North American Brass Band Association


The North American Brass Band Association is among the organizations whose goal is to promote brass banding in North America. Brass banding is already quite popular in the United Kingdom, where the traditional British brass band style is from.
Although "NABBA" technically refers to the organization, many members of bands use "NABBA" to specifically refer to the annual Championships competition held during the spring.

Publication

The Brass Band Bridge is the official publication of the North American Brass Band Association. The first issue was in 1980, and since then it has been roughly a quarterly publication.

Annual competition

Each year in late winter or early spring, a competition is held for brass bands across North America to compete. Four sections, or difficulty levels, exist for adults: 3rd Section, 2nd Section, 1st Section, and Championship Section. A Youth Section also exists and is restricted to performers ages 17 and younger who are enrolled in a primary or secondary school.
Despite the association's name, occasionally a visiting band from overseas will compete, such as the Stavanger Brass Band, from Stavanger, Norway, who in fact won the Championship Section in 2003 and 2014.

Host cities, section winners, test pieces (composers)

YearHost cityChampionship1st section2nd section3rd section
2010Raleigh, North CarolinaFountain City - Variations on an Enigma Central Ohio - Triumphant Rhapsody Spires - Danceries Oakland University* - Postcards from Home
2011Grand Rapids, MichiganAtlantic Brass Band - On the Shoulder of Giants Central Ohio - On Ratcliff Highway Natural State* - Penlee Capital City - Haydock Variiations
2012Cincinnati, OhioAtlantic Brass Band - Masquerade Central Ohio - Pageantry Madison - The Dark Side of the Moon Bend in the River - Jubilus
2013Cincinnati, OhioPrinceton - Elgar Variations Five Lakes - Four Dances from "Checkmate" Chesapeake Silver Cornet - Labour and Love Chapel Brass - Saint-Saens Variations
2014Grand Rapids, MichiganStavanger - Symphony in Two Movements Oakland University - Connotations Weston Silver Band - Laudate Dominum Crossroads - Partita for Brass Band
2015Fort Wayne, IndianaFountain CityWeston Silver Band -Dublin Silver Band - Prisms Chapel Brass - Dancing in the Park
2016Fort Wayne, IndianaFountain City - From Ancient Times Pike's Peak - The Alchymist’s Journal Capital City - Fanfares and Love Songs Milwaukee Festival Brass - The Graces of Love
2017Fort Wayne, IndianaAtlantic Brass BandWeston Silver BandRockville Brass BandMilwaukee Festival Brass

As part of the annual competition, 11 different categories of solo contests are also held:
  1. Adult High Brass Slow Melody – Any Age
  2. Adult High Brass Technical Work – Any Age
  3. Adult Low Brass Slow Melody – Any Age
  4. Adult Low Brass Technical Work – Any Age
  5. Adult High Brass Slow Melody ‐ Senior
  6. Adult High Brass Technical Work – Senior
  7. Adult Low Brass Slow Melody – Senior
  8. Adult Low Brass Technical Work – Senior
  9. Youth Brass Solo – must be 17 years of age or younger or enrolled in a primary or secondary school.
  10. Adult Percussion Solo
  11. Youth Percussion Solo – must be 17 years of age or younger or enrolled in a primary or secondary school.
Although each section is individually scored and winners are announced accordingly, the overall Best Soloist each year typically wins a brand new instrument donated by its manufacturer.

History

Member bands

Source

Associated festivals and competitions

Gateway Brass Band Championship,, November. http://www.gatewatbrassbandchampionship.org/