The winners have been announced of the 2026 BrookWright International Brass Solo Contest.
The competition featured exceptional 30 entries representing six countries with over
9,400 total views as brass enthusiasts worldwide enjoyed the performances and cast their own votes for the special Public Commendation Prize.
Following the preliminary rounds, the competition judging panels evaluated the top five performances in each age division.
Over 18 Category:
Adjudicators: Brett Baker; Tom Hutchinson
Cornet player Mark Vause claimed the senior title with his fine performance of 'Carnival of Venice'. Second place also went to a cornet player with Andrew Malovence's rendition of 'Humble Hero'. The final podium place was taken by flugel horn player Andrew Roe who performed 'Love Eternal'.
Winner
Mark is the recently appointed conductor of Pilling Jubilee Band but showed his experience as a cornet soloist with a performance described by Tom Hutchinson as, "showing technical brilliance throughout."
Mark is a former principal cornet of Morecambe Band and studied music at Salford University where he played with Foden's and was a finalist in the 1988 Solo Championships of Great Britain.
He was also a founder member of the National Methodist Youth Brass Band conducting them during tours and for the past 17 years, and whilst serving as Director of Music at Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall, he has been the conductor of the highly successful Lichfield Concert Band.
Now back living in Morecambe with his family, he is the newly appointed Head of Music at Ripley St Thomas School in Lancaster, whilst in his spare time he has become the conductor of Pilling.
The other finalists were trombonist Hannah Gibbons who performed 'Variations Sur La Tyrolienne' and Micah Dominic Parsons on euphonium who played, 'A Wedding Jig'.
1. Mark Vause (Cornet) — 183pts
2. Andrew Malovance (Cornet) — 178pts
3. Andrew Roe (Flugel) — 177pts
4. Hannah Gibbons (Trombone) — 176pts
5. Micah Dominic Parsons (Euphonium) — 170pts
Under 18 Category:
Adjudicators: Emily Evans; Les Neish
In the Under 18 section, adjudicators Emily Evans and Les Neish awarded 1st Place to euphonium soloist Elijah Baker who performed 'Novus Vitae'. Second place went to cornetist Stanley Langi performing 'Nothing but thy Blood', with 11-year-old cornet soloist Bradley Mahungu in third with his performance of 'Love Eternal'.
The other finalists were Sione Selupe who played 'Humble Hero' and bass trombonist Moses Lamipeti who performed 'Jesus Paid it All'.
1. Elijah Baker (Euphonium) — 186pts
2. Stanley Langi (Cornet) — 179pts
3. Bradley Mahungu (Cornet) — 172pts
4. Sione Selupe (Tenor Horn) — 171pts
5. Moses Lamipeti (Bass Trombone) — 170pts
Public Commendation Prize:
Running parallel to the main adjudication panel, Bradley Mahungu captured the Public Commendation Prize for his performance of 'Love Eternal', securing the highest number of official YouTube likes across the entire competition.
Under contest rules, Bradley receives the combined prize packages for both his podium finish and public voting victory.
Running parallel to the main adjudication panel, 11 year old Bradley Mahungu captured the Public Commendation Prize for his performance of 'Love Eternal'4BR
Further information
The competition was supported by Steinberg (Dorico Pro), tonebase, wobplay, Denis Wick London, Bremner Music (sshhmute), and Brass Academy with prize packages worth over $5,300.
To view full results breakdowns, judges' comments, and finalists' performance videos, visit: https://www.brookwrightmusic.com/solocontest2026
