England's entry at the 2028 European Brass Band Championships will be Foden's Band, after the Sandbach, Cheshire ensemble topped the 172nd British Open at Symphony Hall in Birmingham. The result gives the group its 14th British Open title and cements a long record of contest success for the band formed in 1902.
The victory adds to a cupboard that already includes 16 National Championships of Great Britain titles and seven Brass in Concert wins. That rollcall of honours underlines why Foden's has frequently been ranked among the world's best, a reputation maintained across domestic and international stages.
Mark Wilkinson, the band's manager and principal cornet, framed Saturday's performance as both collective and personal success. "We're over the moon; the band played fantastic," he said, and he also took home the contest's best cornet player award, a marker of the individual quality present within the ensemble.
Conductor Russell Gray attributed the result to focused preparation and a sustained work ethic. "The dedication these musicians put into the craft is phenomenal," he said, adding that many players balance day jobs with evening rehearsals. "I'm always in awe that they actually hold down day jobs as well and then come into the band room in the evening to play so magnificently."
Gray urged perspective on the intensity of competition, describing brass banding as a leisure pursuit chosen for pleasure as much as prestige. "You choose to do a hobby; you don't choose to do it badly, do you? You don't go fishing to not catch a fish," he said.
The British Open this year featured a field of 19 bands. Foden's win secures the invitation that comes with the national title, meaning the band will represent England at the 2028 European Brass Band Championships. Wilkinson described the role as one of stewardship. "We're the custodians," he said, stressing a duty to honour past players and to pass the tradition on to the next generation.
Beyond the immediate prize of European representation, the victory arrives with another milestone on the horizon: the band will mark its 125th anniversary in 2027. The combination of continued contest success and an approaching anniversary sets clear expectations for touring, programming and outreach as Foden's prepares for the coming seasons.
