4BR will be heading to Italy later today to report on the inaugural Italian National Brass Band Championship, which will held in the beautiful town of Ascoli Piceno.
First winner
4BR Editor Iwan Fox and photographer Ian Clowes of Goldy Solutions will fly to Rome and then drive to the town where four bands will compete for the honour of being proclaimed the very first Italian National Champion.
4BR will report on the event which takes place on Saturday and will bring you a flavour of what is yet another remarkable step taken by the emerging Italian brass band community.
Bands from Italy have already made a mark at the European Championships (below) but after many years of hard work, the event marks the banding movement's coming of age in the country.
4BR will report on the event which takes place on Saturday and will bring you a flavour of what is yet another remarkable step taken by the emerging Italian brass band community4BR
Childs unable to judge
Unfortunately, 4BR has been informed that due to personal reasons Dr Robert Childs has had to withdraw as contest adjudicator.
He told 4BR: "I am deeply disappointed that I am unable to travel to Italy due to personal reasons to adjudicate at the Italian National Championship, but I wish the bands and the organisers the very best of luck at what is a historic event."