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All eyes on Warwick as National Youth contenders seek titles

The National Youth Brass Band Championships of Great Britain take place today at Warwick Arts Centre — so why not take a trip along and enjoy the action. (Make sure you bring plenty of pop and crisps though)

bIRKWOOD
  Players from Birkwood School will be taking part today (Copyright Lorne Campbell)

There is sure to be a huge increase in retail demand for supplies of crisps, sandwiches, soft drinks and paper hankies in the Midlands today, as 36 bands from across England and Wales make their way to Warwick Arts Centre to compete in the 2018 National Youth Band Championships of Great Britain.

Great support

There is also going to be an even healthier diet of great music on show too in the four sections of competition and great support from proud and occasionally tearfully joyful family and friends as the titles in the Beginner, Junior, Intermediate and Championship Sections are decided.

Organised by Brass Bands England, it is one of the most vibrant and fun packed events in the UK banding calendar, so if you are anywhere near the Midlands why not go along and enjoy the occasion for yourselves. You won't be disappointed.

Doors open

The doors open at 8.30am with the first performance at 9.30am. It should all be rounded off by 8.00pm.

Organised by Brass Bands England, it is one of the most vibrant and fun packed events in the UK banding calendar, so if you are anywhere near the Midlands why not go along and enjoy the occasion for yourselves4BR

Championship Section:


Butterworth Hall
Commence: 6.30pm
Adjudicators: Ian Porthouse and Dave Lea
Test-piece: Overture Metropolis (Gordon Langford)

1. Youth Brass 2000 (Chris Jeans)
2. Lions Youth Brass Band (Nigel Birch)
3. Northamptonshire Youth Brass Band (Brad Turnbull)
4. Birmingham Schools Brass Band (Stuart Birnie)


Intermediate Section:


Butterworth Hall
Commence: 9.30am
Adjudicators: Alan Morrison and Sandy Smith
Test-piece: West Country Fantasy (Gordon Langford)

1. Macclesfield Youth Brass Band (Louise Renshaw)
2. Wardle Academy Youth Band (Lee Rigg)
3. Cardiff County Youth Band (Charles Maynard)
4. Enderby Youth Band (Trevor Hounsome)
5. Denbighshire Youth Band (John Powell)
6. Band Pres Gwynedd a Mon (Dylan Williams)
7. Rochdale Youth Band (Ben Dixon)
8. Tewit Youth Senior Band (Martin Hall)
9. Egglescliffe School Band (Matthew Haworth)
10. Stockport Schools Senior Brass Band (Iain McKnight)
11. Elland Silver Youth Band (Samantha Harrison)
12. MK Youth Brass (Phil Devine)
13. Poynton Youth Brass Band (Michael Eccles)
14. Oldham Music Centre Youth Brass Band (Jonathan Leedale)
15. North Wilts Youth Band (Janet Rose and Alan Campbell)


Junior Section:


The Goose Nest
Commence: 11.15am
Adjudicators: Martin Heartfield and Ben Richeton
Own-choice programme not exceeding 15 minutes playing time which must include at least one original piece of music composed for brass band and two verses of a hymn tune from the Red Hymn Book

1. Lions Junior Brass Band (Tom Hancock)
2. Elland Junior Band (Samantha Harrison)
3. Chalford Youth Band (Steve Tubb)
4. Tewit Youth Intermediate Band (Dave Dunn-Birch)
5. Fred Longworth High School (Helen Robinson)
6. Stockport Schools Intermediate Brass Band (Tom Ridgley)
7. Dobcross Youth Band (Matt Hindle)
8. Hawkley Hall High School (Steven Cavanagh)
9. Soundhouse Youth Brass Plymouth (Gary Thompson)
10. Wardle Academy Junior Band (Lee Rigg)
11. Macclesfield Junior Brass Band (Tim Grindey)
12. Beaumaris Band (Bethan Lowri)


Beginners Section:


The Goose Nest
Commence: 4.15pm
Adjudicators: Max Stannard and Martin Heartfield
Own-choice programme not exceeding 15 minutes of playing time

1. Lions Beginner Band (Chris Thompson)
2. Birkwood Brass (Michael Dodd)
3. Marriott Brass (Julie Maxwell and Zoltan Vincze)
4. Wardle Junior Blast (Lee Rigg)
5. Stockport Schools Junior Brass Band (Andrew Myers)

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Martin Heartfield

GGSM, ARCM, PGCE
Conductor, Adjudicator, Educationalist


               

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