Syston Band
Brass banding review of the year 2025 saw Syston’s Brass Band win the regional 4th section for the first time in its history in March. This followed on from the 2nd placing in 2024 and qualification for the National finals in Chelteham meaning a 2nd successive year qualification to attend the finals in September 2025. The band’s first ever qualification for the National Finals was achieved in 2016 under the direction of Chris Banks. The recent level of success is credit to a small extremely hard working committee and the leadership of our current exceptionally talented Musical Director Alex Bland who has led the band for the last 3 years to the current unprecedented level of success and promotion to the 3rd section.
Success is expensive
These major achievements along with the lack of a permanent home for the band have taken their toll on the band’s finances. The focus on preparing for the National Finals (which for many brass band musicians is a once in a lifetime opportunity) over the last 2 years has meant the band has had minimal time to perform concerts to raise funds and has incurred additional costs for extra rehearsals, coach hire and the finals contest entry of £475.
The band is self-funding and many people are surprised by how much it costs to run a brass band. As a minimum the band costs £8000 a year and over the last few years has run at a shortfall due to success in qualifying for the National Finals. Examples of hidden costs include Brass Band memberships, insurance, contest entries, room hire and storage costs. Surprisingly, the band spends no money on buying instruments but maintains a stock of instruments that it loans to players.
Christmas activities
The band remains positive and focussed on the future with a target of £3000 of fundraising over the Christmas period you will see the band out and about in small groups in the local area with more than 20 bookings! If you see us out and about we will have collecting buckets but if you’re not carrying cash, no problem, we have a QR code for donations (see our posters below). Our Christmas programme of events peaks with our annual Christmas Concert on Sunday 21st December with festive spirits a plenty, come and join us.
