At the start of his 60th birthday year, Edward Gregson is to be one of the featured composers at the 2005 RNCM Festival of Brass. From Friday 21 to Sunday 23 January, bands such as the Grimethorpe Colliery (UK Coal) Band, the Buy As You View Cory Band, the Fodens Richardson Band, the Brighouse and Rastrick Band, the International Staff Band of the Salvation Army, and the Black Dyke Band will play Gregson works spanning his whole composing career. Featured works include:

  • Connotations
  • Of Men and Mountains
  • Concerto for French Horn and Brass (soloist: Jeff Nelson)
  • Tuba Concerto (soloist: James Gourlay)
  • March – Dalaro
  • Symphonic Rhapsody
  • Variations on ‘Laudate Dominum’
  • Dances and Arias
  • An Age of Kings.

In addition, Edward Gregson has contributed to a special set of variations to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Michael Tippett, which is also being celebrated at the Festival. This piece, including variations by Ball, Howarth, Tovey and Wilby, will have its world première at the evening concert on Saturday 22 January.

The Festival also celebrates the 70th birthday of Elgar Howarth, and the 65th of John McCabe. It will be held at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, with concerts taking place in the Haden Freeman Concert Hall. Tickets are available now from the RNCM Box Office (tel. 0161 907 5555 or visit www.rncm.ac.uk for more details).