Chicago Brass Band Heads to Gateway Championships This Weekend

The Chicago Brass Band will travel to O'Fallon, Illinois this Saturday, March 21, to compete in the Gateway Brass Band Championships, an annual brass band competition held in the St. Louis region. The 2026 contest will take place at Cornerstone Christian Church.

The Gateway Championships provide bands with an important opportunity to present their contest repertoire before a panel of adjudicators, serving as preparation for the upcoming North American Brass Band Championships later this spring.

On the way south, the band will make a special stop at Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois on Friday, March 20 for a side-by-side concert with their Symphonic Winds, where CBB will preview its competition program. The visit is part of the band’s ongoing efforts to connect with university musicians and support the next generation of brass players.

The Chicago Brass Band continues to build momentum following its recent win at the U.S. Open Brass Band Championships while sharing the excitement of brass band music with audiences across the Midwest. Competing at Gateway offers the ensemble another chance to perform challenging repertoire and connect with fellow brass band musicians from around the country.

If you’re in the St. Louis area, we encourage you to come out and support a full day of brass band music. Best of luck to all the bands participating. We look forward to a fantastic day of music making!