About this Event
For all horn players of all ages!
Join us for a jam-packed day of all things horn-related. Meet other players from across the UK with a rich and varied programme that has something for everyone, including:
- BHS Guest Artist, international award-winning soloist Félix Dervaux
- The finals of the inaugural BHS Performance Prizes, sponsored by Paxman Ltd
- Meet & play alongside RNCM professors, players from the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Halle Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Opera North, the horns of the Guards' bands and our other guest artists
- Performances, Recitals
- Masterclasses - relaxed and advanced
- U18 workshop with RNCM Young Horns
- Relaxed and advanced ensembles for adults
- Sessions on Baroque Horn and Wagner Tuba, horn technique and orchestral playing
- Workshops in Confidence Coaching, Breathing, Intonation, Tongue Placement Workshops
- Conservatoire 'hang-out' for students
- BHS Competitions and Performners Award Presentations
Sponsored by our 2026 exhibitors and trade stands - Paxman Ltd, Alexander Mainz, Woodhead Horns, Juhász Zoltán Natural Horns, Fisher Horns, edition db and Wiggins Music amongst others!
Applications for performance opportunities are now open via the following link:
BHS Festival 2026 Masterclasses and Opportunities – Fill in form
- BHS Advanced Masterclass - Unwrapping Strauss 2 with Félix Dervaux
- BHS Relaxed Performance Masterclass (Grade 4-7)
- Informal 'open mic' opportunities for your groups to perform
For more information or to become a member of the BHS, visit https://british-horn.org or contact us at [email protected]
Agenda
🕑: 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
BHS 2026 Opening Event
Info: Welcome to BHS 2026, heralded by the horns of the RNCM and Chetham’s School of Music. AND bring your horns to join in an informal mass warm up to start your day!
🕑: 11:00 AM - 07:00 PM
BHS Performer and Emerging Performer Awards, sponsored by Paxman Ltd
Host: Paxman Musical Instruments Ltd
Info: The finalists for each category will compete during the course of the day for prizes of £1,000 (winners) and £500 (runner ups) sponsored by Paxman Ltd.
Watch this space for more details
🕑: 11:00 AM - 07:00 PM
Open Mic Slots
Info: Grab the opportunity to showcase your own ensemble in an informal performance slot in the foyer area - slots available throughout the day! To register interest, follow the link in the event overview or visit https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/0Ar44CHszs
🕑: 12:00 PM - 01:30 PM
U18 Workshop with the RNCM Young Horns
Host: Lindsey Stoker, Julian Plummer, Tim Jackson, Helen Kuby
Info: An U18 interactive workshop suitable for all levels culminating in a sharing session for parents and friends. With the RNCM Young Horns and led by Lindsey Stoker (BHS Chair, RNCM Senior Horn Professor), Julian Plummer (Halle, Assistant Principal, RNCM Horn Professor) Tim Jackson (RLPO Principal, RNCM Professor) and Helen Kuby (JRAM).
🕑: 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM
Directed Ensembles
Info: Led by our RNCM tutors and NW pro players, these range from very relaxed, intermediate or advanced levels, depending on how challenged you would like to be in your session!
🕑: 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM
De-stress Techniques Workshop
Host: Beccy Goldberg
Info: Join Beccy Goldberg (RNCM Professor of Natural Horn & Confidence Coach) for mindful, practical solutions for band-room butterflies and overwhelm.
🕑: 01:00 PM - 01:45 PM
Bach B Minor Mass Workshop
Host: Ursula Paludan Monberg
Info: Following her outstanding performance at the BBC Proms, Ursula Paludan Monberg, internationally acclaimed period instrument specialist, Principal Horn (English Concert) and RNCM Natural Horn guest tutor explores the B minor mass with tips on how to perform it.
🕑: 01:00 PM - 01:45 PM
Low Horn Workshop Revisited
Host: Phill Stoker
Info: Phill Stoker takes another look at some of the techniques for low register playing, gives a couple of new suggestions and the opportunity to try out some ideas with accessible orchestral excerpts which you can look at in advance. Suitable for all players.
🕑: 01:00 PM - 01:45 PM
Section Tuning
Host: Tim Jackson
Info: Led by RLPO Principal Horn/ RNCM professor Tim Jackson, this session explores how to make tuning work within a horn section. A bit of maths, a bit of physics, a bit of music theory and a lot of fun!
🕑: 01:00 PM - 01:45 PM
Conservatoire & Uni ‘Hang Out’ session
Host: BHS Student Reps
Info: This informal student-led session provides the only annual opportunity for the next generation of pro players to meet each other and link across the country! Pop in and meet likeminded young players ...
🕑: 03:00 PM - 03:45 PM
BHS Relaxed Performance Class
Info: This relaxed, informal session will explore horn repertoire from our established Grade 4 - 7 syllabus, offered and performed by you, our BHS attendees. NB to apply for this opportunity, follow the link in the event overview or visit https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/0Ar44CHszs
🕑: 02:00 PM - 02:45 PM
BHS Afternoon Recital with Félix Dervaux
Host: Félix Dervaux & Harvey Davies
Info: A former Principal Horn of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Félix works throughout Europe as a soloist, guest principal horn and a teacher, and is currently the International Visiting Professor of French Horn at our host college, the Royal Northern College of Music. Join Feix and pianist Harvey Davies on an exciting journey through some sublime horn repertoire ranging from Hindemith to Defaye.
🕑: 03:00 PM - 03:45 PM
Using Your Gears
Host: Richard Steggall
Info: Using your gears - the secret to easy, efficient horn playing offers a fascinating workshop on tongue and oral cavity use in horn playing with Richard Steggall (Trinity Laban, Junior Guildhall, National Symphony Orchestra, BHS)
🕑: 03:00 PM - 03:45 PM
Wagner Tuba Workshop
Host: Stephen Nicholls and Tom Kane
Info: Hone your skills — or have your first go — on the Tenor and Bass Wagner Tuba. Explore the quirks of these somewhat temperamental instruments, discover alternative fingerings and develop problem-solving skills as you work through key moments from the orchestral repertoire with Stephen Nicholls (RLPO) and Tom Kane (BBC Philharmonic).
🕑: 04:30 PM - 05:15 PM
Breathing Workshop
Host: Katy Jones
Info: What does good breathing look, feel or sound like? Find the answers to these and more, when you bring your curiosity to Katy’s whistle stop tour of Breathing for Brass.
With Katy Jones principal trombone Halle Orchestra, RNCM tutor and Buteyko breathing coach.
🕑: 04:00 PM - 04:40 PM
UK Conservatoire Showcase
Host: UK Conservatoires
Info: Students from the Royal Northern College of Music, Royal College of Music, Royal Academy of Music, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Trinity Laban, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and Royal Conservatoire of Scotland perform RLPO Principal Horn/ RNCM professor Tim Jackson’s arrangement of 'The Sound of Music'
🕑: 04:45 PM - 05:45 PM
BHS Masterclass - Unwrapping Strauss 2
Host: Félix Dervaux
Info: Join guest artist Félix Dervaux and RNCM accompanist to explore and 'unwrap' elements of Strauss' incredible Second Horn Concerto with our BHS Festival participants. NB to apply for this opportunity, follow the link in the event overview or visit https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/0Ar44CHszs
🕑: 05:00 PM - 05:45 PM
De-stress Techniques Workshop
Host: Beccy Goldberg
Info: Repeated session tbc
🕑: 05:00 PM - 05:45 PM
Bach B Minor Mass Workshop
Host: Ursula Paludan Monberg
Info: Repeated Session tbc
🕑: 06:00 PM - 06:15 PM
Massed Blow Rehearsal for all!
Info: This is for EVERYONE! So grab your horn and join us for the BHS 2026 Massed Blow Grand Finale
🕑: 05:30 PM - 06:00 PM
Horn Maintenance with Heidi
Host: Woodhead Horns
Info: Join Heidi from Woodhead Horns to answer all those niggling horn related questions - how should you look after your horn through the year? should you give it a bath? how often should you oil your valves? and with what....?
🕑: 06:15 PM - 07:00 PM
The BHS 2026 Closing Event
Info: Featuring the North West Horn Sound and the horns of the Guards’ bands.
Plus the presentation of the BHS 2026 Performance & Emerging Performer Awards, sponsored by Paxman Ltd & the BHS 2026 Composition Prize Winners and premiere performance.
The day concludes with you, the Massed Horns of BHS 2026!
Event venue & nearby stays
Royal Northern College of Music, 124 Oxford Rd, Manchester, United Kingdom
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.