Cumbria Brass Network - Elevating and Celebrating our Brass Bands
“A Band for Everyone in Cumbria”
Meeting dates 2024-2025
17 AUG 2024, SAT 6 – 7pm – theme: Band identity
16 NOV 2024, SAT 6 – 7pm – theme: Audience development
15 FEB 2025, SAT 6 – 7pm – theme: Player support
24th MAY 2025, SAT 6 – 7pm – theme: Player recruitment
Cumbria Brass Network – why be a part of it?
Bands want more members, the general public want more live band music. Brass bands can teach people to play instruments, they offer affordable access to music-making and they are local. All this adds up to huge benefit for communities.
The network has grown out of a a desire by bands to pool band expertise and ideas and work together to shape the future of brass bands in the 21st Century.
This year the network has hosted 4 meetings, published 3 newsletters, created a Facebook page and Facebook Group and updated its directory of bands. With a team of volunteers from local bands, funding from local trusts and the Arts Council and recognition from Brass Bands England, we are organising the “Brass at the Castle” festival and have established the Cumbria Youth Brass Band. This is a collaborative initiative which has been made possible thanks to the support of the members and the resources of Drum and Brass.
Creating events
The network supports bands to hold events e.g. “Brass at the Castle” by managing marketing, venue liaison, funding, timetabling, staffing, insurance etc.
Our events are aimed at raising awareness of what bands offer to communities and to the wider world of music with a view to increasing membership of our groups.
Network meetings
The current network offer is 4 meetings per year, newsletters, a Facebook page and Facebook Group and a directory of bands. Annual programmes can focus attention on steady development
Cumbria Youth Brass Band
Thanks to the dedication, generosity and passion of a brilliant team of musical directors, Cumbria Youth Brass Band is up and running. Its players have stepped up their game and become a really strong musical community. Watch this space!
Join the Cumbria Brass Facebook group here
Cumbria Brass Blog
Cumbria Brass Meeting Notes
Band Identity – Cumbria Brass Band Network discussion
Band Identity and Development: Insights from Cumbria's Brass Band Network Meeting held on Saturday 17th August 2024 At the recent Cumbria Brass Band Network meeting, a lively discussion was held by those present, centering on the unique identities of their bands and...
Frieda Scott Charitable Trust Brass Engagement Project
Between September 2023 and August 2024 Drum and Brass delivered a series of brass taster sessions with a grant of £3000 from the Frieda Scott Charitable Trust. Here is our report on this project to our partners, stakeholders and fundersProject aims The project aimed...
Brass at the Castle – full report
Brass at the Castle was an event in which Drum and Brass actively sought to collaborate and bring together brass bands across Cumbria. It took two years to plan and almost failed due to the difficulties in finding a date and location that would work for all bands. On...
Brass at the Castle blog
Over the weekend of the 13th-14th July, bands from across Cumbria gathered at the grounds of historic Lowther Castle for a weekend long festival of brass. The festival, organised by Drum and Brass, has been over a year in the making and our CEO, Julie Hoggarth, put in...
BRING YOUR OWN MUSIC
Organised by Drum and Brass in partnership with the outreach officer of the Penrith and Eden Refugee Network (PERN), held at Blue Jam Arts and funded by the Frieda Scott Charitable Trust Date:Saturday 17th February. Time: 15:00 - 16:00 Attendees - 20+ [button...
Brass Tasters in Cumbria – supported by the Frieda Scott Trust
Getting out of the band roomFunding from the Frieda Scott Trust has galvanised group of us brass players to get out of the band room and take brass to the people. As always, with community projects, we have learnt a huge amount along this journey. Like the fact that...
Youth Band Resources
The Gary Young Project - play-along videos for every "Fancy That" part Drum and Brass is working with composer and brass legend Gary Young to make his works for young bands even more accessible. Write/Compose/Arrange Your Own Music https://musescore.org/en...
DIY THEATRE / NO BARS POETRY
DIY Theatre - plays written and performed by prisoners No Bars Poetry - works about freedom, time and growing up by prisoners and ex-prisonersWhen Covid hit, prisons were completely no-go for artists. So we collected all the poetry written during our workshops and...
2023 Easter Coronation Fanfare Competition for young musicians
What is a fanfare?A fanfare is a short, ceremonialpiece of music – often played onwind and brass instruments.Fanfares are traditionally used toherald the arrival of someoneimportant, or to mark a specialoccasion.Ideas to get you started:- Try spelling out some...
Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Health Check
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TEACHERS in cumbria
Drum and Brass at the 2025 Brass Bands England Conference
A rare treat for D+B directors as they hit the town to attend the BBE annual conference
A Joyful Reunion: Cumbria Youth Brass Band Kicks Off Its Second Year
Date: Sunday, 29th SeptemberVenue: Black Combe Junior School, MillomHosted by: Holborn Hill Royal Brass Band Juniors (led by Cath Clarke)MD: Kaytie HardingSpecial Guest: Phil Goodwin, Head of Engage at the Royal Northern College of Music This past Sunday saw a vibrant...
Kath Wignall
<< Back to directory Katherine Wignall Brass player and teacher Teaching Brass (all types) teacher for all age groups. 20 years+ experience teaching brass in primary and secondary schools. Assistant music lead at Drum and Brass and...
Katie Hodges, trumpet
<< Back to directory Katie Hodges Brass player and teacher Teaching Qualifications: BMus (Royal Holloway), MMus (GSMD) and over 20 years of teaching experience Teaching format: Face-to-face and online Teaching venue with parking...
Notes from Cumbria Brass Network Meetings
August 2024 November 2024 February 2025Cumbria Brass Network Blog
Band Identity – Cumbria Brass Band Network discussion
Band Identity and Development: Insights from the Cumbria Brass Band Network meeting of August 17th 2024
Frieda Scott Charitable Trust Brass Engagement Project
Between September 2023 to August 2024 Drum and Brass delivered a series of brass taster sessions with a grant of £3000 from the Frieda Scott Charitable Trust.
Here is our report on this project to our partners, stakeholders and funders
Brass at the Castle – full report
Brass at the Castle was an event in which Drum and Brass actively sought to collaborate and bring together brass bands across Cumbria. It took two years to plan and almost failed due to the difficulties in finding a date and location that would work for all bands. On...
Brass at the Castle blog
Over the weekend of the 13th-14th July, bands from across Cumbria gathered at the grounds of historic Lowther Castle for a weekend long festival of brass. The festival, organised by Drum and Brass, has been over a year in the making and our CEO, Julie Hoggarth, put in...
Drum and Brass Band Membership Options
Our Drum and Brass mission is to make music accessible, inclusive and affordable From the start we have known that learning in a group is more fun, more economical and ultimately gives a better musical experience than learning alone. Effective group music teaching...