The Rockville Brass Band, formed in 1976, is always keen to recruit new players to its ranks. It is a unique sound which is one of the most exciting musical sounds ever. If you’re not familiar with playing in this type of ensemble you’re in for an unforgettable experience with the Rockville Brass Band.

The Band has around 30 brass and percussion players. It is under the baton of Nigel Horne, an English conductor steeped in the tradition of brass bands and with many years’ experience playing in and conducting brass bands of all grades.

The Rockville Brass Band is not an audition band, however you will be expected to be of a good standard. With the exception of the bass trombone and percussion parts, all parts use treble clef - even the Bb basses (which sound two octaves and a tone lower than written). We don't use trumpets or French horns, but players of those instruments are welcome to join on cornet or alto horn..

The Band plays a wide variety of genres, from marches and transcriptions of well known music to serious and demanding original works. By performing entertaining, quality concerts to audiences within the D.C. metropolitan area and beyond, we aim to be ambassadors for the sound of brass and percussion.

To give you a flavor of the glorious sound of a brass band, why not visit some of these sites?

Black Dyke Mills Band (http://www.blackdykeband.co.uk/)
Grimethorpe Colliery Band (http://www.grimethorpeband.com/) – the band that provided the music for the movie Brassed Off.

The Rockville Brass Band rehearses from September to June on Wednesday evenings from 7:30 to 9:30, at Newport Mill Middle School, 11311 Newport Mill Rd., Kensington, MD. Our season usually consists of about 3 concerts in November and December, and approximately 4 concerts in May and June; the Gettysburg Brass Band Festival is typically our season finale.

Why not give us a trial run? We have players from as far away as Baltimore and La Plata, MD who drive far to soak up the challenging, yet fun, experience. We’re confident you’ll have a great time and we’d like to meet you. For an informal chat please e-mail director@rockvillebrassband.org. And don’t forget to visit our website www.rockvillebrassband.org.