U.S. Open Brass Band Championships

11/23/2024

...and we're off! What an exciting performance from Motor City Academy Brass Band to get the 2024 U.S. Open Brass Band Championships started!
Bravo!

11/19/2024

Please join us this weekend for an incredible day of music making...9 Brass bands, 9 completely different programs!

Hear from Christopher Ward about the upcoming U.S. Open Brass Band Championships!

11/19/2024

Our new 2024 heathered green t-shirts and pint glasses will be available for sale at Gravel Capital Brewery for the Buskers Night and at Clarkston High School Performing Arts Center for the U.S. Open.

t-shirt = $20
pint glass = $10
cash or card is accepted

11/22/24 - 8:00 pm - Buskers @ GravCap Brewing

11/23/24 - 9:30 am - U.S. Open Brass Band Championships @ Clarkston High School Performing Arts Center

Please come support the bands and grab some souvenirs!

11/15/2024

November 23rd, 2024

Clarkston High School Performing Arts Center
6093 Flemings Lake Rd, Independence Charter Township, MI 48346

U.S. Open Schedule-

9:30 am- Motor City Academy Brass Band
10:15 am- Mid-Michigan Brass Band
11:00 am- Motor City Brass Band
11:45 am- Old Crown Brass Band

12:00 pm- 1:30 pm- Lunch

12:30 pm- Buskers top three performance

1:30 pm- Five Lakes Metro Brass
2:15 pm- Paul Lovatt-Cooper Masterclass

3:15 pm- Chicago Brass Band
4:00 pm- Dublin Silver Band
4:45 pm- Five Lakes Silver Band

5:45 pm- Clarkston and Tri County High School Brass Band

6:30 pm- Awards

Tickets are available at the door, and can be purchased with cash or card (kids under 12 years old get in for free).
Food and snacks are available for purchase at the venue, so you don’t have to leave and miss any performances.

We hope to see you there! This is going to be a fantastic day of music making!

11/08/2024

Our special guest this year is Paul Lovatt-Cooper!

Paul is no stranger to these types of brass band events. As a composer, his music has been chosen and performed at competitions all over the world.

Over the past three years, we have put an emphasis on education at the U.S. Open. In 2022, we had David King here working with bands and teaching private lessons throughout the day of the contest. In 2023, we had Philip Hannevik here working with Motor City Academy Brass Band and the Clarkston High School Brass Band, conducting both groups in an item at the open, and presenting a masterclass on performance preparation and dealing with performance anxiety.

This year, Paul Lovatt-Cooper is coming to work with Five Lakes Metro Brass and a combined Clarkston High School Brass Band and the newly formed Dakota High School Brass Band. Paul will be conducting both bands in two of his compositions...Vitae Aeternum (FLMB) and Wall of Sound (Clarkston and Dakota). In addition to that, Paul will be presenting a masterclass on composition.

We are thrilled to have Paul with us for the weekend and he is looking forward to being here and meeting everyone.

We hope you will join us for the day and come and say hi to our guest!

Tickets are on sale at the door, cash or charge.
A souvenir program comes with your ticket, and you'll have the opportunity to hear 9 bands perform varied programs throughout the day!

U.S. Open Brass Band Championships
Saturday, November 23rd at 9:30 am.

10/17/2024

Day three of announcing our adjudicators for 2024.

Please join us in welcoming Jamie Hood.

Jamie is recognised across the US and Europe as an educator, soloist and conductor. Born in
Scotland, Jamie is a product of the Salvation Army banding tradition and began cornet lessons
with his father at the age of four. After moving to Alsace, France at 14, Jamie continued his
education studying with Marc Ullirch, Philippe Litzler and James Gourlay.
Jamie then studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama with Nigel Boddice and Roger Webster and during this time played with The Co-operative Funeralcare Band and The Kirkintilloch Band. After a period of two years he moved back to Alsace and began studies with the American trumpet
teacher and composer Anthony Plog at the Musikhochschule in Freiburg, Germany and Pierre
Thibaud in Paris, France.
Jamie currently resides in Atlanta GA with his family and is in demand as a freelance trumpet
player, teacher and conductor.

10/16/2024

Day two of our 2024 U.S. Open adjudicator announcements....

Please join us in welcoming Tom Davoren!

Tom Davoren is Director of Bands and Instrumental Music at Benedictine College, Kansas, in the USA. He led the brass band and conducting course at the University of Salford from 2015 - 2019, and was awarded a doctorate in conducting from the University of Kansas in 2022. In 2023 he was named a ‘Wales to the World’ award winner by his Alma Mater, Cardiff University.

As an adjudicator he has officiated at the championship section level for the national championships of Switzerland and New Zealand, the U.S. Open and Masters, Scottish Open, and the Scottish and Yorkshire regionals, as well as sections 1 - 4 of the British national championships. He has also judged wind bands at the highest level, officiating at the Jeju International Festival in South Korea, and the Lithuanian Band Championships.

His brass band test pieces have been selected as set works in Great Britain, the U.S.A., France, Switzerland, Australia, and at the World Music Championships in the Netherlands. His concert music is award winning, receiving the American National Band Association Merrill Jones Award in 2021, and has been premiered by the finest ensembles and soloists from across the world; including ‘The President’s Own’ United States Marine Band (USA), the University of Kansas (USA), Michigan State University Wind (USA), the Central Band of the Royal Air Force (UK), Massed Bands of the Royal Corps of Army Music (UK), Cory Band (UK), Tredegar Band (UK), Valasia Band (Switzerland), trumpet soloist Jens Lindemann, and euphonium soloists Hiram Diaz and Glenn Van Looy. His music has also been featured at major festivals and conferences including the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic, American Bandmasters Association Convention, College Band Directors National Association Regional and National Conference, Jeju International Festival, World Association of Symphonic Bands and Wind Ensembles Conference, and International Trumpet Guild and Tuba Euphonium Association Conferences.

Tom began his conducting career with the BTM Band in 2009. From 2012 - 2019 he directed Filton Band to championship status; wining the Spring Festival Senior Cup and Senior Trophy, First Section National, multiple first section Regional, and multiple Welsh Open championships along the way. He also served as professional conductor to Desford Colliery Band (2014 - 2016), resident conductor to the Fairey Band (2015 - 2019), and directed the National Youth and Training Bands of Wales (2015). In 2023 he was named Professional Conductor to Tokyo City Concert Brass in Japan, only the third in the history of band after Richard Evans and Ian Porthouse. As a player, Tom began on Eb tuba in Burry Port Town Band in South Wales and studied with Nigel Seaman at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. After a period at the Buy as You View Band he finished the playing part of his career with Flowers Band.

Tom holds a diploma in tuba performance from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Bachelors and Masters degrees in composition from Cardiff University, and a D.M.A. in Wind Conducting from the University of Kansas, where he studied with Paul W. Popiel.

10/15/2024

U.S. Open bands and friends. Have you booked your room yet? Looking for a discount? You have until October 23rd to make your discounted room reservations and after that date the remaining guest rooms will be released for general sale.

US Open Brass Bands Booking Link:

10/15/2024

We are 39 days away from the 2024 U.S. Open Brass Band Championships!

Over the next few days, we are going to announce our three adjudicators for this year.

Our first adjudicator announcement for 2024 is Jessica Sneeringer.

Please join us in welcoming Jessica!

Jessica Sneeringer is a graduate of The Ohio State University earning Bachelor’s Degrees in both Music Education and Trombone Performance as well as a Masters Degree in Music Education. Jessica is currently in her 25th year of teaching, this being her 20th year as the Director of Bands at Columbus Academy in Gahanna, Ohio as well as the Chair of the Performing Arts Department and the Dixon Art Chair Award Recipient.

Jessica has been a clinician, adjudicator, and coach for several outstanding student groups and is currently on staff at Jazz Arts Group (Columbus) as the director of the Columbus Youth Jazz Ensemble as well as the director of the Columbus Community Jazz Band. A freelance trombonist, Jessica plays lead with the Springfield Symphony Jazz Orchestra (under the direction of Todd Stoll) and occasionally with the Columbus Jazz Orchestra. She has performed with the 1999 Disney Collegiate All-Star Band (lead), Athena Brass Band (bass), Monarch Brass (bass), Johnny Mathis, The Who, We Banjo 3, a variety of other ensembles. Jessica is a member of the Phi Beta Mu Bandmasters Fraternity, the American School Band Directors Association, and the Women Band Director’s International.

Jessica has gained a reputation for being an engaging, energetic, and artistic conductor. Over the 16 years that she conducted the Central Ohio Brass Band the group enjoyed much success, including being 1st Section Champions a record five times at the North American Brass Band Association Championships; the band was invited to such prestigious events as the Great American Brass Band Festival, the Butlins Contest in the UK, the Ohio Music Education Association Conference, and the 2019 International Trombone Festival. Having left COBB’s podium in 2020, Jessica moved to the NABBA adjudication panel. She has also been an adjudicator at the US Open and the Dublin Festival of Brass and will be a clinician for the 2025 Mid-Atlantic Brass Band Festival. Since 2012, Jessica has been the conductor of the Athena Brass Band and is honored to have had the opportunity to conduct the band at the 2021 Midwest Clinic as well as the IWBC 2024 Conference in Japan. Athena is looking forward to performing at the RNCM Festival of Brass in January 2025. Visit www.athenabrassband.com to learn more about joining and supporting the band.

Jessica makes her home in Gahanna, Ohio with her kids Josh and Jordan.

09/21/2024

We are only 63 days away from the 20th US Open Brass Band Championships!!!

Here are the links to register your Band and or Busker groups for the 2024 U.S. Open Brass Band Championships. The deadline fir bands is October 4th!

Come and join us for an incredible weekend of music making as we celebrate 20 years of the US Open.

Don't miss out!

November 22nd- Buskers
November 23rd- Entertainment Contest

Band Registration Link:

https://forms.gle/X75nqECGrmLbKUWk7

Buskers Registration Link:

https://forms.gle/zXhm4fLB4Lz1huMd9

This online registration form for the 2024 US Open Brass Band Championships is due no later than Friday, October 4, 2024. Scores must also be uploaded to this folder no later than Friday, October 4, 2024.

08/21/2024

Here are the links to register your Band and or Busker groups for the 2024 U.S. Open Brass Band Championships.
If you're planning on playing a concert with your band this Fall, then there is no reason to not participate in the U.S. Open!

Come and join us for an incredible weekend of encouragement and high level music making! The hang and comradery between the bands has been extremely good the past couple of years.
Don't miss out!

November 22nd- Buskers
November 23rd- Entertainment Contest

Band Registration Link:

https://forms.gle/X75nqECGrmLbKUWk7

Buskers Registration Link:

https://forms.gle/zXhm4fLB4Lz1huMd9

This online registration form for the 2024 US Open Brass Band Championships is due no later than Friday, October 4, 2024. Scores must also be postmarked no later than Friday, October 4, 2024.

04/22/2024

Mark your calendar with the U.S. Open Brass Band Championships dates...we want to see your band there!

November 22, 2024- Buskers Preview @ GravCap Brewery
November 23, 2024- Entertainment Contest @ Clarkston High School Performing Arts Center

You can register your band here:
https://www.usopenbrass.org

01/23/2024

We are happy to share the Dublin Silver Band's performance from the U.S. Open Brass Band Championships!

DSB always puts together a well thought out, creative program, full of new arrangements!

Please enjoy!

01/17/2024

Here is the Capital City Brass Band, who came 2nd in the Challenge Section!

Please support the band by checking out their exciting performance!

Remember to mark you calendars with the dates for this year's U.S. Open Brass Band Championships!

November 22nd- Buskers
November 23rd- Championships

CCBB performance at the 2023 U.S. Open Brass Band Championship, November 18, 2023. Program includes:1. Olympic-Fanfare-and-Theme — Williams arr. Graham 01...

01/09/2024

We love our friends from up north!
Weston Silver Band

Great band, great program!

We hope you enjoy!

Clarkston Performing Arts CenterClarkston, MichiganSaturday, 18 November 2023Program:00:00 - Intro00:51 Great North Overture (Kevin Lau)07:56 Resilience (Kev...

12/26/2023

Happy Holidays to everyone!

Our next band up is the Motor City Brass Band! MCBB is the oldest competitive brass band in Michigan, and successfully retained their title as Challenge Section Champions at this year's U.S. Open Brass Band Championships!

Please enjoy their program!

If you are part of a band and are interested in participating at the U.S. Open in 2024, the dates are already set!

November 22nd- Buskers
November 23rd- U.S. Open Brass Band Championships

The Championships will again be held in Clarkston, Michigan!

We'd love to see you there!

Gordon Ward, Music Director & ConductorClarkston Performing Arts CenterClarkston, MichiganSaturday, 18 November 2023James Bond Collection - arr Goff Richards...

12/22/2023

We are pleased to start releasing videos of the band's performances from the 2023 U.S. Open Brass Band Championships!

This year we are starting with Five Lakes Silver Band 's winning performance in the Championship Section!

The band was also recently nominated for Band of the Year by 4barsrest.com!

Congratulations, FLSB!

Special thanks to Rick Castillo and Steve Ditmer for all of their hard work on the audio and video!

https://youtu.be/XZm51MFfR3M?si=AfPu0ac1ZsSxQtB6

We are excited to present to you our U.S. Open Brass Band Championships winning performance on November 18th 2023.Program:2:09 Enter the Galaxies - Paul Lova...