Wessex Brass Band Association has been holding an annual competition for its members for over fifty years with great success, but over the past couple of years the Association has been ringing the changes.

Split

Last year they decided to split the competition for Youth and Training Bands away from the senior competition and give the younger bands their own special occasion.

So successful was the move that they are once again holding a separate Youth and Training Band Contest, this year on October 31st at the Trafalgar School, Downton, near Salisbury.

The Association has announced that, once again, the contest will be sponsored by the Royal Marines.

The adjudicator will be Lieutenant Colonel Nick Grace BMus(Hons) FLCM LRSM, Commandant of the Royal Marines School of Music and Principal Director of Music Royal Marines.

If any Youth or Training Bands wish to enter the competition the Association will be taking entries until the 15th September.

So successful was the move that they are once again holding a separate Youth and Training Band Contest, this year on October 31st at the Trafalgar School, Downton, near Salisbury4BR

Senior change

However, the wind of change has also embraced the senior competition this year with the decision that, for the first time, it will be an Own Choice Contest.

Response

The response from bands has been very encouraging with 23 bands entered to date, but there is still room (and time) for a few more entries.

The contest will take place at The Pavilion Theatre in Weymouth, on Saturday, 28th November, and the adjudicator will be Brian Buckley.

A post contest concert will be given by the Woodfalls Band before the results are announced and the subsequent presentations.

Further information

Further information on both competitions can be obtained from Wessex Brass Band Association Secretary David Hills by telephone (01425 271743) or email ( davidandjillyhills@talktalk.net)