Invitations have been posted to the 10 top ranked English bands for the 2013 English National Championship.

Top 10

It was confirmed to 4BR that the positions as at the 6th December in the World of Brass/4BR/British Bandsman rankings have been used, meaning that the ten bands initially invited are Foden’s, Black Dyke, Brighouse & Rastrick, Fairey, Leyland, Grimethorpe Colliery, Carlton Main Frickley, Rothwell Temperance, Hepworth and Virtuosi GUS.

In the event of any of the above bands not taking up their invitation to compete on Saturday 29th June at the Elgar Concert Hall, University of Birmingham, invitations will be sent to the next highest ranked bands.

These currently include in order: Reg Vardy, Flowers and Desford Colliery.

The ten bands initially invited are Foden’s, Black Dyke, Brighouse & Rastrick, Fairey, Leyland, Grimethorpe Colliery, Carlton Main Frickley, Rothwell Temperance, Hepworth and Virtuosi GUS4BR

Test Piece

The invited Music Panel of Alan Morrison, Paul Norley and John Doyle picked George Lloyd’s ‘Diversions on a Bass Theme’ as the set work, which bands will have to perform with an own choice work.

The organisers confirmed that there is a prize fund of £7000 with the winners gaining an invitation to represent England at the European Brass Band Championships in Perth in 2014.