Enfield Citadel Band (Bandmaster Don Jenkins) returned to St. John’s, Smith Square, for this year’s Pre-Contest Festival. The concert featured James Fountain (cornet/trumpet) as guest soloist and Major Martin Cordner as compère, guest conductor, and featured composer.
It is now sixteen years since the first invitation was given to the Birmingham Citadel Band (Bandmaster Gavin Lamplough) to provide a program of music in the foyer of Symphony Hall prior to the British Open Brass Band Championship. This year’s concert was on Saturday, 8 September 2018.
On 9 September 2017, Symphony Hall in Birmingham was packed with brass band enthusiasts for the annual British Open contest. As has become tradition, the Birmingham Citadel Band (Bandmaster Gavin Lamplough) presented a pre-contest concert in the foyer of the hall.
For the 70th time, Enfield Citadel Band presented a Pre-Contest Festival before the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain. This year’s concert was held at St. Pancras Church. The guest soloist was tenor horn virtuoso Owen Farr. The band was conducted by Iain Parkhouse of Croydon Citadel, who graciously stepped in after the recent departure of former bandmaster Jonathan Corry for a new appointment in the United States.
On 10 October 2014, the Enfield Citadel Band (Bandmaster Jonathan Corry) presented its 68th annual Pre-Contest Festival. Guest soloist for this year’s concert was Philip Cobb, principal trumpet of the London Symphony Orchestra. The event, which was compèred by Paul Hindmarsh, was also a tribute to retired Bandmaster James Williams MBE, celebrating his 70 years of association with Enfield Citadel Band.
For the 67th consecutive year, the Enfield Citadel Band (Bandmaster Jonathan Corry) held an event preceding the National Brass Band Championships. This year’s Pre-Contest Festival was held on 11 October 2013. Trombone virtuoso Brett Baker was the guest soloist and Paul Hindmarsh served as compère.
For the 66th consecutive year, the Enfield Citadel Band (Bandmaster Jonathan Corry) presented a Pre-Contest Festival. Held on 19 October 2012, at St. John’s, Smith Square, London, the concert featured guest soloist David Childs.
Internationally renowned trumpeter Chris Jaudes was the guest soloist as the Enfield Citadel Band (Bandmaster Jonathan Corry) presented its 65th Annual Pre-Contest Festival on Friday, 14 October 2011 at St. John’s, Smith Square, London.
The weekend of 4 – 5 September 2010 was a busy and important time for the Birmingham Citadel Band (Bandmaster Graham Lamplough). The weekend included special services for Band Sunday and a pre-contest performance at Symphony Hall on Saturday morning.
Since 1946, the opening event of the National Brass Band Championship weekend in Great Britain has been a pre-contest festival hosted by the Enfield Citadel Band.