Atlanta Brass Band Wins National Title After 26 Years

The Georgia Brass Band returned from Indiana this spring with a national championship trophy, but the real prize was already in their rehearsal room.

The metro Atlanta ensemble scored first place at the North American Brass Band Association Championship in Fort Wayne, beating 14 competing bands by about 3 points. The win came after months of Tuesday night rehearsals and seven-hour Saturday practice camps, all focused on perfecting two competition pieces judged by three blind adjudicators.

But ask any of the 25 musicians what keeps them coming back, and the answer isn't about trophies. It's about the person sitting next to them.

"No one's here for a paycheck," said John Thomas Burson, the band's principal solo cornet. He first saw the group perform when he was a high school student in 2006 and joined years later because he wanted to play brass music with his best friends.

Pete Betts has been there since the very first rehearsal in 1999, when founders Christopher Priest and Joe Johnson launched the ensemble. The band plays in the British brass band tradition, using cornets instead of trumpets and including specialized instruments like tenor horns and euphoniums.

That tradition traces back to English coal miners who played together after work to unwind and connect. The Georgia Brass Band carries that spirit forward, performing everything from classical pieces to jazz arrangements.

For Josh Barron, a baritone player in his fifth season, Tuesday rehearsals have become a "safe haven" in the middle of hectic weeks. The band gives him and other musicians a chance to step away from everyday stress and reconnect through music.

Michael Cavito, the music director and conductor now in his second full year leading the group, said the championship validated years of dedication. Three judges who knew nothing about the musicians or their history recognized the quality of their work.

The Ripple Effect

The band's impact extends far beyond their rehearsal space at The Salvation Army Temple in Atlanta. Members collaborate with groups including the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra's educational programs, Tara Winds, and the Johns Creek Chorale throughout the year.

Their investment in each other shows up in how they approach competition. Cavito said the musicians don't just practice notes together; they build each other up through the process.

"If you put all of your eggs in the basket of winning, the moment that you lose, you've lost," Cavito explained. "But if you put all your eggs in the basket of growing, every opportunity is a chance to learn."

The band is already preparing to defend their title at next year's competition and record an album later this year. But even with a championship under their belt, the focus remains on what brought them together in the first place: showing up for each other and making music that matters.

After 26 years, the Georgia Brass Band proves that the best victories are the ones you share with people who help you grow.