Posted: 15/12/23
A year ago we were delighted to be nominated for the coveted 4BarsRest’s ‘Band of the Year’, especially given it is quite rare for a ‘non-elite’ band to be nominated. To find us now in the running for Band of the Year 2023 has blown us away! In fact, we believe it might be a first for a ‘non-elite’ band to be nominated twice in succession.
4BR describe 2022 as a year of rejuvenation and innovation, with the past twelve months in the banding world offering a form of retrenchment and resilience. There does however remain an underlying fragility about the communal post Covid-19 recovery, exacerbated all too often by the corrosive desire to look ever inward rather than outward. As they said ahead of last year’s nominations, major challenges still lie ahead.
The good news is that once again examples of visionary working and practice are to be found across the globe – a type of entrepreneurial musical spirit that should unashamedly copied, moulded, and enhanced by others to meet progressive outlooks. 4BR believe the nominees show a spirit of ambition – each a significant marker in giving a huge sense of confidence to individual bands and organisations, as well as boosting the profile of brass banding to the wider general public.
“The nominations in each category reflect those proactive responses, especially those that have reached out beyond our traditional self-possessed boundaries.” (4BarsRest)
The 2023 nominations are:
- Black Dyke (England)
- Brass Band Treize Etoiles (Switzerland)
- Brass Band Willebroek (Belgium)
- Derwent Brass (England)
- Eikanger Bjorsvik Musikklag (Norway)
- Five Lakes Silver (USA)
- Foden’s (England)
- Gota Brass Band (Sweden)
- North Shore Brass (New Zealand)
- Wellington Brass (New Zealand)
So much of the preface to the 4BR awards resonate with us at Derwent Brass; innovation, broadening appeal, visionary working, and artistic spirit. It is so refreshing to see this recognised and rewarded.
What has made it even more special is that Jack Capstaff, our Music Director is quite rightly shortlisted for Conductor of the Year and again, the preface is not all about winning at contests. Lots of conductors to consider from their work on the contest, concert, recording and project platforms, with each leading their bands with a remarkable fusion of talent, insight and inspiration to make their mark far and wide.
Fingers crossed and, who knows, if we can keep pushing perhaps we could achieve the unthinkable and record a hat trick of nominations at the end of 2024?!
Thank you to Iwan Fox and the team at 4BR for their continued support.
