The final four who will bid to become the BBC Radio 2 Young Brass Soloist for 2010 on Saturday 20th February have been announced.

Finaliats

Six players reached the second stage of the competition at the BBC Studios in Manchester on Saturday 30th January where they were accompanied by the Fodens Band and they have now been whittled down to four.

The final four are:

Jonathan Bates, from Huddersfield, who plays tenor horn and is aged 14
Zoe Hancock, from St Austell, who plays flugel Horn and is aged 18
Matthew White, from Westhoughton, who plays euphonium and is aged 19
Benjamin Richeton, who lives in Salford, who plays cornet and is aged 20

The two players to miss out are Vicki Reynolds (french horn) and Patrick Kenny (trombone).

Championship contenders

Not for the first time all of the finalists play with Championship Section bands within the UK. Jonathan Bates is the youngest finalist who plays at Brighouse and Rastrick Band. Jonathan's choices of 'A Time for Peace' and 'The Piper of Dundee' impressed judges Philip Cobb and Richard Evans.

All of the four finalists currently play with Championship Section Bands and a high quality final awaits4BR

Peace repeated

Another finalist, Benjamin Richteon, currently with Grimethorpe also chose 'A Time for Peace' by Peter Graham for a place in the final. His other contribution was Alexander Goedicke's Concert Etude.

Third time lucky?

Matthew White, the Principal Euphonium with the Pemberton Old Wigan DW Band will be competing in the final for the third time. The 19 year old was in fine form during his performances of 'Neath the Dublin Skies' and 'Abide with Me'.

Tredegar's flugel

The last finalist to have made it through is Zoe Hancock, currently flugel at Tredegar in South Wales. Zoe opted for the 2nd and 3rd movements of Concertion for Flugel Horn by William Himes — music she had played a week previously with Brighouse at the RNCM Festival of Brass and it was a decision that paid off and got her through to the final.

The prize

In addition to the accolade of being declared the winner, two performance prizes will give the winner the unique opportunity to play with the BBC Concert Orchestra on Radio 2’s flagship live music programme Friday Night Is Music Night, and to play as a soloist with a Championship standard Brass Band at a prestigious event.

One of the prizes for the current holder, Stephen Sykes was to perform with Black Dyke at last year's Brass in Concert weekend. The winner's performances will again be broadcast on BBC Radio 2.

Cobb's praise

Philip Cobb, who along with Richard Evans adjudicated stage two and whom he will team up again with for the final said 'It was a real pleasure listening to all the players in the second stage of the Competition. The technical ability on display was second to none and I'm looking forward to judging the four finalists on 20th February and to hearing what they have to offer in performance'.

Air time

Highlights of the Second Stage on 30th January will be broadcast on BBC Radio 2 on Friday 19th February with the final being aired seven days later.

Free tickets going fast

Free tickets limited to 4 per application are available from the Royal Northern College of Music website ( www.rncm.ac.uk) or from the Box Office (0161 907 5555) for the final on Saturday 20th February starting at 7.30pm hosted by Frank Renton.

Black Dyke will be the accompanying band and the four finalists who are chosen will aim to join Brenden Wheeler, Katrina Marzella, Ben Thomson and Stephen Sykes as a winner of the BBC Radio 2 Young Brass Soloist of the Year.