The list of competing bands that will battle it out for the qualification places on offer for the Royal Albert Hall and Cheltenham at the Midlands Area Championships have been announced.

The contest weekend will take place at the Civic Hall and Nicholas Chamberlaine Technology College in Bedworth on the 11th/12th March.

Places up for grabs

There are two places up for grabs in the Championship, First and Second Sections, with three bands invited from the Third and Fourth.

A total of 80 bands will perform, whilst the decision making will be in the hands of a judging panel of Philip Harper, Leigh Baker, Dr Chris Davis, Kevin Wadsworth, Derek Renshaw and David Hirst.

The contest starts with the First and Third Sections on the Saturday with the Second, Fourth and Championship Sections the following day.

80 bands will compete in Bedworth next month in what is always one of the most fiercely competitive regions on the circuit 4BR

Championship Section:

Test Piece: 'Pageantry' (Herbert Howells)
Sunday 12th March
Civic Hall
Draw: 1.00pm
Commence: After Second Section results
Adjudicators: Leigh Baker and Philip Harper

Bedworth Brass (David Maplestone)
Bilton Silver (Rugby) (David Stowell)
Blidworth Welfare (Martin Heartfield)
Derwent Brass (Keith Leonard)
Desford Colliery LCIWTF (Thomas Wyss)
Jackfield (Elcock Reisen) Simon Platford)
Jaguar Land Rover (Dave Lea)
Newstead Brass (Philip Goodwin)
Ratby Co-operative (Mareika Gray)
Spal Sovereign Brass (Trevor Jones)
Staffordshire (Steven Walsh)
Thoresby Colliery (Ian McElligott)
Virtuosi GUS (Adam Cooke)

First Section:

Test Piece: 'The Land of the Long White Cloud' (Philip Sparke)
Saturday 11th March
Civic Hall
Draw: 10.00am and 12 noon
Commence: 11.00am
Adjudicators: Dr Chris Davis and Kevin Wadsworth

Carlton Brass (Gary Wyatt)
Enderby (Simon Greswell)
Foresters Brass 2000 (John Davis)
Gresley Colliery (Dave Purkiss)
Harborough (Brad Turnbull)
Hathern (David Newman)
Ibstock Brick Brass (Simon Willis)
Ireland Colliery Chesterfield (Richard Windle)
Kibworth (David Holling)
Langley (Cliff Parker)
Leicestershire Co-operative (Graham Jacklin)
Oddfellows Brass (Rob Boulter)
Rushden Town (Adele Hudson)
Shirebrook Miners Welfare (Geoff Benson)
Shirley (David Bishop-Rowe)
Wigston (Chris Small)

Second Section:

Test Piece: 'Rhapsody in Brass' (Dean Goffin)
Sunday 12th March
Civic Hall
Split Draw: 9.00am & 10.30am
Commence: 10.00am
Adjudicators: David Hirst and Derek Renshaw

Avonbank (Evesham) (Ceri Thomas)
Bakewell Silver (Jim Henson)
Burbage Buxton (Steve Critchlow)
City of Coventry (Stephen Cooper)
Daventry (Bob Stradling)
Foss Dyke (Colum O'Shea)
Glossop Old (Duncan Beckley)
Hucknall and Linby MC (Paul Whyley)
Newhall (Kevin Holdgate)
Pleasley Colliery Welfare (Geoff Benson)
Raunds Temperance (Robin Norman)

Third Section:

Test Piece: 'Darkwood' (Dan Price)
Saturday 11th March
Nicholas Chamberlaine Technology College
Split Draws: 9.000am & 12 noon
Commence: 11.00am

Adjudicators: David Hirst and Derek Renshaw
Amington (Malcolm Read)
Arrow Valley Brass (Andy Culshaw)
Audley Brass (Tom Hancock)
Brackley & District (Mark Probert)
City of Birmingham (Ben Hewlett-Davies)
Cubbington Silver (Mark Philips)
Ifton Colliery (Scott Robert Lloyd)
Long Eaton Silver Prize (Sharon Stansfield)
Matlock (Geoff Hawley)
Melton (Graham Sutton)
(Resdev) Market Rasen (David Dernley)
Rolls Royce (Derby) (Graham Cardwell)
Shirland Welfare (Lynden Cooper)
Stamford Brass (Robert Prew)
Stourport-on-Severn (Oliver Wilson)
Towcester Studio (Neil Brownless)
Trentham Brass (Mike Caveney)
Wellington (Telford) (Mark Parry)

Fourth Section:

Test Piece: 'St Andrews Variations' (Alan Fernie)
Sunday 12th March
Nicholas Chamberlaine Technology College
Split Draws: 10.00am and 12 noon
Commence: 11.00am
Adjudicators: Dr Chris Davis and Kevin Wadsworth

Bestwood Welfare Black Diamonds (Tony Wilson)
Bilton Silver (Evolution) (Jack Fisher)
City of Wolverhampton (George Draycott)
Cleobury Mortimer Concert (Saphran Ali)
Corby Silver (Cathy Fountain)
Coventry Festival (Alan Gifford)
Croft Silver (Ian Needham)
Fairfield (Buxton) (Charles Kitchen)
Ilkeston Brass (Geoff Hawley)
Kirkby Colliery Welfare (Neville Buxton)
Malvern Hills District (Chris License)
Moulton '77 (Nicholas Garman)
Newark Town (Rupert Trippett)
Porthywaen Silver (Dougie Graham)
Ratby Co-operative Mid (TBC)
Sherwood Forest Brass (Christine Lippeatt)
Shipston Town (Howard Gibbs)
Skegness Silver (Steve Walker)
Syston (Chris Banks)
University of Warwick (Simon Hogg)
WEM Jubilee (Roger Thorne)
Whitwell Brass (Ryan Stacey)