Bournemouth Concert Brass

Bournemouth Concert Brass (BCB) are a Championship Section brass band with a local history going back 100 years incorporating various titles involving "Boscombe Silver" and "Boscombe Temperance". The band settled into it's current brand in 1975. All the players are amateur musicians who freely give of their time and talent. The band is able to maintain it's momentum in developing a high level of performance in two ways.

Contesting

As a Championship Section band BCB travel every March to Torquay where they compete in the West of England Regional contest, not only to maintain their Championship status, but also to strive for a top two finish in order to qualify for a place at the National Finals later in the year at the Royal Albert Hall in London. The National Finals consist of the top two bands from each of the regions around the country, winning is a coveted prize.

In recent years the band has enjoyed a good deal of success when testing itself in contests. The most significant achievement was winning the West of England Regional Championships in 2005, leading to an appearance at the National Finals in the Albert Hall in October that year where a creditable 13th place among the 20 finalists was achieved.

In September 2010 the band was placed sixth in the first section National Finals in Harrogate. In 2011 the band finished second in the West of England Regionals and second in the first Section National Finals, held last year in Cheltenham. This consistent level of performance has for 2012 promoted the band once again to Championship status. In March this year the band finished second at the West of England Regionals - Championship section, earning another visit to the Royal Albert Hall in October for the National Finals.

Concerts

The band has an extensive repertoire of music which includes traditional marches and hymn tune arrangements, music from the classical world, film and show music arrangements and a collection of fine instrumental solo arrangements to allow our principal players to shine.

The band has an established relationship with the Regent Centre in Christchurch and presents three concerts at this venue every year.

January is always our "almost world famous" New Years Viennese concert with a variety of well known Strauss arrangements mixed with other familiar music from that genre. Over 300 attended this years concert, which was a 5 year record attendance. The summer has our Hollywood and Broadway concert with, as you have guessed, a selection of music from well known musical and film scores. Autumn is a packed house for our "Last Night of the Proms" concert. This is always greeted with enthusiasm and anticipation of the finale trio of Fantasia on British Sea Songs, Pomp and Circumstance and of course Jerusalem. Book early! 

**To mark the Queens Diamond Jubilee celebrations, this year's Hollywood and Broadway concert is to be replaced with "Crown Imperial" - a Diamond Jubilee celebration concert

The band is currently engaging in a strategy of finding new concert venues where the objectives are to (1) explore and play new and exciting venues, (2) engage with local Bournemouth business and (3) share concert profits with local charities. Talk to us if you have any ideas or would like to come on this venture with us.

In 2011 BCB raised nearly £2000 for local Bournemouth/Poole charities.