The details for this year's National Youth Championships at the RNCM in Manchester on Sunday 22nd April have been announced.
Forty three compete
The BFBB is delighted to announce that the number of bands who have entered this year has increased with forty-three bands competing across the four sections.
Unfortunately, after five years of support from The Co-operative, the contest will run without a sponsor this year.
Marathon
The marathon contesting day will commence with the Beginners Section in the RNCM Concert Hall at 8.45am. Following on from this section will be the Junior's with the Championship Section commencing at 5.30pm with the final notes blown not long after 9pm.
Meanwhile, the RNCM Theatre will play host to sixteen bands in the Intermediate Section which will commence at 9.30am with the results announced just before 7pm.
Richards tribute
The bands in the Championship and Intermediate Sections will have to get to grips with the music of the late Dr Goff Richards. The eight Championship Bands will perform 'Oceans' whilst 'Saddleworth Festival Overture' will form part of the Intermediate challenger's programme.
Familiar judges
The panel of judges who will make the all important decisions during the day will be familiar to the contenders.
Steven Mead and Dr Roger Webster will oversee the Championship Section whilst John Doyle and Sheona White will get the chance to see what the Junior Section has to offer.
Keeping their eagle eyes on the players of the future in the Beginners Section will be Dr Nicholas Childs and Richard Evans. In the RNCM Theatre, Katrina Marzella and Les Neish will deliberate over the lengthy Intermediate Section.
The contest is expected to be a sell out and tickets need to be purchased in advance4BR
Delight
On behalf of the BFBB, Gary Walczak told 4BR of their delight at the numbers who will be attending this year especially with the number of debutantes who will be coming to Manchester for the first time.
Buy your ticket
With the numbers up, anyone who is intending to come to the contest and listen needs to buy a ticket in advance.
In particular, The Intermediate Section is always keenly listened to by all involved and to avoid disappointment, tickets should be purchased in advance.
Tickets
Tickets are available directly from Arnold Tattersfield at the following prices:
Adults £9, 16 and under £5, 11 and under £2.
To purchase tickets please send an SAE and a cheque made out to BFBB Contests Ltd stating which sections you want to attend to:
Arnold Tattersfied
76 Edge Top Road
Thornhill
Dewsbury
West Yorkshire
WF12 0BH
The list of competing bands is as follows:
Championship Section
RNCM Concert Hall
Oceans (Goff Richards) and Own Choice Programme. 20 minutes playing time
Adjudicators: Steven Mead and Dr Roger Webster
Commence: 5.30pm approx
Results Ceremony: 9.30pm
Bolton Youth (Helen Minshall)
Carnoustie & District Youth (Michael Robertson)
Elland Silver Youth (Samantha Harrison)
Gloucestershire Youth (Steve Legge)
Lions Youth (Nigel Birch)
Northamptonshire Youth (Brad Turnbull)
Rochdale Borough Youth (Eric Landon)
St Helens Youth (Anna Hughes-Williams)
Junior Band Section
RNCM Concert Hall
Own Choice Programme that must include one piece of music composed for brass band and two verses of a hymn tune. 15 minutes playing time
Adjudicators: John Doyle and Sheona White
Commence: 12.30pm approx
Results Ceremony: 5.00pm
Bolton Junior (Anna Hughes-Williams)
Chalford (Steve Tubb)
Coleshill (Stephen Fagg)
Fred Longworth High School (Helen Robinson)
Gwynedd Mon Junior (John Glyn Jones)
Lions Youth (Ian Raisbeck)
Macclesfield Junior (Cheryl Slamon)
Shirland Welfare Training (David Harvey)
Stockport Schools Intermediate (Tim Dines)
Tewitt Youth Intermediate (Ben Tierney)
Thurlstone Training Band (Jonathan Bates)
Beginners Band Section
RNCM Concert Hall
Own Choice Programme. 15 minutes playing time.
Adjudicators: Dr Nicholas Childs and Richard Evans
(15 minutes playing time each band)
Commence: 8.45am
Results Ceremony: 12 Noon
Astley Youth Training Band (Susan Strizaker)
Bolton Beginners (Toby Hobson)
Bradford Junior Brass Band(Morgan Griffiths)
Coleshill (Sally Fagg)
Lions Youth (Christopher Thompson)
Macclesfield Youth Training Band (Liz Hudson)
Sellers International (Jamie Smith)
Smithy Bridge Primary (Lee Rigg)
Intermediate Section
RNCM Theatre
Saddleworth Festival Overture (Goff Richards) and Own Choice Programme, 20 minutes playing time
Adjudicators: Katrina Marzella and Les Neish
Commence: 9.30am
Results Ceremony: 6.45pm
Aberystwyth Youth (Alan Phillips)
Abraham Darby Academy Brass Band (Glyn Wilkes)
Astley Youth (Toby Hobson)
Dalmellington Junior Band (Ian Taylor)
Dobcross Youth (Jonathan Parkes)
Enderby Youth (Trevor Hounsome)
Hade Edge Youth (Simon Wood)
Horbury Victoria Youth (Tom Greaterox)
Macclesfield Youth (Louise Renshaw)
Milton Keynes Youth (David Rose)
Oldham Music Centre (Martyn Evans)
Poynton Youth (Mike Eccles)
Sellers International (Alex Kerwin)
St Keverne (Gareth Churcher)
Stockport Schools Senior Brass Band (James Holt)
Tewitt Youth (David Smith)
Wardle High School (Lee Rigg)
Youth Brass 2000 (Chris Jeans)