Below can be found the current biography of City of Bristol Brass Band, which includes a summary of the band's rich history and achievements to date. Links to a more detailed history of the band, information on our Training Band and details of how to engage and support the band are also included below
City of Bristol Brass Band
2024 West of England First Section Champions
Registered Charity No. 1152249
Registered Charity No. 1152249
Brass bands in Bristol date back to at least 1850, with a number recorded as performing for the opening of the city’s iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge in 1864. The sound of the brass band has remained a core element of the musical fabric of the city to this day
City of Bristol Brass Band itself was formed in 1936 by local businessman H S Perry (who also played euphonium in the band) and the former Lord Mayor of Bristol, William George Cozens. Originally entitled “Fishponds British Legion Band”, the band adopted its present title in the mid 1960s
City of Bristol has been highly successful in both concert and competition throughout its history, becoming ODBBA, GBBA and West of England Regional Champions, and has also represented the city and region in the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain on numerous occasions. In March 2024, the band were again crowned West of England First Section Champions, being placed first out of 18 bands in the 2024 championships at the Riviera Centre, Torquay. As a result, in September 2024, City of Bristol will go on to represent the West of England in the Finals of the National Championships of Great Britain at The Centaur, Cheltenham, and will be promoted to Championship section in 2025
The band has performed at a wealth of venues across the UK, including the Royal Albert Hall and Alexandra Palace, London; De Montfort Hall, Leicester; The Centaur, Cheltenham; Riviera Centre, Torquay, St George’s, Bristol and many more
In June 2022, the band was delighted to perform as part of the Tall Ships Festival at Llanthony Secunda Priory, Gloucester, and also to support the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, performing as part of a massed Hallelujah Chorus flash mob throughout Bristol, culminating at Bristol Cathedral and College Green
In September 2022, the band broadened its performance horizons further, travelling to Colorado, USA, to perform in the Estes Park International Tattoo and Long’s Peak International Scottish-Irish Highland Festival. The band made history while in Colorado: the sad passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II took place while the band were mid-rehearsal for the 2022 Estes Park International Tattoo. Just six minutes after the announcement of the passing of Her Majesty, the band together with the 3rd US Marine Aircraft Wing Band, became the first performers in 70 years to perform "God Save The King", and one day later appeared in the first major international event to perform the same
The band's achievements continued in 2023, with City of Bristol performing in "Sing For The King", which saw the band perform together with a massed choir of 650 voices (this year being the 650th anniversary of Bristol city) at Bristol Cathedral, in a performance of Handel's "Zadok The Priest" and additional coronation anthems, a copy of which was then gifted to Buckingham Palace as the city's gift on the occasion of the Coronation of King Charles III
City of Bristol is a keen advocate and supporter of new music. In recent years, the band has performed Dr Liz Lane’s “Innovation 216” tribute to Concorde - beneath the wings of the iconic aircraft itself! - at Aerospace Bristol in 2020, before giving the premiere performance of Laura Shipsey’s “Of Far Flung Skies” in a performance at St George’s which was recorded and broadcast on BBC Radio 3
In September 2022, the band presented its new performance project, “Eastern Horizons” which featured the premiere performance of two new works composed especially for City of Bristol by Hong Kong born (and BBC National Orchestra of Wales performed) composer Mandy Leung, plus the title suite by British Army composer Gareth Trott
In December 2022, City of Bristol also presented its new Christmas package “The Snowman Live” at the Curzon Cinema, Clevedon, which saw two sell-out performances. Such was the success of the project, the performance was repeated in December 2023 in four sell out performances at both the Curzon and also St George's, Bristol
City of Bristol Brass Band is always keen to work with new partners and venues. New performance partners for 2023 included 1532 Performing Arts Centre, Trinity Academy, Rock Choir South West England, Homechoir, UWE Singers and more. The band was delighted to again work with the Curzon Cinema on their 111th anniversary celebrations in May, performing our popular "Day at the Movies" concert, which included live performance screenings of early films by British film pioneer William Haggar, and the English premiere of Christopher Painter's transcription for brass of Grace Williams' "Mountain Scene" (from The Blue Scar), the first film soundtrack written by a female composer
In 2024, the band will feature in a Lord of the Rings themed concert project, marking the 70th anniversary of the publication of J. R. R. Tolkien's iconic fantasy classic. Performances will be undertaken in massed bands with South Wales' Lewis Merthyr Band at the prestigious Oriana Festival at St Elvan's, Cynon Valley in May, and again at Bristol Cathedral in September
Further details of all the band’s forthcoming events and projects are available in the Events page of this site, or for up to the minute information on the band and its activities, please do connect with us via our social media channels on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram
City of Bristol Brass Band will continue to make music at the highest level, offer musical education opportunities for local people of all ages, and continue to support our local community in Bristol and wider, as the band has done continuously since 1936
City of Bristol Brass Band itself was formed in 1936 by local businessman H S Perry (who also played euphonium in the band) and the former Lord Mayor of Bristol, William George Cozens. Originally entitled “Fishponds British Legion Band”, the band adopted its present title in the mid 1960s
City of Bristol has been highly successful in both concert and competition throughout its history, becoming ODBBA, GBBA and West of England Regional Champions, and has also represented the city and region in the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain on numerous occasions. In March 2024, the band were again crowned West of England First Section Champions, being placed first out of 18 bands in the 2024 championships at the Riviera Centre, Torquay. As a result, in September 2024, City of Bristol will go on to represent the West of England in the Finals of the National Championships of Great Britain at The Centaur, Cheltenham, and will be promoted to Championship section in 2025
The band has performed at a wealth of venues across the UK, including the Royal Albert Hall and Alexandra Palace, London; De Montfort Hall, Leicester; The Centaur, Cheltenham; Riviera Centre, Torquay, St George’s, Bristol and many more
In June 2022, the band was delighted to perform as part of the Tall Ships Festival at Llanthony Secunda Priory, Gloucester, and also to support the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, performing as part of a massed Hallelujah Chorus flash mob throughout Bristol, culminating at Bristol Cathedral and College Green
In September 2022, the band broadened its performance horizons further, travelling to Colorado, USA, to perform in the Estes Park International Tattoo and Long’s Peak International Scottish-Irish Highland Festival. The band made history while in Colorado: the sad passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II took place while the band were mid-rehearsal for the 2022 Estes Park International Tattoo. Just six minutes after the announcement of the passing of Her Majesty, the band together with the 3rd US Marine Aircraft Wing Band, became the first performers in 70 years to perform "God Save The King", and one day later appeared in the first major international event to perform the same
The band's achievements continued in 2023, with City of Bristol performing in "Sing For The King", which saw the band perform together with a massed choir of 650 voices (this year being the 650th anniversary of Bristol city) at Bristol Cathedral, in a performance of Handel's "Zadok The Priest" and additional coronation anthems, a copy of which was then gifted to Buckingham Palace as the city's gift on the occasion of the Coronation of King Charles III
City of Bristol is a keen advocate and supporter of new music. In recent years, the band has performed Dr Liz Lane’s “Innovation 216” tribute to Concorde - beneath the wings of the iconic aircraft itself! - at Aerospace Bristol in 2020, before giving the premiere performance of Laura Shipsey’s “Of Far Flung Skies” in a performance at St George’s which was recorded and broadcast on BBC Radio 3
In September 2022, the band presented its new performance project, “Eastern Horizons” which featured the premiere performance of two new works composed especially for City of Bristol by Hong Kong born (and BBC National Orchestra of Wales performed) composer Mandy Leung, plus the title suite by British Army composer Gareth Trott
In December 2022, City of Bristol also presented its new Christmas package “The Snowman Live” at the Curzon Cinema, Clevedon, which saw two sell-out performances. Such was the success of the project, the performance was repeated in December 2023 in four sell out performances at both the Curzon and also St George's, Bristol
City of Bristol Brass Band is always keen to work with new partners and venues. New performance partners for 2023 included 1532 Performing Arts Centre, Trinity Academy, Rock Choir South West England, Homechoir, UWE Singers and more. The band was delighted to again work with the Curzon Cinema on their 111th anniversary celebrations in May, performing our popular "Day at the Movies" concert, which included live performance screenings of early films by British film pioneer William Haggar, and the English premiere of Christopher Painter's transcription for brass of Grace Williams' "Mountain Scene" (from The Blue Scar), the first film soundtrack written by a female composer
In 2024, the band will feature in a Lord of the Rings themed concert project, marking the 70th anniversary of the publication of J. R. R. Tolkien's iconic fantasy classic. Performances will be undertaken in massed bands with South Wales' Lewis Merthyr Band at the prestigious Oriana Festival at St Elvan's, Cynon Valley in May, and again at Bristol Cathedral in September
Further details of all the band’s forthcoming events and projects are available in the Events page of this site, or for up to the minute information on the band and its activities, please do connect with us via our social media channels on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram
City of Bristol Brass Band will continue to make music at the highest level, offer musical education opportunities for local people of all ages, and continue to support our local community in Bristol and wider, as the band has done continuously since 1936
Charitable Status
City of Bristol Brass Band is a registered charity (1152249)
If you would be interested in learning more about how you can support or donate to the band, please click here
If you would be interested in learning more about how you can support or donate to the band, please click here
