Australian Euphonium virtuoso and Yamaha artist, Mark Howcroft, will be competing in this years British Open Solo Championship on 2 November as Australasia's Ern Keller representative.

Earlier this year in Sydney, Mark was runner-up to UK's Katrina Marzella, at the Ern Keller International Soloist of the Year.

Mark told 4BRDU, "I have been working hard on my chosen 'piece, "Endeavour' by Helen Johnstone, for some weeks now and it's coming along nicely."

Tribute

I feel very much privileged to be representing Australasia in this prestigious competition and will do my very best to bring home the title.Mark Howcroft

"I wanted to play an Australian composition as a tribute to the late Cliff Goodchild, who was so passionate about Australian compositions. Cliff always encouraged me in my younger days to be proud of what several Australian composers had contributed to the Brass Band movement here in Australia. Cliff was behind many, many commissions of fine Australian compositions and the Australian Band Movement will never be the same without him."

"I feel very much privileged to be representing Australasia in this prestigious competition and will do my very best to bring home the title."