British-style brass bands are slowly catching on in the United States. Every year the number of British-Style Brass Bands in the United States grows. If you are interested in the competition side of brass banding you need to go to Ft. Wayne Indiana in April for the North American Brass Band Association’s Championships. There are several levels and categories within the competition, solo/ensemble, youth, and band categories.
Any British-Style brass band that is a member of NABBA can compete. A British-Style brass band is defined as a band of brass instruments plus percussion to include Eb Soprano and Bb Cornets, Bb Flugelhorns, Eb Tenor Horns, Bb Baritones, Bb Euphoniums, Bb Tenor and Bass Trombones, Tubas, and Percussion. All instruments read in Treble Clef either a Bb or Eb part. The levels for competition are called Sections. There are Sections 3, 2, 1 with a Championship level, the Championship section is the most proficient and perform the most difficult musical selections.
The solo competition is for instruments that are in the traditional British-Style brass band, a cornet in either Eb or Bb, flugelhorn, tenor horn, baritone, tenor or bass trombone, euphonium, tuba or percussion. Ensembles can consist of no fewer than 3 members and not to exceed 10 members.
The performances will be live streamed so you can catch the action as it happens. Be sure to check out the NABBA website where you can find the most current information and updates. You will find the schedule with the time and locations of Section performances.