No, Friary hasn’t been elevated to compete in the European Brass Band Championships … yet, hence the inverted commas!
But as revealed in Nigel Stevens’ interview with 4barsrest editor Iwan Fox on 10th March https://www.4barsrest.com/news/53670/interview-with-nigel-stevens Friary was asked to record the set work for the European Brass Band Championships, ‘Saints Triumphant’, by the composer, Prof Philip Wilby to ensure it sounded as he intended before being released to the competing bands. Nigel is part of the Brass Bands England committee charged with organising the whole European Brass Band Festival which takes place at Symphony Hall, Birmingham from 28th April to 1st May.
For further details of all the events making up this fantastic festival of brass, please go to https://www.bbe.org.uk/ebbf but to manage expectations, please be aware that some of them are already sold out.