4BR has been informed that the qualification process for bands to represent England at future European Brass Band Championships has been agreed.

Meeting

Following a recent meeting between Brass Bands England Chairman Mike Kilroy and Philip Morris, Director of Kapitol Promotions, it was agreed that the highest placed English band at the National Finals will also be awarded the title 'English National Champion' and invited to represent England at the European Championships the following year.

If the highest placed English band has already pre-qualified for contest then the next highest placed band will also be offered the representative place.

Trophy

The English National Champion will be presented with the trophy immediately following the announcement of the winners of the National Championships in a pre-prepared area situated directly behind the Albert Hall stage.

There will be no announcement from the stage, but images and quotes will be made available to the press.

It is proposed that BBE will sponsor an artistic based award for the new English Champion, further details of which will be announced at a later date. It is hoped the award will produce a lasting artistic legacy.

Kilroy delighted

The collaboration follows the announcement that the English National Championship would cease and that qualification would revert back to its previous format.

Brass Bands England is delighted with this outcome which reflects the views and wishes of the majority of bands surveyed in August last yearMike Kilroy

Mirror

BBE Chairman, Mike Kilroy was certainly pleased with the outcome, which mirrors the qualification process for Scottish and Welsh bands.

"Brass Bands England is delighted with this outcome which reflects the views and wishes of the majority of bands surveyed in August last year.

It offers the opportunity for every band in England to aspire to reach the Championship Section and possibly represent the England in Europe.

It also means that English bands will qualify for Europe using the same mechanism as their Scottish and Welsh counterparts."