for young composers, conductors and players.
Have someone in mind for the Brass Bands England Awards 2025?
Has this year’s Awards inspired you to nominate an individual or organisation that has yet to be recognised? Nominations for the Brass Bands England Awards 2025 will open early 2025. To be the first to know and receive a link to the nomination form, join the BBE mailing list.
Previous winners
Find out more about the 2023 Brass Band England Award winners.