The panel of adjudicators that will make the all important decisions at the National Finals in Cheltenham and the Royal Albert Hall later this year have been announced by Kapitol Promotions.

Albert Hall trio

Stephen Roberts, Howard Snell and Rob Wiffin have been tasked with separating the top flight contenders on 'Spiriti' by Tomas Doss in the Albert Hall box (above) on October 10th.

It will be the second year in a row for Stephen Roberts, with the contest also seeing the welcome return of Howard Snell and Rob Wiffin to Kensington Gore for the first time since 2012 and 2011 respectively.

Cheltenham blend

There is also a wide blend of experience at Cheltenham on the weekend of 19th/20th September, with Flowers MD, Paul Holland and cornet virtuoso Dr Roger Webster tasked with picking out the winner in the First Section on 'The Alchemist's Journal' by Kenneth Hesketh.

Paul last judged at the contest in 2013, but was also in the box at the Senior Cup in May, whilst Roger returns for the first time since 2011, although he was also kept busy at all levels at the Regional Championships earlier in the year.

Debut

There is a debut for the highly respected West Lothian Schools and former Whitburn MD Anne Crookston, in the Second Section, who will be joined by the Association of Brass Band Adjudicators Secretary David Hirst on 'The Snaring of the Sun' by Stephen Roberts.

Anne has recently adjudicated in Denmark, Holland and Norway and was in the box at the Fourth Section Yorkshire Area contest in 2014. David meanwhile adds another National Finals appearance to an adjudication CV that stretches back over thirty years.

It will be the second year in a row for Stephen Roberts, with the contest also seeing the welcome return of Howard Snell and Rob Wiffin to Kensington Gore for the first time since 2012 and 2011 respectively4BR

Youth and experience

Third Section rivals will have to impress two experienced adjudication campaigners in John Maines and Kevin Wadsworth on Oliver Waespi's 'The Graces of Love' — with both men returning to the Cheltenham box for the first time since 2012.

Meanwhile, there is a slightly more youthful line-up in the Fourth Section where the popular Leyland flugel star John Doyle will make his National Finals debut alongside Cory principal euphonium Glyn Williams, who last appeared in 2013.

Adjudication Panels:

Championship Section: Stephen Roberts, Rob Wiffin, Howard Snell
First Section: Paul Holland, Dr Roger Webster
Second Section: Anne Crookston, David Hirst
Third Section: John Maines, Kevin Wadsworth
Fourth Section: John Doyle, Glyn Williams