Brass Band Championships Tickets
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A Wall of Sound: Seeing the Brass Band Championships
Do you love brass bands? Want to see the best of the best challenge each other in a football-style league culminating in a true clash of the titans? Then don your finest outfit and prepare for a sophisticated evening. The National Brass Band Championships are one of the U.K.'s most prestigious musical competitions.Schedule
Approximately 600 bands enter qualifying competitions in March in one of eight regions: North West, North East, South West, London and Southern Counties, Yorkshire, Midlands, Scotland, and Wales. Competitions are divided by section: Championship and Sections 1 through 4. For each region, the top 2 to 4 bands in each section are invited to Finals. The Lower Section Finals are held at the state-of-the-art Centaur at Cheltenham in September, while the Championship Final is at the elegant Royal Albert Hall in October.Trivia
Besides the competition, the Championship Final features a concert by some of the world's top brass bands. To keep the proceedings as fair as possible, every band must use exactly the same equipment, and no one may substitute a personal instrument or other item. The top four bands in the Championship Final automatically receive an invitation to the next year's Final, pending their participation in their regional competitions.Bands
The National Brass Band Championships draw the finest brass bands from across the U.K., from household names to up-and-coming talent. 2014's Championship Final roster includes the distinguished defending champions, the Cory Band, who formed in 1884 and won their first championship in 1920, as well as Black Dyke, who have won the National Championships a stunning 22 times. They will square off against the Co-operative Funeralcare Band, the only Scottish band ever to bring home the National Championship title, and 17 other equally impressive names.Breakthrough
The National Brass Band Championships began in 1945 in their current format and have changed very little since then. Other national competitions existed before that year, but the 1945 competition is considered to be the breakthrough for the Championships as we know them today. Each year's finals represent a potential breakthrough opportunity for winning bands, especially those who are less well-known and currently competing in a lower section.Hit Albums
Every band in the Championship Final has had at least one well-known album or song, and they are known for their innovation and cross-over mainstream appeal. Black Dyke worked with the Beatles on "Thingumybob," the theme song for the TV show of the same name, as well as an instrumental version of "Yellow Submarine." The Cory Band performed with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and at the Queen's Golden Jubilee, and gave the premiere performance of Dr. John Pickard's "Gaia Symphony." The Co-operative Funeralcare Band's entire modern discography is available on iTunes, from Good Losers to A Merry Little Christmas. Many of the other bands in the finals have also released songs digitally, allowing you to quickly find their most popular tunes. Even if you do not regularly follow the brass band scene, you are sure to recognise some of the music.Show Experience
In use since 1871, the Royal Albert Hall provides an elegant and historic backdrop for the Championship Final. It is a glittering and refined affair, yet the experience is not at all stuffy. The show is a well-balanced blend of history and innovation, a throwback to a more genteel age of entertainment with a decidedly modern twist.
The Lower Section Finals are held at the Centaur at Cheltenham Racecourse. Well-known for its acoustics and advanced lighting and sound systems, the venue features a dance floor and a futuristic design scheme. Although the Centaur is one of the largest auditoriums in England's South West, the layout and seating arrangement give the Centaur an intimate feel. Rather than viewing the bands from a tremendous distance away, you will feel like all of your senses are fully immersed in the experience.
Whichever venue you choose, National Brass Band Championships tickets provide a window into the historic and highly competitive world of brass bands. An elegant evening that is as visual as it is auditory, the National Brass Band Championships is an opportunity to experience glitz and glamour alongside a top-notch series of brass band performances.
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