Foden's recently welcomed Ann Nevitt (former Mayor of Sandbach) and her husband Philip to a rehearsal where the band were presented with a 'substantial' cheque! Between 2024 / 2025 Ann chose Foden's as her 'Mayors Charity' and arranged a large number of fund-raising events including a quiz night, grand draw and concerts in the Area. Speaking on behalf of Foden's Mark Wilkinson commented 'We would like to thank Ann and her team as well the local Community for their support. Ann has spent a tremendous amount of time raising funds which helped contribute towards our costs in representing England at the European Brass Band Championships in Norway earlier this year. Everyone at Foden's is very grateful to Ann and Sandbach Town Council for their continued support and we look forward to working with Ann on a number of future events.'

Foden's are delighted that Mike Lovatt will appear as their guest soloist at the Regent Hall on the eve of the National Finals. Mike is regarded as one of the World's leading Trumpet players who's recording career includes the James Bond films Tomorrow Never Dies and Die Another Day, Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (with The London Symphony Orchestra) the award winning Chicago, Kevin Spacey’s Beyond the Sea, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Madagascar, and The Corpse Bride. In 2018 Mike recorded his first solo album with Foden's and will return to the recording studio with Foden's once again in September. Speaking about the concert Mark Wilkinson commented 'Foden's are delighted to return to the Regent Hall which gives us the opportunity to perform this years set work 'Symphony in Two Movements' by Edward Gregson ahead of our RAH appearance as well as an entertaining programme under the baton of Yamaha artist Russell Gray. We are looking forward to accompanying the fantastic Mike Lovatt who will also be our guest for the London weekend' The concert is supported by Yamaha with tickets available via https://www.priorbooking.com/u/fodens

Five UK bands are collaborating on an innovative project which will commission serious new music from established composers in other genres who have not yet composed for brass band. The initiative is being spearheaded by The cooperation Band, Cory, Flowers, Tredegar and Foden's alongside conductor Martyn Brabbins. The aim is to identify suitable composers, invite them to compose for the genre, and then commit to five 'premiere' performances across the UK, one from each band. Richard Blackford is the first commissioned composer, with the piece being supported and co-commissioned by BBC Radio 3. Blackford ranks among Europe’s leading composers for both concert and media music. His works are performed internationally and his scores for film and television are broadcast widely across nearly every European nation. His acclaimed choral composition Pietà earned the Ivor Novello Composer Award in 2020 and continues to be performed around the world. His new piece for brass band is called Orbital, which is based on Samantha Harvey's 2024 Booker Prize winning novel. The novel, which draws upon the work and research of Carl Sagan, follows six astronauts aboard the International Space Station as they orbit Earth, reflecting on subjects including the existence or nature of God, the meaning of life, and existential threats such as climate change. Schedules for the first performances of this new work are being drawn up by each band and will take place throughout 2026. It is intended that this piece is the first in a sequence of new music from established composers, and discussions with future collaborators are already underway. A spokesperson for the five band initiative commented: "We're delighted to be working on this project together. At several moments across brass band repertoire history, new voices have emerged which injected energy, innovation and new ways of thinking into our music. Composers such as Gilbert Vinter, John McCabe and Philip Wilby were all well-established before they wrote for brass band later on in their careers, with such huge and long-lasting impact. “This initiative similarly aims to discover new creative voices from outside of the movement. We are aware that there is already a huge quantity of new music for brass band, but not such an abundance of quality. One of the central objectives of this project is to create music which other bands will listen to and want to programme themselves and we are keen to work with each of the composers to introduce them to our musical world and advise them on what makes our most well-loved repertoire so frequently performed. We are extremely grateful to BBC Radio 3 for their belief in this project and assistance in funding this co-commission. Following the success of the series ‘Brass Banding with Hannah Peel’, it is fantastic to see a continued interest in supporting and programming music from brass bands in their broadcasting.” The composer of Orbital, Richard Blackford commented: "I’m thrilled to have been chosen to collaborate closely with five of the greatest brass bands in the world on Orbital. The piece is virtuosic, full of drama and contrasts and, I hope - good tunes.”

On Sunday 13 th July Foden's performed to a large and enthusiastic audience at the Ironbridge Festival of Brass! The festival is set in the beautiful surroundings of the Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron in Shropshire, featuring 20 brass bands performing over a two day period. Foden's are grateful to the 'Fodens Solicitors' https://www.fodens.co.uk/ for their support as they celebrate their 25th anniversary!

Since 2000, Foden's have travelled to Armagh, Northern Ireland each February to hold an annual concert and masterclass as guests of the Armagh OId Boys' Band. In the same year, the Armagh Summer School was launched and continues to be held annually open to brass and percussion players of all ages and abilities. All of these events were, and continue to be, the brainchild of Ivor Stevenson from the Armagh Old Boys Brass Band. Ivor continues to be a major driving force for the encouragement of brass playing in Northern Ireland. In honour of these achievements, he was awarded an MBE for his services to banding in Northern Ireland as well as becoming a Vice President of Foden's. The annual summer course gives brass enthusiasts the opportunity to study, learn, perform and socialise with tutors from Foden’s Band. Set in the historic city of Armagh, Northern Ireland, the course base is the City of Armagh High School between the 11 th and 16 th August. This year, delegates on the non residential course will spend a week of rehearsals and sectionals with Musical Director Mike Fowles, and tutors Mark Wilkinson & Richard Poole (Cornets), Jonathan Bates (Flugel & Horns), Gary Curtin & Mark Bousie (Euphoniums & Baritones), Shaun Farrington (Trombones), Stewart Baglin (Basses) and Anthony Mann (Percussion) - all for just £60! Further details via jastevenson4@hotmail.com

On Friday 20 th June, Foden's Band returned to the fantastic Victoria Hall, Hanley for a night of Community Music, sharing the stage with their fantastic Youth Band and Community Choirs - Alsager Community Choir, Dougie Mac Choir, Endon Community Choir, Fulford Community Choir & Ovation! Foden's Youth performed a number of 'extended' works under Musical Directors Mark Bousie & Mike Fowles with some truly outstanding solo playing in the first half, before the audience were treated to the Choir contributions under the direction of Dan Hollingshurst In the second half, Foden's revisited ‘CASSIUS: The Rumble in the Jungle’ set before bringing over 200 musicians together for a massed performance of ‘Make Your Own Kind of Music!' Thanks to sponsors Joseph Lymer & Son, and Horne Brothers for helping create such a memorable evening of music making!

On Thursday 12th June, Foden's were delighted to host Milwaukee Festival Brass from America who travelled to the UK to compete at the Saddleworth Whit Friday Marches. The band, under the direction of Dr Mark A Taylor, rehearsed in Foden's bandroom with Foden's MD Michael Fowles on their contest March, as well as concert items for their performance with Linthwaite Band whilst in England. Founded in 1985, Milwaukee Festival Brass are made up of volunteer brass and percussion players from all over Southeastern Wisconsin using traditional British Brass Band instruments.

From the first Whit Friday Marches in 1884, the event has grown in popularity. On Friday 13th June over 100 brass bands participated in twenty different contests at venues scattered around the areas of Tameside and Saddleworth. At each venue, bands march to a central location where they perform a contest march which is judged by an adjudicator. Foden's played the popular march 'The President' conducted by Michael Fowles. After this the band members get back on their coach, travel to the next village where they repeat the same procedure again! The contests are open to all-comers, so the local youth bands get to match their skills against the UK's top bands. For the players, the dash from contest to contest makes for an exhilarating (though exhausting) evening. Thousands of spectators travel to Saddleworth and Tameside to watch was it commonly called 'the greatest free show in the world'. Each contest offers prizes for the best band, best youth band, best soloists with each venue attracting between 50 - 70 bands. Each contest is organised by local volunteers with the running costs and prize money being raised by local donations, sponsorship and fund-raising events. At the end of the night (each contest has its own finish time which is usually around 11pm) the adjudicator announces the results. To qualify for the overall prize i.e. the Champion of Tameside or Saddleworth, bands must compete at a minimum of 6 venues and the band that has the best results takes the overall prize. This year Foden's competed at all 11 venues in Tameside starting at 4pm. Following the announcement of the results Foden's were crowned the 'Tameside Whit Friday Champions' for the 21st time in 22 years. In Tameside Foden's were placed 1st at 8 venues as well as receiving a 3 rd place and numerous individual awards.

On Sunday 8 th June Foden's travelled to 'Malvern Theatre' where they performed as part of the 'Elgar International Festival of Brass.' This prestigious Festival also featured Cory and Black Dyke with all bands performing a work(s) from the pen of featured composer Edward Gregson (who is celebrating his 80 th birthday). A large and receptive audience enjoyed a day of 'serious' music with bands also featuring an extended solo / concerto Foden's programme included 'Festival March, Chalk Farm No 2' and 'Essay' from the pen of Edward Gregson, 'The Children's Friend' by Wilfred Heaton (also recorded by Foden's in 2024) and a reprise of their 2026 European Own Choice test Piece 'Jesus in Tibet' by Simon Dobson. For their 'Concerto' Foden's performed 'Concerto Grosso' by Etienne Caussaz featuring Gary Curtin (Euphonium) and Mark Landon (Marimba) - Due to Foden's not owning a 5 octave Marimba (needed for this performance), they were extremely grateful to Adams Brass who arranged for this piece of equipment to be shipped from Holland with the assistance of Southern Percussion. Foden's would like to publicly thank both Companies for their help (and time) in making this possible!