The Association of Brass Band Adjudicators has amended its application process after taking legal advice over the imposition of a minimum age requirement.

It means that there will now no longer be any age restriction on those who wish to make an application to join the Association.

No age restriction

In a statement they told 4BR: "It was initially suggested that only applicants who have attained the age of 30 before admission to the Association would be considered. However, following legal advice sought in October this year, it was decided that no age restriction would be applied.

The new training scheme is one of a number of recent initiatives developed by AoBBA demonstrating its commitment to maintain the highest standards of adjudication within its membership.

It is designed to allow trainee adjudicators to develop their skills alongside experienced mentors from the association, allowing the trainee to hone their assessment skills over a period of 2 years, with a minimum of six adjudication assignments in a variety of contest formats."

Proven track record

They added: "All applicants must have a proven track record as a performer/conductor, along with the additional theoretical knowledge to underpin these skills.

All trainees will be allocated a mentor who will act as facilitator and guide the trainee through the necessary procedures involved.

Alongside this new trainee programme, AoBBA will be looking forward to repeating the success of a number of projects in 2016."

All applicants must have a proven track record as a performer/conductor, along with the additional theoretical knowledge to underpin these skillsAoBBA.

2016 projects

4BR understands these will include the popular Junior Adjudication Panel (a joint initiative with the Yorkshire Brass Band Association), and the Regional Test-Piece Workshops (to be held on 14th February at the Bailiffe Bridge Community Centre, Victoria Road, Brighouse, West Yorkshire, HD6 4DX).

The Association's Regional Test-Piece Score Analyses will also be published for the First, Second, Third and Fourth Section works early in the new year.