Philip Harper leading the Chicago Brass Band as Principal Guest Conductor at the 2026 North American Brass Band Championships

We are thrilled to announce that Philip Harper, world-renowned conductor and Musical Director of The Cory Band will be joining the Chicago Brass Band as Principal Guest Conductor, leading us on stage at the 2026 North American Brass Band Championships!

Philip’s visionary leadership, artistic excellence, and unmatched passion for brass band music make this collaboration truly extraordinary. Together, we’re getting ready for an unforgettable musical journey, and we can’t wait to share it with all of you.

Philip shared his excitement about joining us for this milestone event:

“I'm very pleased to be able to lead the Chicago Brass Band in NABBA 2026 which will also be my first visit to the contest. I have had an association with CBB for the last few years and I have always enjoyed coming over to help them prepare for NABBA, developing a strong relationship with Musical Director Dr. Mark A. Taylor. I'm looking forward to bringing a bit of British-style contest prep to the band and I hope my week with the band will be very memorable for everyone.”

CBB's own Music Director Dr. Mark A. Taylor also reflected on the significance of this partnership:

“Our relationship with Philip Harper has been transformative for me and for our band. For the past four seasons, Philip's mid-season clinic rehearsals with us have raised our knowledge and preparation by leaps and bounds. The opportunity to invite Philip to elevate our performance even further by leading the band through the final week of preparation and conducting the band on the contest stage was the logical next step in our education as a band. I am eager to observe Philip's work with the band, and to implement his strategies in future contest seasons with CBB.”

Stay tuned for behind-the-scenes updates and exciting moments as we work toward NABBC 2026!