Section Championships
Test Piece: Star Crossed Lovers (Stephen Roberts)
CARLTON MAIN FRICKLEY COLLIERY BAND (UK)
The history of the Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band dates back to 1884 as the South Elmsall Village Brass Band. In 1905, the Brass took the name of the local Frickley mine, which in 1923 was owned by the Carlton Main Coal Company, its current name.
Over the course of its history, the Brass has competed in numerous competitions and has won the title of National Champions, British Open Champions, Granada TV Band of the Year, BBC Best of Brass Champions, Spring Festival Grand Shield Champions, British Open Quartet Champions as well as European victories at the 1975 European Championships in Leest, in Belgium. Crowned Yorkshire champion in 2013 and 2015.
In 2024, the band qualified for the British Open again at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall and made it into the Top 10! He obtained a 3rd place at the World Championships in Kerkrade, the Netherlands, and in June 2018, the group was crowned champion of the Open de France. In 2019, the group won the “Leading Brass Band Entertainment Contest”, Brass In Concert, finishing in 2nd place.
This has allowed the Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band to be firmly established as one of the highest-ranked ensembles in the world.
The Brass Band has built a reputation as a concert orFirst Sectionchestra through a combination of innovative programs coupled with the quality of its performances. He made regular appearances on the BBC show, ‘Songs of Praise’ and performances with the renowned Rambert Dance Company in 2015 and 2016. In 2015, he took the position of the Gary Clarke Company’s featured group with the National Theatre Award-winning contemporary dance, COAL.
Let’s mention his qualification for the Great Britain Brass Band National Championships at the Royal Albert Hall in 2024, where he placed 7th.
In 2024, the Brass celebrated its 140th anniversary and also participated in a series of events to commemorate 40 years of the miners’ strike. an integral part of the group’s history. It finished 2024 in the Top 10 British bands and in the Top 11 worldwide.
First Section
Test piece: Variations on “Was Lebel” (Andrew Wainwright)
FLIXTON BAND (UK)
Flixton Brass Band has been making music in Trafford and beyond since 1877, when it first appeared as the Flixton Volunteer Band. Over the years the band has had its ups and downs — including a 30-year break— but each time has come back stronger, thanks to the commitment of local players and supporters.
From playing at the opening of the Manchester Ship Canal in 1894 to more recent tours including the World Music Contest 2022 in Kerkrade, Flixton has always been proud to represent its community on the wider stage.
Contest success has been a big part of Flixton’s modern story. The band has won regional titles, claimed prizes at entertainment contests like Wychavon, and worked its way up to the First Section of national grading — currently the highest-ranked brass band in Trafford. Along the way, they’ve shared plenty of unforgettable performances, from Whit Friday marches to soggy Blackburn & Darwen victories!
Today, under the direction of Adie Smith, the band continues to balance tradition with ambition. The creation of the Flixton Community Band has also ensured a new generation of players are coming through, keeping the brass band spirit alive locally.
Above all, Flixton Brass Band remains what it has always been: a friendly, dedicated group of musicians who love playing together, supporting their community, and flying the flag for brass banding wherever they go.
So, whether you’re a brass aficionado, a casual toe-tapper, or simply curious to see what all the noise is about, Flixton Brass Band are delighted to welcome you into their audience.
WITTON ALBION BAND (UK)
Since late 2025, Roberts Bakery Band has been rehearsing at the U Lock It Stadium, following its relocation from the Roberts Bakery premises due to a business restructuring. Witton Albion Football Club has been incredibly generous and is fully aligned with the band’s commitment to making a positive impact in the local community of Northwich and its surrounding parishes. This alignment, coupled with the club’s generous provision of a rehearsal space and storage for the band’s sizeable library and instruments, has led to the decision to work more closely with the club going forward and adopt its name. Roberts Bakery Band will now be known as Witton Albion Band.
The band’s final performance as Roberts Bakery Band took place on 1st March, where it competed in the Northwest Regional Contest. The band achieved a very credible 4th place in the First Section, leaving it at the top of the First Section in the North West on points heading into next year.
It will take some time to fully rebrand the band and its online presence, but work on this will commence immediately.
The band would like to express its heartfelt thanks to the Roberts Family for 46 years of fantastic support, without which the band would not be where it is today.
The band looks forward to fulfilling a full concert and contest schedule as the Witton Albion Band, and even more so, to its partnership with Witton Albion Football Club.
Second Section
Test piece: 20.000 Leagues Under the Sea (Philip Harper)
A TOURS de BRASS (F)
Founded in October 2016 on the initiative of Stéphane Balzeau, tuba teacher at the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional de Tours, AToursdeBrass was born from a clear desire: to offer a space of expression to local musicians wishing to practice the Brass Band.
Noting the existence of a pool of instrumentalists who do not have such a framework, its founder took up the challenge of creating this ensemble. Nearly ten years later, AToursdeBrass has firmly established itself in the Touraine musical landscape.
The ensemble brings together students from the Tours Conservatory, the Faculty of Musicology, music schools, as well as passionate amateur musicians. This diversity of profiles contributes to the human and artistic richness of the group.
His eclectic repertoire mixes original works for Brass Band, transcriptions of the classical repertoire and film scores, offering a wide variety of styles and atmospheres.
AToursdeBrass is distinguished by a wide range of sounds, capable of subtle, warm and enveloping nuances, as well as powerful and brilliant sparkles.
The ensemble also distinguished itself at the Open d’Amboise, winning first prize in the third division in 2023, then in the second division in 2024. On the strength of these successes, it is competing again in the second division this year.
More than just a musical ensemble, AToursdeBrass embodies a true artistic dynamic, highlighting the richness of brass and percussion, the commitment of its musicians and their desire to share music with the widest possible audience, in a spirit of conviviality and shared pleasure.
BRASS BAND DE LA VIENNE (F)
Created in 2015 by Mathias Currit and Christophe Bourderioux, the Brass Band de la Vienne has brought together experienced and professional amateur musicians to create this great brass and percussion ensemble. The ensemble travels through the repertoire dedicated to this original formation, with the aim of introducing the public to a warm music full of power and finesse.
The BBV is part of the departmental level of Vienne and beyond to develop and promote the musical culture of brass orchestras.
Anxious to seduce all audiences, our group presents a varied repertoire ranging from competition pieces, transcriptions of classical music and contemporary music, but also concertos with soloists that allow our young talents to present the full extent of the virtuosity of which these brass and percussion instruments are capable.
Faithful to the annual event of the Amboise International Open, the Brass Band de la Vienne will be keen to defend the public prize obtained in 2024 and their first prize 2025 in 3rd section. They will compete this year in second section.
The artistic direction is Mathias Charton.
Third Section
Test Piece: The Golden Sabre ( Kit Turnbull)
Fourth/Junior section
Test Piece: Neverland (Christopher Bond)
BRASS BAND DU C.R.R. DE TOURS (F)
The C.R.R. Junior Brass Band was created in 2009. This emanates from the impetus given to the Brass Band movement in the Touraine region for a number of years: the Open Brass d’Amboise, the support provided by the UDEM 37 for the organization of courses and the existence of EXObrass, a Brass Band born on the initiative of the teachers of the CRR of Tours and the department.
Made up of students enrolled in the second and third cycles, it is directed by David HUBERT. This group, which has 1h30 each week to work, is part of the collective practices of the C.R.R. of TOURS.
After winning the 1st prize in the 4th division in 2023 and 2024, the whole team is in the third division and won a 2nd price in 2025. They will compete this year in 4th/Youth division.