The UK's largest wind band and big band festival comes to Monmouth. On Sunday, November 28th, Monmouth School will be hosting the West of England/South Wales Regional Festival of this national event and the joint Haberdashers' Monmouth Symphonic Winds will be participating with other bands that will travel from as far as Swansea and Truro.  The NCBF is a celebration of symphonic wind and big band music on a national level and is run as part of the educational wing of BASBWE (British Association of Symphonic Bands and Wind Ensembles).

At both regional and national events, bands receive adjudications from experts in the field that measure what is seen and heard against a set of established criteria rather than comparisons being made between participating bands.  Awards of Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze are made based on these criteria.

After a successful workshop on Sunday the 10th October and the follow up concert on Monday 12th October the joint Symphonic Winds are looking forward to performing their demanding programme at this Regional Festival.

There will be another opportunity to audition their programme before the 28th November when they will be performing at the HMSG assembly on Friday 5th November.  Be prepared for musical fireworks on that morning.