Welcome to the home of Foresters Brass, Championship Section Brass Band located in Leicester.
Proudly sponsored by the Foresters Friendly Society.
About Us
Foresters Brass, located in Leicester, are a well established band supported by the Foresters Friendly Society.
Bread Street Mission Band
Foresters Brass is based in Leicester and draws players from around the Midlands.
The band can trace its roots back to 1902, forming as the ‘Bread Street Mission Band’. Via several other guises, including The Leicestershire Constabulary Band and the Leicester Home Guard Band, the band began its association with The Foresters Friendly Society in 1957, which is thought to be the longest unbroken sponsorship of any brass band in the country.
Foresters Brass is enormously proud to spread the Foresters name around the UK and overseas, and is grateful to the Foresters Friendly Society for its on-going support. The band has achieved many notable successes over the years, performing in prestigious venues such as the Royal Albert Hall and gaining numerous contest successes, including French Open Champions, and appearances at the National Brass Band Championships in 2017 and 2018.
By Royal Appointment
After a brief rebuilding period, Foresters are once again becoming a huge force within the region. Foresters Band are proud to have grown and nurtured young talent.
Our ex-Solo Horn, Siobhan Bates, is now playing with the World famous Black Dyke band at the age of 18, once again on Solo Horn, having spent time performing with the GUS Virtuosi Band, Fairey's, and is even known to don the famous red jacket of Cory Band, once again, on Solo Horn.
Foresters also was the starting point for Mat Hampton, once our Principal Cornet. Mat now works regularly for the Royal Shakespeare Company alongside teaching and nurturing talent across the Midlands in his Teaching roles, having completed his studies on Trumpet at Birmingham Conservatoire.
Pedigree
Soprano Cornet Steph Ayton is fast becoming a prolific teacher within the Midlands, having completed her studies on Trumpet at Birmingham Conservatoire. Such is her interest in the band, Steph has recently been voted Foresters' Band Chairperson, and as such represents the band at all formal concerts, meetings and is the point of contact through the band.
Solo Euphonium Ben started off his banding with his parents in the local Harborough Band on percussion, Foresters Brass 2000 for another 2 years. He then joined the The GUS Band at the age of 15. He started playing the Euphonium at the age of 11 and developed quickly, becoming Principal Euphonium for the Northamptonshire County Training Brass Band under the direction of Gary Fountain. Ben progressed into the award winning County Youth Brass Band and became Principal Euphonium in his 2nd year with the band. Ben has also been a member of the European Championship winning Youth Brass 2000, spending periods on Principal Euphonium along with a stint as Principal Percussionist and a tour with the band on Trombone.
Ben is now in his 2nd year at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, enjoying his tuition under Matthew White.
Foresters Brass is proud to promote and encourage its younger players, and has close links with the award-winning Youth Brass 2000. Several of the band’s younger players are also members of the National Children’s Brass Band of Great Britain, and the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain.