ConsTest: Birmingham Open Brass Band Competition

14/04/2026

𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 🍻

Now that the dust has settled on a fantastic weekend, it’s time for us to reflect on our 4th event!

With thanks to our fantastic sponsors, collaborators, audience members and adjudicators, ConsTest welcomed a complete lineup of 18 bands to compete at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, for the second year in a row! We were so fortunate to hear 16 different pieces of music, all prepared and delivered greatly by our performers. Congratulations to all of the bands who took part, our prize winners & our Newmoon Insurance Champion Band, Derwent Brass🏆

Without any of your support, this weekend would not have been possible, so thank you so much! If you missed out on our Ale As Yet Unsold, we’re down to our final few crates… so please contact us if you’d like to purchase! 🍺

Catch up with all of the action at NXTOD.com & keep your eyes peeled at www.visualsbyevie.com for all of the day’s photography, courtesy of Evie & Will! 📸

We’ll now be taking a break to recover, who knows what will come next… 5️⃣?

11/04/2026

ConsTest 2026 Results! 🍺

After a brilliantly busy day in the Bradshaw Hall, Derwent Brass are the Newmoon Insurance Champion Band of ConsTest! 🎺

We’ll be posting a full summary of the days events, but for now, here are the full results and our prize winners! Thank you for all your support this year - we hope you had a wonderful day.🏆

1. Derwent Brass*
2. Parc & Dare Band**
3. Sovereign Brass
4. Usk Brass Band
5. Jackfield Band
6. Tewit Silver Band
7. Harborough Band***
8. Stamford Brass Band
9. Carlton Brass
10. Oddfellows Brass
11. Towcester Studio Band
12. Syston Band****
13. University of Warwick Brass Band*****
14. Bedworth Brass
15. Wellington (Telford) Brass Band
16. Wigston Band
17. Arrow Valley Brass
18. Croft Silver Band

*Craven Fawcett Highest Championship Section Band
**Highest Placed 1st Section Band
***Highest Placed 2nd Section Band
****Highest Placed 3rd Section Band
*****Highest Placed 4th Section Band

Most Promising Lower Section - Syston Band
Denis Wick Best Instrumentalist - Luke Barker, Cornet from Sovereign
Mick Foley Memoriam Best Cornet - Parc & Dare Band
Best Euphonium - Derwent Band
British Bandsman Best Bass Section - Usk Brass Band
Best Back Row Section - Sovereign Brass
Highest Supporters Attendance Prize - Carlton Brass

11/04/2026

11/04/2026

We’re into our final 6 bands here at ConsTest!

Take a look at Tewit Silver Band in action! 🎺

All of our photos will be available after the contest, from Visuals by Evie - a massive thank you to Evie & Will for providing us excellent pictures of each band! 👏

11/04/2026

We’re in full swing now with Band 10 about to take to the stage! 🎺

Tune in on NXTOD.com if you haven’t already 📺

11/04/2026

Time for our first break of the day! ☀️

The suns out, the beer is flowing and band 7 are preparing to take to the stage! 🎺

NXTOD.com 📺

11/04/2026

Good Morning from Birmingham! 🍻

Band Number 1 are on stage right now - get your tickets from the desk outside the hall for a wonderful day of music!

Can’t make it? Tune into NXTOD.com! 📺

10/04/2026

ConsTest 2026! 🎺

One more sleep… we can’t wait to welcome you all tomorrow! 🍻

Grab your tickets here: www.constest.co.uk/tickets!

Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Bradshaw Hall📍
11th April, 2026 🗓️ 10:00AM ⏰
Adjudicators: Stephanie Binns & Dr David Thornton.

1. Wigston Band (Colin Jones) - Lake of the Moon (Kevin Houben)
2. Syston Band (Alex Bland) - Viking Age (Thierry Deleruyelle)
3. Wellington Telford Brass Band (David Nicholson) - Variations on Laudate Dominum (Edward Gregson)
4. Arrow Valley Brass (Alex Bland) - Dark Side of the Moon (Paul Lovatt-Cooper)
5. Derwent Brass (Jack Capstaff) - Music of the Spheres (Philip Sparke)
6. Sovereign Brass (David Maplestone) - Un Vie De Matelot (Robert Farnon)

7. Harborough Band (Ben Smith) - 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (Phillip Harper)
8. Parc & Dare Band (Dewi Griffiths) - Music of the Spheres (Philip Sparke)
9. Stamford Brass (Julian Bright) - Purcell Variations (Kenneth Downie)
10. Towcester Studio Band (Ian Knapton) - 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (Phillip Harper)
11. Croft Silver Band (Henry Dunger) - Stantonbury Festival (Ray Steadman-Allen)
12. Bedworth Brass (Jonathan Mott) - Vitae Aeternum (Paul Lovatt-Cooper)

13. Tewit Silver Band (Martin Hall) - Elgar Variations (Martin Ellerby)
14. Oddfellows Brass Band (Sarah Fellowes) - Renaissance (Peter Graham)
15. Jackfield Band (Ryan Richards) - Spectrum (Gilbert Vinter)
16. Usk Brass Band (Jamie Jones) - Five Blooms in a Welsh Garden (Gareth Wood)
17. University of Warwick Brass Society (Tom Stoneman) - Corineus (Christopher Bond)
18. Carlton Brass (Matthew Ludford-King) - 49th Parallel (Phillip Littlemore)

Make sure to visit our traders Larch Music, Blossom Hill Cards and Gifts and British Army on Floor 0; don’t forget about our An Ale As Yet Unsold too, served outside Floor 0! 🍻

Our evening finishes with a FREE performance from El Dude Brothers, in Boults Cafe, bringing some acoustic sing-along hits 🎸

10/04/2026