The Association of Brass Band Adjudicators has expressed it gratitude for the "hard work and dedicated efforts of the Regional Contest Committees, and all their volunteer helpers", that put on the series of Regional Championship events over the last month.

Website post

However, in a post to their own website entitled, 'Post-Regional thoughts and the use of non-Aobba members', it is also made clear it continues to have concerns over the appointment of adjudicators who are not AoBBA members.

In their posting they state: "… we urge contest organisations to engage our members to give competing bands assurances of the quality and professionalism of the appointed adjudicator."

The Championship Section contests in Yorkshire, Midlands and London & Southern Counties contained judges (Arsene Duc, Steven Mead and Sandy Smith) were not AoBBA members.

Praise

The release also praises the competing bands by saying: "We should also like to add our congratulations to all the competing bands. Special mention must go to the winners and qualifiers of each region and we wish them all the best in their preparations for the finals later in the year.

Not everyone, of course, will be as pleased with the result as others — as is the nature of competition. There have to be winners and there have to be losers. However, all bands contributed to the various levels of music making over all of the contest weekends and everyone is due huge congratulations for their achievements.

As an organisation, all our members endeavour to provide as fair a judgment as possible, implementing our Performance Assessment Criteria (PAC) at all times. Each member strives to give constructive criticism and a level of encouragement, combined with pointers on how performances may be improved for the future.

On occasion, a piece may test the bands and ensembles may struggle to achieve a high standard of performance.

In our remarks, it is necessary to point out errors and aspects of the music that lack cohesion on stage; however, there will always be moments in every performance where a band will shine and we always aim to acknowledge this.

AoBBA adjudicators want each band to play their best, to produce that performance for which they have prepared so diligently.

Rest assured that all our members appreciate the time and effort invested by each band at every contest and understand that it is our duty to provide as comprehensive and detailed analysis of each performance as they are heard.

The increased use of non AoBBA members at contests — including the recent Areas — is a concern of our organisation as we are unable to deal with any complaints from bands and promoters regarding these individualsAoBBA

Non AoBBA judges

However, in relation to the question of the use on non-AoBBA members they go on to state: "AoBBA cannot be responsible for the work and conduct of non AoBBA members.

The increased use of non AoBBA members at contests — including the recent Areas — is a concern of our organisation as we are unable to deal with any complaints from bands and promoters regarding these individuals.

A common perception appears to be that all adjudicators being used are AoBBA members, which is not the case. Thus, we urge contest organisations to engage our members to give competing bands assurances of the quality and professionalism of the appointed adjudicator."