Foden's receive Heritage Lottery Funding

Mark Wilkinson • May 10, 2021

Foden’s are pleased to announce that they have been successful in an application to the Heritage Lottery Fund for £26,400. The total project cost is £29,910 with the Heritage Lottery awarding an 88% grant to this project.


This latest award will see the Cheshire based Band record un-published works which will be uploaded to their heritage website www.fodensbandheritage.co.uk as well as a large number of new and innovative videos. To build on their community links a piece of Public Art, an interactive information board with QR codes, will be housed in Sandbach to attract and inform local interest to supporting the band’s heritage and culture. To increase awareness of the band and local history, 20 members of their Youth and Junior Bands will undertake the ‘Arts Awards Scheme’ working with a heritage artist resulting in the young people attaining a nationally recognised award. The main part of the project will see the bands archive housed in a central location where visitors will be able to view the artefacts in person as well as via a virtual tour. A new work will be commissioned to celebrate the opening of the ‘Museum’ as well as a launch concert to an invited audience. 


Speaking about the project Mark Wilkinson commented ‘We would like to thank the ‘Heritage Lottery Fund’ for the award which comes on the back of a previous grant in 2016. The grant enables us to protect and share our history as well as working with our younger members and community to gain a greater understanding of the band. To increase the outreach of the project, we will be collaborating with a number of partners and this includes furthering the work of our recently awarded Arts Council England grant where we are working with a group of young people with hearing impairments to add sign language and subtitles to make the heritage accessible to all. The Trustees of the band are extremely grateful to Vice President Carole Crompton for her work in submitting this bid. The association with Carole has now resulted in six combined successful applications to both the Heritage Lottery Fund and Arts Council England over a five-year period.’

Market Drayton - 22nd March 2026

By Mark Wilkinson • January 19, 2026
Tickets are now on sale for the bands return visit to the Festival Drayton Centre in Market Drayton The concert commences at 2pm with tickets available via www.festivaldraytoncentre.com or 01630 654444

Foden’s Band enters percussion partnership with Adams Percussion

By Mark Wilkinson • January 15, 2026
Foden’s Band has entered into a new partnership with Adams Percussion, world’s leading manufacturer of professional percussion instruments. As part of the partnership, Foden’s Band will perform on a full Adams percussion setup, supporting the band’s continued focus on musical quality, consistency and reliability at the highest level. Adams Percussion instruments are widely used by professional orchestras, ensembles and soloists worldwide. The partnership brings together two organisations with long-standing reputations in their respective fields. Foden’s Band is one of the most successful and historically significant brass bands in the world, while Adams Percussion has built a strong international reputation for its timpani, keyboard percussion and concert percussion instruments. Ruud Corstjens of Adams Percussion said: “We are very pleased to begin this partnership with Foden’s Band. Foden’s is an iconic name within the British brass band tradition, with an exceptional competitive and musical history. The band has a superb percussion section, and we are proud that our instruments will support their work in rehearsals and performance. We were introduced to the band through our euphonium artist Gary Curtin, and I would like to thank him for his role in helping to bring this partnership together.”  On behalf of Foden's Mark Landon commented 'We are delighted to enter into a partnership with Adams Percussion who are widely regarded as the World's leading Percussion provider. The partnership will see Foden's use the entire range of Adams Percussion instruments across our rehearsals, concerts and recordings, with a shared focus on musical excellence and long-term collaboration.'

Burton upon Trent 15th February 2026

By Mark Wilkinson • January 14, 2026
Foden's return to Burton-upon-Trent and its' spectacular town hall for an afternoon concert showcasing their award winning Entertainment set 'Exodus : Moses in Egypt' and World Class soloists in a programme with music to suit all tastes! Burton Town Hall Sunday 15th February, 2026 2pm  www.burtontownhall.co.uk/events/ or 01283 508100

Professor John Wallace CBE (1949–2026)

By Mark Wilkinson • January 14, 2026
Foden’s are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Professor John Wallace CBE (1949–2026), a towering figure in the brass world. John’s lifelong commitment to brass music, his artistry, and his inspirational leadership enriched our community, and we are proud to have counted him as a Vice‑President of the band. His passion for excellence and his generosity of spirit touched countless musicians and audiences alike. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and to all whose lives were shaped by his remarkable contribution to brass music.

2026 RNCM International Brass Band Festival

By Mark Wilkinson • January 12, 2026
Preparations are well underway for Foden's Band appearance at this years Brass Band Festival at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, with their opening performance of the festival taking place on Friday 23rd January at 7:30pm! Heartwarming melodies infused with lyrical lines and bright fanfares in Thomas Doss 'A Fanfare of Bells' mark the opening of this concert, setting the stage for an RNCM International Brass Brand Festival commission and world premiere, Claire Cope’s 'The Green Chapel', featuring Bones Apart Trombone Quartet. Next, a piece by the Band’s Artistic Director, Paul Mealor, offers a meditative journey shaped by his walks in the natural landscapes of North Wales. Each movement draws on a line from James Agee’s poem Sure on this Shining Night, bringing the first half of the concert to a contemplative close. Paul Hindmarsh’s brass band arrangement of Britten’s 'Prelude and Courtly Dances from Gloriana' opens the second half and paves the way for a newly re-scored version of Edmund Rubbra’s 'Variations on the Shining River', inspired by a nighttime walk along the River Ness in Scotland. Concluding the evening, Foden's will perform Philip Sparke’s 'Partita' – written in 1989 as a commission for Norway’s renowned Eikanger-Bjørsvik Musikklag. Tickets are available directly from the RNCM website, by visiting: www.rncm.ac.uk/performance/fodens-band/ 

Foden's return to Northern Ireland

By Mark Wilkinson • January 8, 2026
Foden's are excited to announce that they will return to Armagh on Saturday 31st January 2026 for their annual Gala Concert and FREE day-workshop in partnership with the Armagh Old Boys Silver Band. WORKSHOP DETAILS: Brass Blast with Foden's Band (Open for all ages - this is an opportunity to come and play alongside Foden's Band) 12:00pm - 2:30pm 1st Presbyterian Church Armagh Please contact Julie-Anne or Ivor Stevenson for further information and numbers for catering purposes For further information and tickets please contact: Julie-Anne Stevenson: jastevenson4@hotmail.com Ivor Stevenson: ivorbob@hotmail.com or 07734303005 Gordon Stewart: 07889286427 Dessie Watson: 07828693611 The event is thanks to the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the Department for Communities

2026 Intensive sectional dates added

By Mark Wilkinson • December 23, 2025
Following the success of last months sectionals (which saw over 100 musicians travel to Sandbach to work on next year Area test pieces) Foden's are delighted to announce further dates in 2026! In addition to the brass sessions previously provided, the North West Champions will provide workshop sessions for eager percussionists (across the four sections) with all the various percussion instruments provided in their band room. Conductors can arrange online sessions with Michael Fowels  17th January - Euphs / Baris - Gary Curtin 17/18th January - Trombones - John Barber 18th January - Basses - Andy Cattanach 24th January - Cornets / Sopranos - Mark Wilkinson 25th January - Percussion - Mark Landon 7th February - Horns / Flugels - Mike Eccles Further information can be obtained via marklwilky@hotmail.com prior to the 10th January deadline

Foden's announce the signing of Mike Eccles

By Mark Wilkinson • December 23, 2025
Foden's are delighted to announce the signing of Mike Eccles on Flugel Horn following the departure of Melanie Whyle. Mike is no stranger to Foden's having originally joined in 1998 on 3rd cornet, holding various positions within the section culminating in the band’s Nationals victory in 1999. Following his departure from Foden's, Mike held positions with YBS and Hepworth Bands, before joining Fairey’s in 2004. Whilst at Fairey's, he moved onto flugel and became the musical director of the Acid Brass project. After 11 years at Fairey’s, he joined Brighouse and Rastrick where he spent the next 10 years leaving after their British Open victory in September. Musical Director Michael Fowles commented: “Mike is a fine musician and a high quality, established soloist who I’m looking forward to working with very much, he will be a great addition to Foden's.”

Long serving members Paul McDonald and Melanie Whyle leave Foden's

By Mark Wilkinson • December 23, 2025
Foden's final concert of the year saw the departure of Solo Cornet player Paul McDonald and Flugel Melanie Whyle who are both leaving the band due to a combination of work and family reasons. Paul originally joined Foden's in 2002, and since 2013 has been the band’s 'bumper up' with Mel originally joining on repiano in 2011 before switching to Flugel Horn. Despite the pair leaving the Band, Paul will continue to provide Web / IT support with Mel deputising for the band when needed as well as continuing as the Foden's Youth Band’s administrator. Conductor Michael Fowles thanked both members for their long and dedicated service as well as presenting them with a framed photo! 

2025 Annual Christmas Concert & Awards

By Mark Wilkinson • December 15, 2025
On Sunday 14th December Foden's brought 2025 to a close with their annual Christmas Concert in Sandbach being joined by their amazing community band; before, during the interval and also for a massed encore of Jingle Bells! The band also took the opportunity to award their two annual awards, both of which are voted for by members of the band , this year's recipients are: BANDSPERSON OF THE YEAR - DARREN LEA