Manx Concert Brass was formed in 1995 as a direct result of the Manx Youth Band’s own success in promoting music for young people in the Island. As the years passed, more and more players beyond the age of 19 expressed a desire to remain and, as a result, Manx Concert Brass was created as part of the organisation with no upper age limit.
Ever since the mid-1990s, Manx Concert Brass has competed in the North West Regional Championships of the National Brass Band Championships, enjoying many excellent results.
These include becoming crowned 4th Section National Champions of Great Britain in 1996 and numerous top three finishes. Indeed, Manx Concert Brass has qualified for the National Finals on five different occasions.
In 2023, Manx Concert Brass finished an impressive 3rd place in the Regional Championships and, in doing so, not only qualified once again for the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain, but were promoted to the Championship Section. This truly was the culmination of a remarkable contesting journey that began in 1995 and testament to the hard work, dedication and friendship of all those involved.
Over the years, Manx Concert Brass has also enjoyed top three finishes in the prestigious Pontin’s Brass Championships and the Northern Open Brass Band Championships.
Closer to home, the band has enjoyed much success in the annual Manx Music Festival, affectionately known as ‘The Guild’, and in 2022 had a clean sweep of all the major classes, as well as many top individual prizes and ensemble sections.
Manx Concert Brass plays regularly throughout the year at a variety of venues around the Island.
It also performs a monthly ‘Brass at Braddan’ concert at Braddan Church which is free to attend and each July the Villa Marina Royal Hall plays host to its annual gala concert.
In July 2020, MCB was invited to perform as the official band at the Tynwald Day ceremony in St John’s for the open-air sitting of the Manx parliament.
In September 2022, the band was honoured to have performed at the ceremony of proclamation of His Majesty King Charles III as Lord of Mann at Tynwald Hill, the ancient seat of the Kings and Lords of Mann.
The band can also be seen in festive mood playing carols and seasonal music each Christmas.
As a public subscription band, donations are key to the organisation's success, and in 2011 one of our most ambitious fundraising projects paid off as the band completed the purchase of its first permanent home. It was Jim Crosbie's dedication to teaching brass to young students in the early 1970s that has led to the success of the Manx Youth Band and it is in honour of this dedication that we decided to name the building The Jim Crosbie Memorial Bandroom.
From this base, the organisation runs both Manx Concert Brass, the Manx Youth Band and a training band, providing free tuition to more than 70 players.