The line-ups for the Grand Shield, Senior Cup and Senior Trophy which make up the series of qualification contests at the 101st British Open Spring Festival have been announced.
The event takes place this weekend (Saturday 13th May) at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.
The adjudication team comprises Dr Brett Baker Dr Robert Childs, John Doyle, David Hirst, Andrew Porter and Mark Wilkinson.
Strikes and tickets
Those wishing to attend the event to enjoy the performances are reminded that a series of proposed rail strikes could affect services to Blackpool. In addition, tickets for the day are issued by the ticket office near the main entrance to the hall.
Supporters should ensure they allow extra time to collect and pay for contest day tickets in order not to miss the start of the events, which are staggered to start from 10.00am onwards.
Grand Shield
As has become customary, the British Open test piece, 'The World Rejoicing — Symphonic Variations on a Lutheran Chorale' will be used as the set work for the Grand Shield. Two bands will qualify for the 2023 British Open Championships.
Senior Cup
Philip Sparke's popular 'A London Overture' will face the bands in the Senior Cup.
Commissioned for the Dutch National Championships in 1984 it has been performed at numerous major events around the world since — including the 1991 European Championship, the First Section National Finals in 1992 and the First Section Regional Championships in 2015.
Senior Trophy
Edrich Siebert's exciting arrangement of Cesar Franck's symphonic poem 'The Accursed Huntsman' (Le Chasseur Maudit) will face the bands in the Senior Trophy.
First used at the 1973 British Open Championship, but rarely played in intervening years, it was also used at the Grand Shield in 1987.
The original tale, not unlike that 'Tam O'Shanter's Ride', is inspired by the balled 'The Wild Hunter', and of a German nobleman who defies the teachings of the Sabbath to go hunting on a Sunday morning — resulting in the hunter becoming the hunted by demons for all eternity.
Bands have been informed which segment of the draw they will compete in.
The Parc & Dare band replaced Burry Port as the qualifying band to the Senior Trophy from the 2013 Welsh Open Championships.
Supporters should ensure they allow extra time to collect and pay for contest day tickets in order not to miss the start of the events, which are staggered to start from 10.00am onwards4BR
Grand Shield:
Test-piece: The World Rejoicing — Symphonic Variations on a Lutheran Chorale (Edward Gregson)
Draw: 9.00am/12.40pm
Start: 10.00am
Ashton under Lyne (Martyn Evans)
Camborne Town (Ian Porthouse)
Carlton Main Frickley Colliery (Allan Withington)
City of Bradford (Gareth Brindle)
City of Hull (Dean Jones)
Dalmellington (Erik Janssen)
Friary Brass (Nigel Taken)
Hepworth (Ryan Watkins)
Milnrow (Lee Skipsey)
NASUWT Riverside (Michael Fowles)
Oldham Band (Lees) (John Collins)
Pemberton Old Wigan DW (Ben Dixon)
Rainford (Sarah Groarke-Booth)
Ratby Co-operative (Mareika Gray)
Reg Vardy (Russell Gray)
Skelmanthorpe (Martin Heartfield)
The GUS Band (Dr David Thornton)
Wantage (Jonathan Pippen)
Whitburn (Prof Nicholas Childs)
Wingates (Andrea Price)
Senior Cup:
Test-piece: A London Overture (Philip Sparke)
Draw: 10.30am/1.20pm
Start: 11.30am
Acceler8 Band (Jef Sparkes)
Aveley & Newham (Will Wilkins)
Boarshurst Silver (Jamie Prophet)
Brass Band of Central England (Howard J. Evans)
City of Cardiff (Melingriffith) M1 (Christopher Bond)
Derwent Brass (Jack Capstaff)
East London Brass (Jayne Murrill)
Elland Silver (Daniel Brooks)
Fishburn (Duncan Beckley)
Kingdom Brass (Thomas Wyss)
Kirkintilloch (Hedley Benson)
Llwydcoed (Joshua Ruck)
Newtongrange Silver (Anne Crookston)
Redbridge (Chris Bearman)
Roche Brass (Keith Maxwell)
Shepherd Group (Richard Wilton)
St Dennis (Darren R Hawken)
Unite the Union (Jonathan Beatty)
Verwood Concert Brass (Kevin Smith)
Woodfalls (Stephen Sykes)
Senior Trophy:
Test-piece: The Accursed Huntsman (Cesar Franck arr. Edrich Siebert)
Draw: 10.00am/1.00pm
Start: 11.00am
Amersham (Paul Fisher)
Blackburn & Darwen (Daniel Thomas)
Bo'ness & Carriden (Charile Farren)
Easington Colliery (Stephen Malcolm)
Ebbw Valley Brass (Gareth Ritter)
Eccles Borough (Jon Davis)
Enderby (Stephen Phillips)
Filton Concert Brass (Nathan Jenkins)
Hatfield & Askern Colliery (Jack Capstaff)
Haverhill Silver (Paul Filby)
Longridge (Mark Peacock)
Parc & Dare (Dewi Griffiths)
Pontardulais (Paul Jenkins)
Stannington Brass (Sam Fisher)
Thoresby Colliery (Simon Oates)
Thundersley Brass (Melvin White)
Tongwynlais Temperance (Owen Farr)
Tylorstown (Robert Westacott)
Unison Kinneil (Raymond Tennant)
Vernon Building Society (Adam Denbridge-Smith)
Yorkshire Imperial (Garry Hallas)
