2006 US Open Brass Band Championships - The adjudicators

These are the three men who will judge the bands at the 2006 US Open, and once again they will be explaining themselves to the bands on the Sunday morning!

In one of the most unique moves by contest organizers, the US Open will once again offer a critique on Sunday morning following the contest. The goal is to further the interaction between the judges and the bands by offering clarification of the scores and comments given the previous day by the judges.

Up to three representatives from each band will have about 10 minutes to meet privately with the panel of judges to discuss their recorded and written comments. Directors and/or their designated players may ask questions of the judges concerning clarification or possible suggestions for improvement in any of the areas of their performance. 

The goal is not only to provide an open forum between judges and performers but also to increase the opportunities for education and growth for the bands. It is expected that those bands wishing to take advantage of the critique situation will have listened to their judges' tapes and reviewed the written judges' sheets and prepared a list of questions to discuss. The critique environment will not be the place to dispute scores but rather to look for ways to improve future performances.

These are the three men who will have that task as well as picking out the winners.

Alan Morrison:

Alan Morrison is currently Principal Cornet with the world famous Brighouse and Rastrick Band. Previously, Alan was Principal Cornet of Grimethorpe Colliery Band. During his tenure, they won the British Open twice, the National Championships at the Royal Albert Hall, Granada Band of the Year, Brass in Concert at Spennymoor, the National Mineworkers Championships every year between 1983 & 1994, Yorkshire Area Championships twice and several other competitions. 

He currently performs regularly as a soloist and has played at the All-England Masters Gala Concert and the Pre-Festival Concert of Enfield Citadel Band at St. John Smiths Square, London. In 1972 Alan joined the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain and completed 11 courses in total, working his way through the cornet section to Principal Cornet for two courses in 1977. In 1976 he won the coveted title of Champion Soloist of Great Britain and in 1978, he traveled to Australia and won the "Champion of Champions " solo title in Queensland.

He has won the best soloist award at Brass in Concert a record 3 times, and the Best Principal Cornet award on no fewer than 6 occasions including 5 times in succession between 1999-2004.

John Bell:

John Bell, Professor of Music and Director of Bands at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, conducts the Wind Symphony and Chamber Winds, teaches conducting and music education courses, supervises all aspects of the wind/percussion program and serves as Assistant Chair for the Department of Music. He appears regularly on area public school podiums as guest conductor and has conducted the St. Louis Brass Band on numerous occasions. 

He earned Doctors and Masters degrees from the University of Illinois and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Louisiana State University where he served on the Golden Band From Tigerland staff. Prior to his present appointment, Dr. Bell was Associate Director of Bands at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, where he directed the Pride of the Rockies, UNC's 180-member marching band. While in Colorado, Dr. Bell was appointed the music director and conductor for the Rocky Mountain Brassworks, Denver's British Brass Band. He also founded a brass band at the University of Northern Colorado.

Seven years of Dr. Bell's career were spent in the public schools of suburban Chicago, where he was Director of Bands and Chair of the Department of Music at Willowbrook High School in Villa Park, Illinois. Ensembles under his direction have toured the Midwest, England and Europe, have performed twice in New York City's Carnegie Hall and for national meetings of the Music Educators National Conference, state meetings of the Illinois and Colorado Music Educators Associations, and divisional conferences of the North Central and Southwest Divisions of the College Band Directors National Association. 

Bell's ensembles have premiered 12 works for band and he is a contributing author to the acclaimed series Teaching Music Through Performance in Band. In November of 2000, he served a conducting residency in Taipei, Taiwan, presenting conducting master-classes to Taiwanese conductors under the auspices of the Sirens Band of Taipei. In addition, he presented clinics at universities and high schools including the Taipei American School.

The Southern Illinois Wind Symphony has recorded seven CD projects including two discs for the Mark Custom Recording label series Distinguished Music for Young Band. Their latest recording project, Geometric Dances, includes premiere recordings of Dr. Kimberly Archer's Symphony No.1, Bell's new transcription of the Edvard Grieg Peer Gynt Suite No.1 and Roger Cichy's Geometric Dances. All recordings are available on the Mark Masters recording label. 

Dr.Bell is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, CBDNA, ASBDA,and Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honor Society. He is a judge for Drum Corps International and adjudicates concert and marching bands throughout the United States and Canada. In 1997 he was music director for the American Music Ambassadors Honors Band on their tour of Europe and he has directed honors and all-state bands in the Republic of China, Georgia, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Colorado and Nebraska.

Curtis Metcalf MusBac (McMaster), BEd (Toronto):

Curtis Metcalfe has achieved international recognition as one of the leading euphonium soloists today, having performed throughout North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. As the Artistic Director and euphonium soloist of the Hannaford Street Silver Band, Mr. Metcalf is a favourite of the audience at the band's concert series in Toronto and has regularly charmed and amazed those who come to hear the ensemble.

He has been featured at the first Made in Canada Festival of Canadian Music; Winnipeg New Music Festival; Music at Sharon Festival; Festival of the Sound and Quinte Music Festival; and has been heard across Canada on the CBC Radio Network with guest solo performances alos in New York and Los Angeles.

In addition to playing with the Hannaford Street Silver Band, Curtis has performed with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, National Arts Centre Orchestra, Canadian Opera Company, Hamilton Philharmonic and the True North Brass as well as other freelancing engagements. Concurrent with his performing, Curtis is the Head of Music at Pickering College.

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