One of the most lucrative brass band competitions in the UK will be taking place at Middlesbrough Town Hall on Sunday, when eight bands line up to compete in the fifth Dr Martin Trust Contest.

A grand more

The event boasts a prize fund of £8,000, with the winners taking away the Wainstones Cup plus a first prize of £4,000 — a grand more than was on offer for winning the British Open in Birmingham last weekend.

The contest format sees the nationally graded Championship Section bands of Dalmellington, Felling, Fishburn, Marsden, Reg Vardy, Thoresby, Unite the Union (City of Sheffield) and Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel perform an own choice march, feature a main soloist and deliver a championship section standard test piece as they look to catch the ear of adjudicator David Thornton.

Wide variety of music

As a result there is a wide variety of music to be performed, from marches such as ‘The President’, The Wizard’ and ‘Knight Templar’ amongst others, to solos from ‘Grandfather’s Clock’ and ‘Brillante’ to ‘Don’t Doubt Him Now’ and more.

It is the test piece selections though that may sort out who walks away with the big prizes and who doesn’t, with the selections of ‘Contest Music’, ‘Of Distant Memories’, ‘Harrison’s Dream’, ‘Music of the Spheres’, ‘On Alderley Edge’, ‘Fireworks’ and ‘The Legend of King Arthur’.

Prizes

In addition to the £4,000 first prize, podium finishers pick up £2,000 and £1,000, respectively, with £500 for the band coming fourth. There are additional prizes of £250 for the march and solo winners. Each band will also receive a £300 appearance fee.

In addition to the £4,000 first prize, podium finishers pick up £2,000 and £1,000, respectively, with £500 for the band coming fourth4BR

Favourites

Local favourites such as Reg Vardy will be amongst the pre-contest favourites to reclaim the title they won in 2010 and 2012, although they are sure to be challenged strongly by the likes of Yorkshire trio Marsden Silver, Unite the Union and Yorkshire Imperial and Scottish representatives Dalmellington, who just missed out on a trip to the Albert Hall this year by a hairsbreadth.

The ambitious Midlanders of Thoresby will also look to stamp their mark, whilst there is sure to be plenty of local support for the competitive duo of Felling and Fishburn.

Start time

The contest starts at 11.00am and tickets can be purchased at the venue.