The famous Brass Band Summer School that will take place at Giggleswick School in Settle in North Yorkshire between the 4th & 10th August has announced some of the repertoire that will be worked on during the course with the world class tutors led by the inimitable Richard Evans.

Music

'Where Eagles Sing' by Paul Lovatt-Cooper will rub shoulders with Weber's magnificent overture 'Ruler of the Spirits', whilst 'O Magnum Mysterioso' will provide the calm between the excitement of Gilbert Vinter's 'Spectrum' and Wagner's bombastic overture 'Rienzi'.

Fantastic setting

A spokesperson told 4BR: "These are just the parts of the plans for what promises to be a wonderful week of music making at a fantastic setting — so why not come and join us."

For more information go to: http:/­/­www.brassbandsummerschool.com/­index.php?page=news&id=17

Tickets for the 43rd Brass in Concert Championships to be held at Sage Gateshead on the weekend of 16th/17th November have already started to be snapped up.

The exciting line-up of competing bands is to be announced shortly, but already there has been demand from the brass banding public.

Attractions

The festival weekend is sponsored by Yamaha, Banks Group and British Bandsman, and will kick off on the Saturday with a performance by the talented youngsters of the Elementary Band from schools in the Bedlington and Ashington area.

It will be followed by the second Youth Brass in Concert Championship, which got off to such a fantastic start in 2018.

Taster Sessions and other education events will complement the youth contest before Brighouse & Rastrick, conducted by David Thornton will team up with David Childs to provide the entertainment at the World of Brass in Concert (7.30pm).

Book early

The organisers confirmed to 4BR that the line-up for the world's most prestigious entertainment contest will soon be announced.

They stated: "We are in the final stages of securing the line-up and will announce this soon. Yet again it promises to be a memorable weekend, so please make sure you get the seat you want by booking early!"

Tickets:

Tickets for Youth Brass in Concert on Saturday 16th November are available from Sage Gateshead

Ticket Office on 0191 443 4661 or online at www.sagegateshead.com

Youth Entertainment Championships — priced £12 and £6 (concessions)

World of Brass in Concert featuring Brighouse & Rastrick and David Childs — £27, £18 and £10

Brass in Concert Championship (Sunday 17th November) — £33, £25 and £15.

Booking fees will apply.

The University of Salford recently held its annual Ensembles Competition at its famous Peel Hall, where five outstanding groups of performers battled it out for the prestigious David Horsfield Ensemble Shield title sponsored by Geneva Musical Instruments.

Finalists

The finalists were made up of the 'Salford Six Piece', the brass quintet 'Musical Chairs", the perfectly named 'A Lower Brass Group' made up of a quartet of foundation and first year students, and a Euphonium & Baritone ensemble brilliantly called, 'Euph Gota be kidding me'.

It was an exceptionally close affair this year with all ensembles producing excellent performances for the panel of Dr Robin Dewhurst, Dr Brett Baker and Simon Miller from Geneva Musical Instruments to consider.

Highest quality

Brett told 4BR: "The standard on show at this event has grown each year, and the panel was thrilled to hear playing of the very highest quality. It made for a very difficult decision."

Eventually it was the 'Salford Six Piece' that claimed the honours just ahead of runner-up 'Musical Chairs' whilst the award for 'Best Arrangement or Composition' was won by final year student James Atkins.

World of Brass have this week announced that they will be teaming up in partnership with 4BarsRest to live stream this year's European Brass Band Championships from 26 — 28 April.

Live streaming and commentary

The live streaming, which will be available via the 4Barsrest and World of Brass websites, will grant viewers access to contest events including the Championship, Challenge and Youth Sections and Gala Concert, all with fringe commentary provided by 4Barsrest.

4Barsrest Editor Iwan Fox said: "We're thrilled to partner with World of Brass to make this fantastic event available to everyone in an affordable way. Live streaming means viewers at home can feel they're part of the action."

Unlimited access

Viewers can pay a one-off fee that will grant them unlimited access to all content. A stand-alone Youth-Section package will also be available. Interviews, reactions and opinions from the foyer will also form part of the streaming.

Not only will the events of the weekend be broadcast live, access to that coverage will also be available for the week following the event until Sunday 5th May.

Exciting partnership

Nicki Tonge from World of Sound said "World of Brass is about bringing brass content to those who love it, and that's why we are keen to make this streaming service available.

We recognise 4Barsrest as a connecting point for all who are interested in brass bands, and so the partnership with them is very exciting."

President of the European Brass Band Association Ulf Rosenberg said: "It is great news that the world's most prestigious band event, the European Brass Band Championships, will be live streamed to a wider audience across the world, and that World of Brass and 4Barsrest have provided this opportunity."

Cost

Access for the complete event will cost £12.95. The Youth Sections package will cost £5.95.

More details on how to purchase access to this outstanding streaming service will follow shortly.

The brass band world has joined to wish James Scott a happy 94th birthday.

One of the most respected players, conductors and adjudicators of the post war banding movement, he also remains one of the few people to have played in a contest at the famous Crystal Palace in London.

Prodigious talent

As a player he made his name as a prodigious talent with the likes of City of Coventry and Munn & Felton, where he twice became Champion Soloist of Great Britain.

In 1960 he became Musical Director of the short lived Cammell Laird Band helping them to reach the heights of the Championship Section.

Titles

He famously led Brighouse & Rastrick to the National title in 1973, Granada Band of the Year in 1975 and the European title in 1981, whilst he also enjoyed top level success with Grimethorpe Colliery, Foden's, Yorkshire Imperial and Tredegar amongst others.

A revered and respected adjudicator at all levels he was also the musical driving force behind the successful years of the Pontins Championships and hugely influential source of advice and direction at the British Open.

Everyone in the banding world joins together to wish him the happiest of birthdays…

Find out more

https:/­/­www.4barsrest.com/­articles/­2003/­art345.asp

All eyes and musical focus will be centred on the National Youth Brass Band Championships of Great Britain, which take place at Warwick School on Saturday.

BrassPass will be present will be recording all four sections of the Youth Championships where they can be viewed from next Wednesday evening (April 3rd).

Interviews

4barsrest will also be present throughout to record on the spot interviews with performers and guests to add to the experience of the day, whilst the rest of the press is sure to be in attendance to bring other angles to the coverage — and not forgetting the Brass Band England team who will be adding to the social media.

Delighted

Speaking about the coverage, BBE Chief Executive Officer Kenny Crookston told 4BR: "We're delighted with the overall response to the 'makeover' we've given the Youth Champs, but we also recognise the importance of letting as many brass band lovers as possible worldwide get a taste of what we hope will be a very enjoyable and musically rewarding event."

Tickets:

Tickets for the Youth Champs, which begin at 10.00am on Saturday 30th March and are expected to finish around 8.00pm, are available from the BBE website at www.bbe.org.uk and at the venue.

If you haven't explored the PDF brass music on offer at BigShinyBrass.com then there's no better time to do so — as it's all on offer at 50% off until April 17th!

Unbeatable

It's an unbeatable opportunity to stock up on music for the summer season, with highlights including "Bandstand Bonanza" and "The Book for All Occasions", two ultra-flexible collections with adjustable instrumentation to suit everything from a quartet to a full band.

Priced at just £12.50 for the coming weeks, they provide 25 and 50 audience-friendly arrangements respectively, perfect for all your forthcoming bandstand gigs.

20 collections

You'll also find over 20 collections of music for junior bands, ranging from simple 3- or 4-note pieces, through to simplified versions of orchestral classics such Carnival of the Animals, or the Planets Suite.

There's also a good selection of brass band pieces, all priced at just £5 each.

Have a look

You can look through scores of everything in the catalogue by visiting www.bigshinybrass.com

The team from Band Supplies will be at the National Youth Championships at Warwick School on Saturday — and have a brilliant special offer deal of 25% off all Denis Wick Mutes and mouthpieces.

So why not take the opportunity to leave with a goody bag filled with a fantastic mouthpiece or a mute to keep you at the top of your playing game...

4BR has been informed that radical changes are to be implemented with immediate effect for the 2020 National Championships of Great Britain.

It follows a recent article on 4BR which highlighted five areas of debate surrounding elements such as re-alignment of sections, promotion and relegation and open adjudication.

Total Inclusion

4BR has seen details of the specially commissioned 'Total Inclusion' report that proposes the changes which will be put forward for debate at Regional level in the next few months.

A spokesperson told 4BR. "If agreed, this be the most radical and far reaching reform of the National Championships since 1945.

As the report suggests the new rules will all be about inclusion and gets rids of all the problems that have bedevilled the event over the decades. We are sure the approach will please everyone."

4BR understands that the problem of section alignment will be solved with the creation of a new 'Elite Section' that comes with open adjudication and an end to promotion and relegation. There will be new regional boundaries and clearer registration rules.

Yorkshire lead

When asked directly, the spokesperson confirmed the details.

"We are following the lead of Yorkshire banding which was to have 15 Championship Section bands in 2020.

We will therefore be totally scrapping the lower sections throughout the country, so that every band can now be a Championship Section band.

The new 'Elite Section' is a 'one section fits all' approach and means we have also get rid of the problem of ever having to go back to Cheltenham again.

The open adjudication means we can also decide on which bands go through to the Albert Hall without any of our favourites missing out. The place will be packed!"

Foreign players

They added: "It also means that bands don't have to worry about promotion and relegation and to ensure we finally rid ourselves of the problem of foreign players playing at the contests, we are going to invite all the best bands from Europe to compete in the new super section too."

4BR understands that the prize money at the Areas and National Finals will remain the same though...

April Fool...

Just in case anyone really thought this was true — as tradition dictates, we have to reveal that this wasn't quite what it seemed.

Thanks to Kapitol Promotions who were great sports on this and to everyone who left comments on our effort to try and hoodwink you on this very peculiar day....

4BR Editor talks to a delighted MD, Chris Jeans after Youth Brass 2000 claim the Championship Section title at the National Youth Championships of Great Britain for the sixth year in a row.

With the band already qualified for the European Youth Championships in Montreux in a few weeks time, Chris tells 4BR just how proud he is of his latest band's achievements and just how much hard work they have done to ensure they remain the UK's premier youth ensemble.

All that and they now have Palanga to look forward to in 2020...

Sunday Bandstand: 24th March 2019

Produced and presented by Chris Helme. For further information please see www.chrishelme-brighouse.org.uk and follow the Sunday Bandstand links for this play list and previous shows dating back to 2014.

My website also has a review section and a brass band nostalgia section.

Your CD

Has your band produced a CD this year?

I would be very pleased to play tracks from it if you have. Or have you a burning nostalgia question about the world of brass bands, if you have then please contact me via e-mail:

Click this link:

https:/­/­www.mixcloud.com/­ChrisHelme/­sunday-bandstand-24-march-2019/

Playlist:

Rhythm and Blues (Philip Sparke)
Opening for the weekly show
Foden's Band
MD: Michael Fowles (2010)

The Cantonian March (Ian Clarke)
Amsterdam Staff Band
BM: Olaf Ritman (2013)

The Snaring of the Sun (Stephen Roberts)
Ebbw Valley Brass
MD: Gareth Ritter (2015)

Coronation Scot (Vivian Ellis arr. Roy Newsome)
National Brass Band of New Zealand
MD: Rodney G Sutton (1980)

The Water Margin (Mashru Satu)
Leyland Band
MD: Richard Evans (1980)

Bone Idyll (Derek Bourgeois)
Soloist: Brett Baker
Williams Fairey Band
MD: Bryan Hurdley (1996)

Dancing in the Park (Peter Graham)
National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain
MD: Roy Newsome (1995)

Hoedown from Rodeo (Aaron Copland arr. Howard Snell)
National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain
MD: Roy Newsome (1995)

Gala-Polka (Wemer Knopfel)
Brass Band Frohsinn Schotz
MD: Ernst Balli (1997)

Eyes of a Child (Jalkeus / Larsen)
Soloist: Allan Withington
Stavanger Band
MD: Jacob Vilhelm Larsen (2011)

All Glorious (Dorothy Gates)
New York Staff Band
BM: Ron Waiksnoris (2015)

Credo (Lorne Barry)
Mississauga Temple Band of the Salvation Army (Canada)
BM: David Moulton (2003)

Robin Adair (John Hartmann)
Soloist: Sidney Poole
CWS (Manchester) Band
MD: Alex Mortimer (1960)

Main theme from Star Wars (John Williams arr. Philip Harper)
Cory Band
MD: Philip Harper (2017)

Duel of the Fates (John Williams arr. Andrew Duncan)
Vocalists: Only Men Aloud
Cory Band
MD: Philip Harper (2017)

Fugue from the Young Persons Guide to the Orchestra (Britten arr. David Childs)
Foden's Band
MD: Dr. Robert Childs (2017)

Creepy Trombones (Bertrand Moren)
Soloists: Jeremie Favre, Lucas Llor & Lionel Fumeaux
La Condordia Vertroz
MD: Bertrand Moren (2018)

Escape Velocity (Martin Cordner)
Amsterdam Staff Band
BM: Olaf Ritman (2013)

Bubbles (Derek Broadbent)
Soloists: Sonja Rolli & Markus Hunkeler
Brass Band Frohsinn Schotz
MD: Ernst Balli (1997)

Rufford Abbey (Drake Rimmer)
St Dennis Band
MD: Eddie Williams (1971)

St Austell Suite (Kenneth Downie)
Brighouse & Rastrick
MD: David Hirst (2002)

Rolling Along (William Himes)
Enfield Citadel Band
BM: James Williams (2003)

Carnival of the Animals (Saint Seans)
Black Dyke Mills Band
MD: Major Peter Parkes (1983)

Rhythm and Blues (Philip Sparke)
Closing for weekly show
Foden's Band
MD: Michael Fowles (2010)

Enjoy the show....

BBC SOUNDS OF BRASS — Worldwide

BROADCAST ON BBC RADIO CORNWALL, DEVON, GUERNSEY & JERSEY EVERY SUNDAY EVENING @ 7.00pm and on BRISTOL, GLOUCESTERSHIRE, SOMERSET SOUND, SWINDON & WILTSHIRE Sunday 1.00am to 2.00am.

PRODUCED AND PRESENTED WEEKLY BY PHILLIP HUNT since 1985.

AVAILABLE LIVE AND LISTEN AGAIN EVERY WEEK ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB THROUGH THE BBC RADIO iPLAYER.

Live on Sundays at 20.05 or 12am British Time or at any time for 30 DAYS after the Broadcast.
To hear this week's programme instantly go to the Web Site of the BBC Local Radio Station you are listening to and click on Live or Listen Again, then Schedule.

For those listeners who can hear the programme on their TV through the Freeview Radio Channel you can now set your system to record the programme on a weekly basis by going to the Radio Programme Guide and finding our broadcast time.

At the moment the BBC Local Radio Stations on the Freeview Radio Channel can only be accessed within the individual Radio Station areas, which is why some numbers are duplicated.

The Freeview numbers for the Stations available are, BBC Radio Bristol 719, Radio Jersey 719, Radio Devon 720, Radio Guernsey 721, Radio Cornwall 721, Radio Wiltshire 721, Radio Somerset 722, Radio Gloucestershire 735.

You can also listen to and download the programme on your Smart Phone by downloading the BBC iPlayer APP.

Requests and Comments welcome at E Mail:

Telephone: 01752 843919

Check the Sounds of Brass Blog @ www.sofbblog.wordpress.com every week for programme details, brass band articles and information.

Sunday 14th April 2019:

Check the Sounds of Brass Blog @ www.sofbblog.wordpress.com every week for programme details, brass band articles and information.

A SALUTE FROM LUCERNE (Christoph Walter)
Swiss Army Concert Band
Conductor: Christoph Walter

DIVERSIONS, VARIATIONS ON A SWISS FOLK SONG (Philip Sparke)
Point of Ayr Band
Conductor: Michael Fowles

FANTAISIE ORIGINALE (Ermano Picchi arr. Maurice Bale)
Soloist: Thomas Ruedi
Brassband Bufgermusik Luzern
Conductor: Ludwig Wicki

THE BEST OF BOND (arr. Darrol Barry)
Oberaargauer Brass Band
Conductor: Manfred Obrecht

FANTASY ON SWISS AIRS (Roy Newsome)
Soloist: Shaun Thomas
Sun Life Band
Conductor: Roy Newsome

SCHATTDORF IMPRESSIONS (Darrol Barry)
Brass Band Berner Oberland
Conductor: Carlo Balmelli

Geneva Instruments has a new offer on their superb Oldroyd Cardinal Cornets — making it easy to own one of the finest instruments in the world.

It's as simple as a single upfront payment of £695 followed by 24 easy payments of £83.33 per month.

For more information call us on 01642 714464 or email us at

One of banding world's most respected soprano players is offering instrumental lessons in exchange for a donation to Prostate Cancer UK.

Martin Britt, who has played for many of the world's finest bands across the globe is hoping to raise £2,000 for the charity, and is already halfway there after just two months.

More to do

He told 4BR: "Every family is touched by cancer at some point in their lives. I've enjoyed a long association with the cancer charity Bloodwise for 20 or so years and have seen the incredible improvements in prognosis. However, as the charity itself says, there is still so much that can be done."

With that in mind he came up with the idea of raising money by using his expertise as an elite level performer in the most effective manner.

Specialist advice

Martin added: "Having met lots of players over the past couple of months, from age 13 to 70 with a wide range of experience from learners to graduates and military professionals, I'm keen to open the offer up to all soprano players and to other high brass players.

Reading soprano cornet groups on Facebook (they do exist) over recent months, it's become clear that there is a need for specialist advice, whether that be about airflow, chops, articulation, musicality, performance anxiety and the instruments best suited for the job."

Martin told 4BR that all players have to do is get in touch with him to arrange a time and place, and after the lesson they can make a donation direct to Prostate Cancer UK, which enables the charity to claim Gift Aid, boosting the donation by 22%.

Martin said: "I have a recommended donation rate but I want to try and raise as much money for the charity so that it can have a positive impact on the ongoing work to eliminate the disease."

Contact:

Martin can be contacted on Facebook or Facebook Messenger or at

The line-up of adjudicators who will make the all important decisions at the 2019 Netherlands National Brass Band Championships has been announced.

The 39th event takes place at the TivoliVredenburg in Utrecht on the 25th & 26th October and will see an international panel comprising Sheona White (UK), Patrik Randefalk (Norway), Keven Houben (Belgium), Arsène Duc (Switzerland), Steven Mead (UK) and Tijmen Botma (Netherlands) make the all important decisions.

Sheona White, Patrik Randefalk and Kevin Houben will make the decisions in Divisions 2, 3 and 4. The First and Championship Section decisions will be in the hands of Arsène Duc, Steven Mead and Tijmen Botma.

Once again there has been a great deal of change to the All Brass Radio 'Top 20' list in the past month.

With a much more easily manageable 250 tracks, listeners are getting to hear many more pieces on a much more regular basis, and this has had a big effect on movements up and down the charts. Each month listeners get new musical experiences with the station — and more and more people are enjoying them!

All Brass Radio works hard to bring tracks from current CDs and to blend them with traditional favorites. The listeners voting on the website is a huge help. Also a large contribution comes from the bands that donate CDs.

Chart toppers

At the top of the list this month is 'Country Roads' played by the Las Vegas Brass Band. This track often makes the Top 20, but rarely as high on the list. It's testament to the idea that good melodies are lasting and enduring.

Meanwhile, across the Atlantic Ocean comes 'The Orient Express' played by the Paris Brass Band, which isn't the theme from the most recent adaptation of the famous Agatha Christie film, but a piece from the 1970's. It's great to see a wonderful European band being appreciated right at the top end of the charts.

That's always the case with the great Kirsty Abbotts — a brilliant player very well respected by the listeners of All Brass Radio. Kirsty sits in third place withher beautifully haunting rendition of 'You Raise Me Up'.

Other noteworthy tracks making a move this month are 'Bolero' by Brighouse & Rastrick off their recent CD, 'Tis a Gift' by one of the top US bands, Brass Band of Central Florida, and the short and funny 'Keystone Kartoon' by Hammonds Saltaire.

Always available

All Brass Radio is a commercial-free internet radio station that plays 'All Brass Bands, All the Time.'

The station is always available. The listeners can listen and vote on tracks at no cost as the station runs on donations. If you like listening to the latest and the best of the past brass bands tracks, please consider becoming a donor.

Listen in at www.allbrassradio.com

Top 20:

1. Country Roads (Las Vegas Brass Band)
2. Orient Express (Paris Brass Band)
3. You Raise Me Up (Carlton Main Frickley Colliery)
Soloist: Kirsty Abbotts (cornet)
4. Tis a Gift (Brass Band of Central Florida)
5. Bolero (Brighouse & Rastrick)
6. Quest Trilogy (International Staff Band)
7. 76 Trombones (Hammonds Saltaire)
8. Soundtrack Highlights from 'The Lion King' (Black Dyke)
9. Marriage of Figaro (Sun Life Stanshawe)
10. A Carmen Fantasy (Brighouse & Rastrick)

11. Great Gate of Kiev (Ever Ready)
12. King Cotton (Georgia Brass Band)
13. Festive Overture (Clacton on Sea Band)
14. Great Balls of Fire (Brass Band Willebroek)
15. A Pittsburgh Overture (Rigid Containers Group)
16. Gettysburg: Reunion and Finale (Atlantic Brass Band)
17. Festival March Celebration (Waitakere Brass)
18. Keystone Kartoon (Hammonds Saltaire)
19. Here They Come (International Staff Band)
20. The Lord of the Rings (Brass Band Willebroek)

Well known British euphonium player and Sterling Instruments artist Mark Glover has just given a ground breaking solo recital at the Mazda Hall in Pune, India.

Commenting on the occasion Mark told 4BR that it has become something of a mission of his to try and get the euphonium projected to new audiences around the world, with the opportunity to perform at the acclaimed concert venue coming as a great honour through the Poona Music Society.

Fascinated

"I was delighted to be asked to perform and the audience certainly enjoyed the recital. So many people told me that it was the first time they had heard the instrument and were fascinated to find out more about it and its performance history."

Such was the popularity that Mark soon sold out of his latest CD 'Hustle', with highlights of the recital which saw him accompanied by pianist Nadine Crasto, being Wesley Kendrick's arrangement of Faure's 'Pavane', new compositions by Dubai based composers Tamara Sirius and Assad Hamzy, 'Lullaby for Lucy' written as a gift to Mark's daughter by Singaporean Alex Thio, plus a triple tongue polka called 'The Devil's Tongue'.

Mark is now looking ahead to his recital at the 2019 International Tuba and Euphonium Conference in the USA in May.

The British Army Brass Band will be making a welcome return to the concert stage next week as they celebrate the 70th birthday of composer Philip Wilby.

The event takes place at St Peter's Church of England in Harrogate on Thursday 11th April (7.30pm) and will see the ensemble made up of the cream of British Army brass banding talent directed by Capt Brenden Wheeler, Director of Music of The Band of the Royal Armoured Corps.

Iconic works

No stranger to the civilian world of brass banding, Capt Wheeler will lead the band through a number of iconic works written for the medium by Prof Wilby during his distinguished composing career, including the imposing test-pieces, 'Masquerade' and 'Revelation'.

Capt Wheeler told 4BR that he is delighted that the British Army Brass Band will be able to join in the birthday celebrations in this way.

"Prof Wilby revolutionised major brass band compositions, opening perhaps the most exciting new chapter to the medium in half a century or more.

To be able to pay our tribute to him is a great honour and I'm sure the audience will be thrilled to hear his magnificent music in an equally magnificent surrounding."

Solo spot

Also on the programme will be his 'Scipio — Fanfare & Fugue' and his wonderful setting of 'The Day Thou Gavest', whilst Cory' star tenor horn player and Army Musician Ailsa Russell will perform his 'Fantasie Concertante'.

The event will be rounded off with an evocative rendition of the narrated 'The Pilgrims Progress', with Philip Wilby joining in on the church organ.

Concert details:

The British Army Brass Band
St Peter's Church
Harrogate
HG1 1PB
Thursday 11th April (7.30pm)

The own-choice selections that will be performed by the competing bands at the forthcoming European Championships in Montreux have been announced.

As always there is sure to be plenty of speculation to which band will be playing what piece in both the Challenge and Championship Sections on Saturday 27th April.

Little wonder then that the day has long been sold-out.

One world premiere

Interestingly there is only one premiere work — 'Explorers on the Moon' written under the pseudonym Paul Raphael, whilst works first used in 2018 come with 'Glass' by Simon Dobson and 'King Kong on Rue Igor-Stravinsky' by Paul McGhee.

Compositions that were originally written as the set-piece for the Championships will be heard with 'Extreme Make-Over' by Johan de Meij (2005), 'From Ancient Times' by Jan van der Roost (2009), and 'Vita Aeterna Variations' by Ed de Boer under his compositional pseudonym Alexander Comitas (2012).

Meanwhile, works that have been successfully used to top the own-choice discipline of the contest are also to be heard with 'Concerto Grosso' by Derek Bourgeois (2002) and 'Music of the Spheres' by Philip Sparke (2004).

In addition, 'Old Licks Bluesed Up', which helped Manger to claim the overall title in 2011 and 'A Brussels Requiem' which was first performed at the Championships in 2017 and was later used as the British Open test-piece in 2018, will also be played.

There will also be two performances of Peter Graham's 'The 39th Parallel' written for the National Band of New Zealand and first premiered at the World Music Contest in Kerkrade in 2017, with a first performance of Roland Szentpali's 'Concerto for Brass Band' which has been played at both the Swiss and Belgian National Championships.

Challenge Section

In the Challenge Section there will be the opportunity to hear the former Championship Section set-work, 'A London Overture' by Philip Sparke (1991), as well as two performances of Gilbert Vinter's 'Spectrum', Edward Gregson's 'Essay' and 'Sinfonietta No. 3' by Etienne Crausaz.

Virtuoso performances

Commenting on the choices, Paul Hindmarsh, Chair of the EBBA Music Commission said: "Own-choice day at the Europeans is one of the special times in the brass band calendar, where high-octane virtuoso performance is guaranteed alongside some inspiring repertoire.

I'm particularly pleased to see in this year's varied selection that bands have been delving in the archive to freshen up some significant turning points in the evolution of the band test piece — two performances of Gilbert Vinter's vibrant 'Spectrum', Derek Bourgeois' incisive and witty 'Concerto Grosso', Johan de Meij's wacky 'Extreme Make-Over'of Tchaikovsky, Jan Van der Roost's ever popular 'From Ancient Times' and Philip Sparke's expansive soundscape 'Music of the Spheres'."

Fascinating

He added: "It will be fascinating to hear how these works will sound against crop of truly imaginative and stylistically varied new pieces that have impressed so many in recent contest seasons.

We also have two opportunities to hear Peter Graham's latest test piece, 'The 39th Parallel', used at the New Zealand championships, and after 'Destination Moon' in Ostend (2017), the enigmatic pen of Paul Raphael has produced a sequel, 'Explorers of the Moon'."

The 13 bands in the Championship will perform their choice of test piece after the Challenge Section bands have completed their performances, which will also include the set test piece TerezIn by Mario BUrki.

Championship Section:

A Brussels Requiem (Bert Appermont)
Concerto for Brass Band (Roland Szentpali)
Concerto Grosso (Derek Bourgeois)
Explorers on the Moon (Paul Raphael)
Extreme Make-Over (Johan de Meij)
From Ancient Times (Jan Van der Roost)
Glass (Simon Dobson)
King Kong on Rue Igor-Stravinsky (Paul McGhee)
Music of the Spheres (Philip Sparke)
Old Licks Bluesed Up (Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen)
The 39th Parallel (2x) (Peter Graham)
Vita Aeterna Variations (Alexander Comitas)

Challenge Section:

Sinfonietta No. 3 (Etienne Crausaz)
A London Overture (Philip Sparke)
Essay (Edward Gregson)
Spectrum (2x) (Gilbert Vinter)

The 'Musicians Optician', Allegro Optical has been claiming yet more awards for its market leading excellence.

Fresh from being presented with the 'Scale-Up Business of the Year' accolade at the regional finals of the Federation of Small Business awards in March, and then claiming the National 'Best New Arts & Entertainment Business of the Year' honours in London, they have just made it a memorable hat-trick with Managing Director Sheryl Doe becoming the 2019 'Dispensing Optician of the Year'.

National reputation

Allegro Optical is an independent family business that has two outlets in Meltham and Greenfield, and which has gained a national reputation for its professional excellence as well as its inventive approach to meeting customer needs.

It has also become internationally known as the 'Musicians Opticians' for its ground breaking work with performers, players and conductors which has resulted in them being the only opticians registered British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM).

Hat-trick

The hat-trick came at the recent annual Optician Awards in Birmingham where the industry rewards the best in the business.

Allegro Optical were finalists in two categories, and there was a huge cheer as Managing Director Sheryl Doe was awarded the prestigious 'National Dispensing Optician of the Year 2019'.

Sheryl later told 4BR: "We were really surprised, but thrilled to have won all these awards. It's very encouraging for all the members of the Allegro Optical team. This award acknowledges the high standard of service we strive to provide every client with."

Special pride

She added: "We take a very special pride in being able to work closely with musicians; understanding their optical needs and requirements and being able to help them enjoy their music making.

It that specialised help and professional care that has helped win these awards, and we hope we can continue to help musicians and all our customers for many more years to come."

Find out more

To find out more about Allegro Optical and what they can do for you, go to:

https:/­/­www.allegrooptical.co.uk/