Cory Band has held the number one spot in the official brass band world rankings for 15 years uninterrupted, and today’s concert is a celebration of this ongoing achievement by the Welsh ensemble. In the grand venue of Oxford Town Hall, Cory performs a programme of major works for band as well as highlights from its recent concert repertoire - the full programme will be released nearer the concert.
In 2022 Cory successfully defended its European title, and will reprise its stunning performance of Saints Triumphant by Philip Wilby, which the judges described as ‘so complete – with delicacy and power, warmth and sonority’. A tribute to Ralph Vaughan Williams, the piece is based on the hymn tune For All the Saints.
To complete the programme Cory will dazzle and entertain you as only the band which has been the winner of the Brass in Concert Entertainment Contest for seven of the last nine years can do – be prepared to be moved, dazzled and left uplifted!
‘The musical alchemy revelled in its ostentation; high octane, risky and thrilling.’ Iwan Fox, 4barsrest
About the artists:
Cory Band is regarded by many as the finest brass band in history as a result of being the most consistently successful band in all competitions over the last 15 years, and achieving an unprecedented two ‘Grand Slams’ in 2016 and 2019. They are the current Grand Slam champions having won the European, retained the British Open, won the National Championships of Great Britain, retained their Brass in Concert crown and won the newly formed UK Band of Year contest.
The Cory Band is recognised as one the Principality’s finest and most innovative music ensembles. Its numerous CD recordings and live concert performances have received worldwide acclaim.
Philip Harper became Musical Director of the Cory Band in 2012. Since then he has won all the major trophies, including an unprecedented Grand Slam of major titles in 2016: the European, the British Open, the Nationals and Brass in Concert, all won in a single calendar year. As well as becoming the only living conductor to have achieved a conventional Grand Slam, he became the only ever conductor to achieve what has since become known as the ‘Harper Slam’. Philip won the coveted 4barsrest.com Conductor of the Year Award in 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2019. In recent years he was a guest conductor of the Manger Musikklag Band in Norway, the National Youth Brass Band of Wales and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Symphonic Brass, amongst many others.