• In 1995 Alan Corry was asked to provide music for
a concert in aid of Tor Bank Special School, Dundonald, to
raise funds for the school and also raise public
awareness of the school's role in the community. Alan made
contact with a number of friends from various brass bands
in the greater Belfast area and in September 1995 a group
of approximately thirty amateur musicians performed for the
first time as "Festival Brass", with Alan as their
conductor. The
concert, originally intended to be a one off performance,
was a resounding success and a number of requests were received
for Festival Brass to perform again. The members, encouraged
by the success of this venture, decided to continue for the
benefit of those in need. The band has raised funds in excess
of £200k for various charities.
• Festival Brass now perform on average six times a
year, and have shared the stage with many well known artists
such as West End stars Jeff Leyton (Les Misérables),
Joanna Ampil (Les Misérables), Alex Sharpe (Miss Saigon),
Carmen Cusack and our very own Peter Corry.
• Festival Brass have also performed at music festivals in Spain on a number of occasions, as well as on a Mediterranean Sea cruise.
Future concerts
Some of the concerts for 2018 are detailed below and on our events page. We look forward to meeting our friends who regularly attend our concerts, as well as some new friends. 
Festival Brass will hold its annual 'Festive Brass and Voices' concert on Saturday 8th December 2018 in Glenmachan Church of God, Belfast. The concert starts at 7.30pm and will feature Father Martin O'Hagan, Cruinniú and compere Gerry Kelly. The concert poster can be opened for download by clicking here.
- 'A Musical Evening' - Saturday 30th March 2019 at 7.30pm in Glenmachan Church of God, Glenmachan Road, Belfast, BT4 2NN. Festival Brass with Peter Corry, the Northern Ireland Concert Band and compere Wilfred Pyper MBE. Tickets are £12 from Festival Brass (07980 306425) - postal only. Glenmachan Church office (028 9076 1676) - collection only. Matchetts Music, Wellington Place, Belfast (028 9032 6695) - cash or cheque only. Belfast Music Supplies - Ballyhanwood Buiness Park, Dundonald (028 9048 1010) - cash or cheque only.
Festival Brass on Facebook
Festival Brass is also embracing the latest social networking; to visit our Facebook page please click here.
Festival Brass performing in Holywood parish church on Saturday 27th October 2018.
