The inaugural Philip Jones International Brass Ensemble Competition will take place at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester in July.

Established by Ursula Jones and John Miller, its aim is to bring together many of the world's finest young brass quintets to showcase their musical excellence and enterprise in brass chamber music performance.

Legacy

The competition also builds on the incredible legacy left by Philip Jones CBE (1928-2000), with an international jury of renowned musicians, Reinhold Friedrich (trumpet), Barbara Butler (trumpet), Frøydis Ree Wekre (horn), Ian Bousfield (trombone) and Oren Marshall (tuba) tasked with making the all important decision to who will claim the prestigious, as well as lucrative, high profile awards.

15 brass quintets, with participant aged between 16 and 30, will make their way to Manchester for the semi-finals and final of the event — each comprising the classic formation of two trumpets, horn, trombone and tuba.

Entrants for the inaugural event have come from the UK, USA, Germany, Italy, France, Austria and Croatia.

Open to the public

The semi finals, masterclasses and finals are open to the general public, with the winners taking away the main Philip Jones Prize and a cash prize of £10,000.

The runner-up will be presented with the Marah Mahlowe Prize and £7,500, with the third placed quintet receiving the Founder's Prize and £5,000. Several prominent music festivals and venues have also expressed interest in the outcome of the competition.

The semi finals, masterclasses and finals are open to the general public, with the winners taking away the main Philip Jones Prize and a cash prize of £10,0004BR

Time and place

Philip Jones International Brass Ensemble Competition:
Semi Finals: 18th July (2.00pm)
Concert Hall, RNCM
Free admission

Masterclasses in Chamber Music: 19th July (2.00pm)
Carole Nash Recital Hall, RNCM
Free admission

Final: 20th July (2.30pm)
Concert Hall, RNCM
Tickets £15 (£10 concessions)
£5 students/under 18s
www.rncm.ac.uk or Box Office 0161 907 5555

Full details of the competition are available on the website www.pjbe.org