Intensive sectionals are a success!
Mark Wilkinson • November 25, 2025
Following the announcement of the 2026 Area test Pieces in September, Foden's launched a new initiative giving competitors the opportunity of working with the bands Principal players and Conductor on these challenging works.
Over the past couple of weeks Michael Fowles, Mark Wilkinson, Gary Curtin, John Barber, Jonathan Bates and Andy Cattanach have held sectionals / sessions on the 4th - 1st area pieces which has seen nearly 100 members travel to Sandbach. As well as working on these test pieces, the sessions also covered various aspects of brass playing and score preparation.
Speaking about the initiative Mark Wilkinson commented 'The overall feedback has been fantastic and we are delighted that we have been able to give competitors a heads up well in advance of the contests. We have been delighted with the response with players travelling from as far as Weymouth, London and Yorkshire for the sessions. Due to the project success we will be shortly advertising further dates in mid to late January'
Foden's are delighted to announce the signing of Ollie Jackson who joins the bands percussion team from Carlton Main Originally from Sheffield, Oliver is a drummer and percussionist currently studying at the Royal Northern College of Music under the tutorage of Simone Rebello. His musical journey began at the age of nine, learning drums and piano before joining the Oughtibridge band aged 16. After two years, he progressed to Carlton Main and has also had opportunities to perform and compete across several European countries with Youth Brass 2000. Alongside brass bands, Oliver performs with a wide range of ensembles such as orchestras, wind orchestras, musical theatre groups and function bands, helping him build strong experience across all percussion disciplines, including orchestral percussion, timpani, tuned percussion and drum kit. Ollie commented 'I’m so grateful for my time at Carlton Main and to have been a part of a great band, I now look forward to joining Foden’s and beginning the next chapter in my journey’ On behalf of Foden's Mark Landon commented 'We are delighted that Ollie has joined Foden's, he is a fantastic all rounder who will be a valuable addition to our section and band'
Presenting our 2025 Brass In Concert programme to be premiered at the 'Glasshouse' Sage on the 15th November Music composed and arranged by Jonathan Bates and Will Savage, plus narration by Tom Redmond - Foden's will be starting their journey on the tranquil waters of the Nile, escaping into the desert, receiving the 10 commandments and leading our people to the promised land across the parted waters of the Red Sea! EXODUS MOSES IN EGYPT 1. The River's Lament (Jonathan Bates) (Tenor Horn Soloist: Jonathan Bates) 2. Khamsawy (Egyptain Trad. arr. Bates) 3. Go Down, Moses! (Spiritual arr. Savage) (Trumpet Soloist: Jon Probert & Piano Soloist: John Barber) 4. The Wrath of the Plagues (Jonathan Bates) (Euphonium Soloist: Gary Curtin) 5. The Parting of the Sea/Le Separation de La Mer (Claude Debussy/Jonathan Bates) 6. A Land of Promise (Jonathan Bates) (featuring: Mark Wilkinson, Jonathan Bates, Ashley Dixon & Gary Curtin) 7. 'When You Believe' from 'The Prince of Egypt' (Stephen Schwartz arr. Bates) (Vocal Soloist: Sara Kimber)
On the 6 th December Foden's will return to the beautiful St Michael's Church in Coppenhall (near Crewe) for a concert of Christmas favourites! Saturday 6th December St Michael's Church, Coppenhall, CW1 3TN 2pm £15 payment on the door
Always one of the highlights of the band's festive period - Foden's will once again team up with the incredible Big Band vocalist Matt Ford on Sunday 7th December to bring some of the all-time favourite festive swing numbers to life in Sandbach! Sandbach School Theatre Sunday 7th December 2pm http://www.priorbooking.com/e/fodens-and-matt-ford-memories-of-christmas-7th-december-2025
Foden's are delighted to announce that they will be heading to St Asaph on Saturday 29th November in a special concert to celebrate the 50th birthday of band president, Paul Mealor! The programme will feature the world premiere of a new work by Paul entitled 'Tranquil Abiding', alongside first performance of a revised version of 'The Callender March' by Percy Fletcher, as well 'Vivat Regina' by William Mathias, 'A Welsh Fantasy' by Gordon Langford and 'Sospan Fach' by Gareth Wood. St Asaph Cathedral Sunday 29th November 7pm https://nwimf.com/en
What says Christmas more than a brass band and a classic film?? Well on the back of Foden's succesful showings of 'The Snowman' in recent years, they are delighted to announce that they we will be bringing some new festive cheer with LIVE performances of the Wallace & Gromit classic 'A Grand Day Out' this December! The show will be performed twice on Saturday 13th December, with shows at 11am and 12:30pm - so why not Foden's at Sandbach School to get into the festive spirit! Saturday 13th December, 2025 Sandbach School Theatre 11am & 12:30pm £12 adults, £8 children under 18, free for under 3's providing sat on adult knee Tickets are available NOW from www.priorbooking.com/u/fodens
On Sunday 19th October a team of tutors from Foden's had the pleasure of visiting Lions Youth Brass to assist with their preparations for this year's Youth 'Brass in Concert Championships' in Gateshead to be held on the 16th November Mark Wilkinson, Melanie Whyle, Mark Bousie, Paul Hughes, Shaun Farrington and Mark Landon all enjoyed a great day working with and inspiring the next generation of brass players in Sandbach. All at Foden's wish them the very best for their ventures in the North East!
On Saturday 18th Foden's opened the 'Leeds Best of Brass Season' at Pudsey Civic Hall, Leeds The capacity audience were treated to an entertaining programme ranging from Mussorgsky’s classic ‘Baba Yaga & Great Gate of Kiev’ to music by Reverend & The Makers as well as a number of the bands World class soloists Further information on the series can be obtained via - https://www.leedsconcertseason.co.uk/theme/leeds-best-of-brass-bcdv
Ahead of their appearance at the National Finals, Foden's look forward to returning to the Regent Hall on 10 th October under the baton of Russell Gray and Michael Fowles. Fresh from their recent recording with Mike Lovatt, Foden's will reunite with Mike to perform tracks from his latest cd (to be released in 2026) as well as from his critically acclaimed '56 Degrees North' cd with Foden's. Mike's choices highlight his lyrical playing as well as fantastic range showing why he is in demand on blockbuster films such as Tomorrow Never Dies and Die Another Day, Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the award winning Chicago, Beyond the Sea, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Madagascar and The Corpse Bride. Foden's will also feature music from their recent Malcolm Arnold CD, tracks from the pen of Goff Richards, Kenneth Downie and Tom Davoren as well as fantastic arrangements from former Musical Director Howard Snell. Theres also a hidden bonus from last years Brass in Concert set and a sneak preview of the Nationals Test Piece 'Symphony in two movements' by Edward Gregson. Programmeu Valaisia Variants - Tom Davoren Little Suite for Brass - Malcolm Arnold Rhapsody for Trumpet - Colin Skinner (Soloist : Mike Lovatt) Joy of Loving Hearts - Kenneth Downie Symphony in two movements - Edward Gregson Toccata in D Minor - Bach arr Ray Farr The Pathways of Love - Colin Skinner (Soloist : Mike Lovatt) Czardas - Strauss arr Howard Snell California Dreaming - Phillips arr Adam Taylor Pure Imagination - Bricusse & Newley arr Colin Skinner (Soloist : Mike Lovatt) Country Scene - Goff Richards Pines of Rome - Respighi arr Howard Snell The concert is supported by Yamaha with tickets available via https://www.priorbooking.com/u/fodens or tickets@ fodensband .co.uk
On Saturday 27 th September an ensemble from Foden's helped celebrate 200 years of the modern railway at Sandbach Train Station. 'Railway 200' is part of a year nationwide partnership-led campaign to celebrate and inspire a new generation of young pioneering talent to choose a career in rail. The celebration involved a large number of planned events across the Country to celebrate rail’s remarkable past, its role today, and its importance to a sustainable future. The first train to run through Sandbach Station was on May 4th 1842 from Manchester to Sandbach with the station being used primarily for goods and industrial freight and in 1863 the LNER (London North East Railway) was granted by Parliament to install a train line connecting Crewe to Northwich via Sandbach. This was opened on July 1st 1868, which was the first passenger service between Sandbach and Northwich. In 2017 Sandbach Town Council were responsible for installing new town and village signs at several key locations in Sandbach making reference to Foden's Band. One of these signs sits proudly at Sandbach Train Station being erected courtesy of the 'Friends of Sandbach Train Station'. Friends of Sandbach Station are a group of volunteers aiming to make the station a more welcoming and passenger-friendly place
