Bands wishing to compete at the 2016 Brass at the Guild contest which also incorporates the British Open Youth contest have been reminded that the closing date for entries is Saturday 2nd January.

Once again the event has gained invaluable support from R. Banks & Son (Funerals Ltd) and its proprietor Brian Halliwell, a life long bandsman and supporter of the banding movement.

Suport

Organised by Lancashire Contests and with additional support from the British Open Championship organisers, the event takes place at Preston's Guild Hall on Sunday 24th January.

Competing bands will once again be given they choice of which set work they wish to play — with the opportunity to showcase either the works chosen for the 2016 Butlins Mineworkers Championship or Regional Championship.

Spring Festival incentive

As a further incentive competitive incentive, the highest placed band in the Championship Section, who is not already invited to compete at the British Open Spring Festival in Blackpool, will gain an automatic invitation to in the Senior Trophy.

The test piece for that event has recently been announced as Gilbert Vinter's 'James Cook — Circumnavigator'.

Lancashire Contests has also confirmed that the event will once again include the British Open Youth Championship, which will take place in the Charter Theatre.

Youth contest

A spokesperson told 4BR: "We are once again delighted that the prestigious British Open title is on offer through the kind permission of Karyn and Martin Mortimer, to whom Lancashire Contests are very grateful."

The format of the youth competition is a 20 minute own choice entertainment programme plus a short set-piece provided by the organisers from composer Adam Taylor.

The test pieces that bands can choose are as follows:

Competing bands will once again be given they choice of which set work they wish to play — with the opportunity to showcase either the works chosen for the 2016 Butlins Mineworkers Championship or Regional Championship4BR

Championship Section:
Breath of Souls (Paul Lovatt-Cooper) or Cambridge Variations (Philip Sparke)

First Section:
A Celt in Jerusalem (Ian McElligott) or Essay (Edward Gregson)

Second Section:
Fire in the Blood (Paul Lovatt-Cooper) or The Mermaid of Zennor (Philip Harper)

Third Section:
Platform to the Heavens (Paul Lovatt-Cooper) or A Cambrian Suite (Michael Ball)

Fourth Section:
The Seafarers (Bruce Fraser/Lomond Music} or The Journal of Phileas Fogg (Peter Graham)

British Open Youth at the Guild:
A 20-minute own choice programme that must include the set work by Adam Taylor.

The list of competing bands and adjudicators will be published in due course.

Schedules and entry forms can be down loaded from www.lancashirecontests.com

Further details:

Further details and enquires should be addressed to:

Frank Hodges
39, Broxton Avenue
Orrell
Wigan
WN5 8NP

Tel: 01942 212418
Email: frankhodges@btinternet.com

Further information on Lancashire Contests can be found at the following link:

www.lancashirecontests.com