2012 will see the 75^th Anniversary of the formation of the Gloucestershire Brass Band Association. To celebrate this landmark we are planning a day of brass bands at Highnam Court on Saturday 7^th July 2012. We have 23 member bands supporting us by performing a short concert on the day – free of charge – and then come together for an end of day finale massed band performance conducted by Philip Harper.

Tickets are £5 and child under 16 are free. They are available from Jenny Roberts of The Great Oaks Hospice on 01594 811910. 

Whilst the aim of the day is to celebrate the 75^th Anniversary of the GBBA we wil be working with two local charities – The Pied Piper Appeal and Great Oaks Hospice – who will be working with us on the day to help organize the event.

On the day we having a Have a Blow Workshop, brass band trade stands, access to the beautiful gardens and of course a beer tent and food. There will be a trade stand marquee where  we hope to have in attendance Frank Fidler, Big Shiny Brass, Evans Entz, Word of Brass, Music Giftware and J Packer and others. There will also be all the normal activities you would find at an english country fete.

The whole event will be recorded by Chorum Records and there will be a choir performance area in the gardens for the six local choirs.

The GYBB will be playing a newly commissions piece from the pen of Philip Harper that will encapture the whole ethos of the GBBA and the event. He has also been commissioned to write a piece for the massed band as has Matt Kingston of Big Shiny Brass. 

We are planning to widely publicise this event in the local media and raise the profile of the brass band movement in general. The more bands that support us and take part on the day the more media interest we can generate. We now have 23 GBBA member bands signed up, the playing draw will be held at our Annual Test Piece Contest on Sunday 20 November 2011.

We hope the massed band will have between 250 and 500 local players taking part, playing two new commisions from Philip Harper and Matt Kingston.

For a full overview of what Highnam Court is and can offer visit their own website  http://www.highnamcourt.co.uk/