Friary Brass Band
"The finest brass band in London & the Southern Counties"
This is the fourth time we have asked the Friary Brass Band to entertain us at the Victoria Hall.
Their performance of a great selection of music has always been absolutely brilliant.
Since winning the First Section National Championship title in 2010 – the only southern band ever to have done so – Friary Brass Band has progressed under the baton of Musical Director Chris King to become the leading band in the South. Following Chris King’s departure in mid-2023, the MD mantle passed to Nigel Taken.
Currently ranked 22nd in the world and 19th in the UK, Friary held the London & Southern Counties Champion Band title for six consecutive years and has qualified for the National Finals at the Royal Albert Hall each year bar one since 2013. The Band has won the Audience Entertainment Award at the prestigious Brass in Concert contest on two occasions, and the Most Entertaining Band award at Butlin’s Mineworkers Contest in 2015, 2017 and 2019.
Founded in its current form in 1983, Friary takes its name from initial sponsor, Guildford’s Friary Meux brewery, and is currently moving its base from Woking to Chertsey. Over the years, the Band has played at many special occasions, including major sporting events such as the British Grand Prix and rugby internationals at Twickenham and Wembley, and for a local theatre company’s production of Brassed Off.
A registered charity, Friary has raised funds for the British Heart Foundation, the Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance Trust and Sebastian’s Action Trust, and in April 2015 was honoured with the Mayor of Guildford’s Service to the Community Award.
Joint concerts have been staged with Fairey, Brighouse & Rastrick and Cory, as well as with the Northeast Hants East Schools Bands where two of the Band’s principal players started their banding careers.
Tickets £17 and under 18 £11
Licensed bar (card or cash), with wine, beer, soft drinks, tea and coffee, run by the VHC.
London & Southern Counties Regional Champions 2015 – 2021
Championship Section Finalists, National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain 2013 – 2021 & 2023
Audience Entertainment Award, Brass in Concert 2019 & 2021
Most Entertaining Band, Butlin’s Mineworkers Contest 2015, 2017 & 2019
British Open Senior Trophy Champions 2014
First Section National Champions of Great Britain 2010
The Mayor of Guildford’s Award for Service to the Community 2015
