The New England Brass Band (NEBB) (founded in 1988 and incorporated in 1998) is a 30-piece brass and percussion ensemble, which presents concerts "in the British Tradition."  Based in the Boston area, NEBB rehearses weekly in Wilmington, Massachusetts and draws players from Massachusetts, Rhode Island New Hampshire, and Maine.

Patterned after the best of the British brass bands which were formed in the mid 19th century as well as fine Salvation Army Bands which appropriated the brass format early in their history, the NEBB has established itself as one of the premier brass groups in New England.

The repertory of the NEBB includes transcriptions of classic works by Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Wagner, Bach and John Philip Sousa and contemporary sounds by John Williams. However, the heart of the band's repertory is made of outstanding music written especially for brass band including substantial works by Eric Ball, Dean Goffin, Eric Leidzen, Kevin Norbury, James Curnow and Stephen Bulla. The band also performs selections written and arranged especially for the NEBB from a growing number of composers and arrangers.

While the familiar American concert band is made up of both brass and woodwind instruments, the NEBB follows the traditional British brass band instrumentation by using all brasses: cornets, flugelhorn, Eb alto horns, baritones, euphoniums, trombones, tubas and percussion. The warmth and richness of this all brass group makes for a unique sound which is both full and nimble, sonorous and transparent. It is ideally suited for performance of a wide variety of music played at a high level by the members of the NEBB.

The NEBB presents concerts under the sponsorship of schools, community groups, churches and civic organizations, providing seasonal and benefit concerts and entertainment at special events and celebrations.

Under the direction of founding Music Director William Rollins, the NEBB established itself with performances throughout New England including concerts at Boston University's Tsai Performance Center and Crane's Castle reservation in Ipswich, Massachusetts as well as participation in the Northeast Brass Band championships at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York.

Since 1998, the band, under Music Director Douglas Yeo, has broadened its activities to include concerts at Symphony Hall in Boston, programs in New York City and New Jersey, an expanded calendar of concerts in New England including a performance in celebration of Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee and participation in the North American Brass Band Association National Championship in 2001 (Washington D.C.) and 2003 (Little Rock, Arkansas) where the band placed second in its division.

The NEBB's Christmas concerts are enthusiastically attended as the sound of brass is readily identified with the holiday season.  Recent concerts of sacred music as well as programs of patriotic music have also been well received by New England area churches.

Since 1999, the NEBB has begun production of an acclaimed series of compact disc recordings. "Christmas Joy" is a compilation of familiar Christmas music and "Honour and Glory" features music representative of the British band tradition replete with marches, patriotic songs, tone poems on dramatic themes and sacred music.

A third recording, "The Light of the World," containing some of the best sacred music composed and arranged for brass band is in production for a fall 2004 release. All of the NEBB's compact discs have been recorded in Boston's acoustically acclaimed Symphony Hall under the direction of Douglas Yeo and each features soloists from the band.

The mission of the NEBB is to perpetuate the British Band style of playing.  The NEBB goals are to:

1. Provide a setting where selected musicians can maintain and improve their abilities

2. Provide a challenge to selected musicians

3. Provide opportunities for the members to perform

4. Present various music to the New England area

NEBB is available for  concerts throughout New England. Concerts may be arranged by contacting John Bassett at:

 New England Brass Band,  P.O. Box 541462, Waltham, MA 02454-1462

   Or E-Mail: concertinfo@newenglandbrassband.org

The NEBB is a non-profit corporation, organized exclusively for charitable and educational activities, under section 501 (C) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. As such, all donations made to the band are tax deductible.