Although all eyes will be on the British Open Championship at Symphony Hall in Birmingham this weekend, the organisers of the Dr Martin Wainstones Cup Contest have also informed 4BR that they have enjoyed a fine response from people wishing to attend their forthcoming event.

Lucrative

The contest is one of the most lucrative top flight competitions of the season and will take place on Sunday September 13th, at the purpose built Princess Alexander Auditorium (above) at Yarm School near Stockton on Tees.

The contest is open to all Championship Section bands, who will have to perform a march, own choice solo feature and own choice test piece selection if they are to get their hands on the £4,000 first prize. The defending champion is the Reg Vardy Band.

Podium finishers will pick up £2,000 and £1,000 with the fourth placed band receiving £500 and each entrant £300.

There are also prizes for the 'Best Soloist' and 'Best March' performance.

Prizes

Music to be performed this year includes classic marches such as 'The President', Knight Templar', 'Praise' and ORB', with test piece selections as varied as 'Contest Music', 'On the Shoulder of Giants', 'Vita Aeterna Variations', 'Arabian Nights' and 'Jazz' amongst others.

There are also some mouth-watering solo features too with 'The Children of Sanchez', 'On with the Motley', 'Autumn Leaves' and 'Slavische Fantasie' already on band's programmes.

with our new venue and an exciting line-up of competitors all wishing to get their hands on a huge prize fund there will be plenty of great brass band music making to enjoySpokesperson, Steve Goodwin

Growing

Speaking on behalf of the event, Steve Goodwin told 4BR: "The Dr Martins Contest continues to grow each year — and with our new venue and an exciting line-up of competitors all wishing to get their hands on a huge prize fund there will be plenty of great brass band music making to enjoy."