Brass banding in the US

[tedrick]

My family and I attended the Kansas City U.S. Masters Brass Band competition before Thanksgiving. The level of musicianship by these ensembles is incredible! I was introduced to British brass band music from selections performed by Cadets, SCV and Crown - I'm sure there are many others drum corps that have programmed brass band pieces - all this to say, despite the marching arts activity changing in the US, in brass banding there is an incredible performance avenue to be explored by brass musicians of all ages. 

 

[OldSnareDrummer]

That's pretty cool. I had no idea this organization existed. 

https://usmasters.org/home/

[jwillis35]

We have several in Ohio. Just 38 miles down the road from me in Akron you have the Brass Band of the Western Reserve. Really good group. I played with them as lead trombonist for roughly 10 years. We were delayed for a while during the Covid pandemic but were able to begin rehearsals in Fall of 2021. They are still going strong to this day. I have not done the last few seasons due to taking care of my elderly mother, but the music is fantastic and it really kept my chops in shape for other gigs.

BBWR is a British-style brass band. There are several groups in the Columbus area that are also British-style brass bands. Philip Sparke composed the Heritage Concert March for the 20th Anniversary of our BBWR ensemble. 

I left a link to some footage of the ensemble below. This was a montage of the first 20 years. 

Brass Band of the Western Reserve - Akron, OH

 

Edited December 13, 2025 by jwillis35

[Mikeklaw]

Dave Lang, Colts baritone soloist and 3 time DCI I&E winner, performed at this year's US Masters Brass Band Championships with Iowa Brass.  Dave was the featured euphonium soloist on Devil's Dance by Peter Meechan.  Here's a video of the performance: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/14TaX664Yq5/

Dave's tone is exquisite as ever!

Edited December 19, 2025 by Mikeklaw
mispelled

[rollinthrurolls]

There is a relatively successful brass band group located in the Raliegh area of North Carolina. 

 

Triangle Brass Band

[BG984]

Several years ago I saw my first British brass band live....Black Dyke (I've seen them live twice now), and I was blown away.  I actually believe that Drum Corps might benefit from doing some sort of "collaboration" at some point.  One thing that impresses me about these groups is this....even though the musical demand is at an extremely high level, the compositions and arrangements are both solid and effective....not just a bunch of notes, because "we can play them"...they never lose sight of the overall musicality and musical expression.  I would love to see some of the top corps reach for it and do arrangements from the British Brass Band world, perhaps with significant less velocity marching (ie marching high tempos at half time, for example...in order to focus on playing excellence), allowing the guard a larger movement part in the visual element.   

[tedrick]

The best thing about brass banding is it's intended to be a life long activity - it has all the passionate group bonding/loyalty aspects of old drum corps - people are incredibly invested in their favorite groups - as close or closer than family - just like it used to be in DCI - 

 

[ranintothedoor]

15 hours ago, tedrick said:

The best thing about brass banding is it's intended to be a life long activity - it has all the passionate group bonding/loyalty aspects of old drum corps - people are incredibly invested in their favorite groups - as close or closer than family - just like it used to be in DCI - 

 

This! I was in the James Madison University Brass Band and we performed at the NABBA Championships (North American Brass Band Association).  Playing in that group pushed me further (musically) than anything I'd ever experienced, including drum corps.  My favorite piece is Extreme Makeover (Johann de Meij).  Check out Black Dyke's performance... it blends a bunch of Tchaikovsky's pieces together around one of his most famous string quartets.  

On 12/15/2025 at 2:33 PM, BG984 said:

One thing that impresses me about these groups is this....even though the musical demand is at an extremely high level, the compositions and arrangements are both solid and effective....not just a bunch of notes, because "we can play them"...they never lose sight of the overall musicality and musical expression.  

I think this comes directly from the fact that in Europe (where BB was born), brass banding is to them what concert band is in America.  But way more focus on community rather than schools, so most brass bands are independent/community focused with tons of "youth" brass bands.  That's why the culture surrounding the competitive side of things produces much more "serious" composition rather than an "arrangement" mindset in marching band and even drum corps... the art is just weighted higher.  

[wolfgang]

Asking because I don't know:  Are the top competing British Brass Bands in the U.K. levels above the top U.S. brass bands, or are the best from both countries about equal?

Also, are there any of these groups in Japan, and if so how good are they?

[ironlips]

5 hours ago, wolfgang said:

Asking because I don't know:  Are the top competing British Brass Bands in the U.K. levels above the top U.S. brass bands, or are the best from both countries about equal?

Also, are there any of these groups in Japan, and if so how good are they?

In my view, the Brits are tops. Brass bands are the bomb.