The organisers of the Brass in Concert Championship, which will be held at Sage Gateshead on Sunday 16th November, have revealed the line-up of adjudicators that will implement the event’s pioneering scoring system.

System

The new system was successfully introduced in 2012 to recognise the importance of the quality of bands’ ‘Programme Content’, which will account for 20% of the available points.

‘Quality of Performance’ still accounts for 60%, while entertainment and presentation now makes up 20% of the overall total.

Tweak

Event spokesperson John Woods, told 4BR of a slight adjustment to this year's contest that the organisers believe will slightly enhance the process:

"Although we have only had one entertainment judge in recent years, with an overall contribution of 20% of the final total, we felt that dividing this role between two judges, each contributing 10% of the total, it would give a less focussed view of that trickiest banding conundrums — the concept of 'entertainment'.

We are delighted to welcome back Jo Wheeler in her role as Entertainment and Presentation adjudicator after her debut in 2013 and she will be joined by the highly respected Steve Sykes, now a successful conductor, but whose association with Brass in Concert goes back to the early days of the contest, when regularly thrilled the audiences with his own particular brand of entertainment as the tuba soloist with Grimethorpe Collery Band."

First time

Alan Morrison and David Thornton will both judge the Quality of Performance category for the first time whilst Paul Cosh returns to Sage Gateshead to oversee Programme Content.

Meanwhile, the respected euphonium player and chair of Brass Bands England, Mike Kilroy, also returns for a second year as a judge. Having taken care of Programme Contest last year, Mike will be responsible for the Solo and Individual awards.

Woodfalls debut

Brass in Concert have also announced that Woodfalls Band will make its debut at the event this year, bringing the field up to twelve bands

Prior to the World of Brass in Concert on Saturday 15th November, featuring Grimethorpe Colliery and defending champion, Cory, the organisers have confirmed a trio of events that will take place during the afternoon.

The reigning Action Research Youth Entertainment champion, Seindorf Beaumaris Youth and Brass Band Schoonhoven, the Dutch National Champion will be featured in concerts which will be followed by a Swing Master class by members of Brass Band of Central Florida.

All three events will be free of charge.

We felt that dividing the entertainment role between two judges, each contributing 10% of the total, it would give a less focussed view of that trickiest banding conundrumsJohn Woods

Panel:

The confirmed adjudication panel is as follows:

Quality of Performance: Alan Morrison & David Thornton
Programme Content: Paul Cosh
Entertainment and Presentation: Jo Wheeler & Steve Sykes
Individual Awards: Mike Kilroy