Downshire Brass Celebrates 2nd Place Success at the 2025 European Brass Band Competition

What a weekend it’s been for Downshire Brass! Months of dedication, rehearsals, and teamwork culminated in a fantastic 2nd place finish in the Challenge Section of the European Brass Band Competition held in Stavanger, Norway. This incredible achievement is the result of collective commitment and passion, and we’re immensely proud of how we represented ourselves on the European stage.

A heartfelt thank you goes to Roger Doherty, whose outstanding organisation ensured the trip ran seamlessly from start to finish. Special recognition must go to our Musical Director, Michael Alcorn, whose monumental effort—both in and out of the band room—was truly the driving force behind our performance. Words don’t quite capture the depth of our appreciation.

We’re also deeply grateful to the guest players who supported us both during the weekend and in the lead-up to the competition. Your contribution was vital, and we couldn’t have done it without you.

It was not only a successful competition, but also a memorable trip filled with camaraderie and music.