Brass Bands England has released details for the forthcoming National Youth Championships of Great Britain, which will be held at the RNCM in Manchester on Sunday 17th April.
Full day
Having returned to the renovated RNCM in Manchester last year, the championships will once again take place at the popular conservatoire where two main halls will be utilised throughout the day.
In releasing the details, BBE has acknowledged the support and co-operation of the competing bands who will be vying for honours across the four sections.With 39 bands in attendance, the event should be completed by around 8.00pm.
Beginners just one highlight
The day will commence with the Beginners Section in the RNCM Concert Hall at 9.00am, followed by the Junior Section which will start at 1.00pm.
Meanwhile, the RNCM Theatre will commence with the Intermediate Section at 9.15am to be followed by the Blue Ribbon Championship Section at around 4.10pm.
The bands in the Championship and Intermediate Sections will have to get to grips with the music of Jonathan Bates and Ryan Howells respectively as set-works — with the seven Championship Bands performing 'The Mansions of Glory' ,whilst 'Funk Engine' will form part of the Intermediate programme.
European invite
The two contests will also have that extra edge of competition with the highest placed English band will receive an invitation to compete at the European Youth Brass Band Championships in Ostend in 2017.
Six to make the decisions
The panel of judges who will make the all important decisions has also been announced.
Dr Brett Baker and Dr David Thornton will oversee both the Championship and Beginners Sections, whilst Paul Duffy and Katrina Marzella will get the chance to see what the Junior Section has to offer.
Steve Pritchard-Jones will be joined by Foden's principal cornet player, Mark Wilkinson to decide who takes the spoils in the Intermediate Section.
Thanks for support
On behalf of BBE, Chairman Mike KIlroy told 4BR: "We are delighted at the number of bands who will be attending this year, especially with the Championships falling right at the end of what is for some the end of the Easter Holidays.
We also look forward to welcoming the bands who will be making their first contest appearance."
2017
The date of the 2017 championships and test-pieces for the Championship and Intermediate Sections have also been announced.
The test-piece for the Intermediate Section has been commissioned from Daniel Hall who won the John Golland Award at the recent RNCM Brass Band Festival. The piece will be called 'Sanctuary' and will be a three movement suite based on Victor Hugo's novel 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame'.
The Championship Section contenders will be faced with Simon Dobson's compelling 'Penlee', which was originally commissioned by the Cornwall Youth Brass Band. It is a moving homage to the bravery of the souls who lost their lives in the Penlee lifeboat disaster on the 19th December 1981.
The Championships will take place on Sunday 2nd April at the RNCM, two weekends before Easter.
The two contests will also have that extra edge of competition with the highest placed English band will receive an invitation to compete at the European Youth Brass Band Championships in Ostend in 20174BR
Competing Bands:
Championship Section:
RNCM Theatre
'The Mansions of Glory' (Jonathan Bates) and Own Choice Programme.
20 minutes playing time.
Adjudicators: Dr Brett Baker and Dr David Thornton
Commence: 4.10pm
Results Ceremony: 7.30pm approx
Birmingham Schools (Stuart Birnie)
Hampshire County Youth (Jock McKenzie)
Lions Youth (Nigel Birch)
Oldham Music Centre (Jonathan Leedale)
Northamptonshire Youth (Brad Turnbull)
Wardle Youth Band (Lee Rigg)
Youth Brass 2000 (Chris Jeans)
Intermediate Section:
RNCM Theatre
Funk Engine (Ryan Howells) and Own Choice programme.
20 minutes playing time
Adjudicators: Steve Pritchard Jones and Mark Wilkinson
Commence: 9.15am
Results Ceremony: 3.20pm approx
Cardiff County Youth (Charles Maynard)
Elland Silver Youth (Samantha Harrison)
Enderby Youth (Trevor Hounsome)
Hope Bank Youth (Simon Wood)
Macclesfield Youth (Louise Renshaw)
Milton Keynes Youth (David Rose)
Poynton Youth (Mike Eccles)
Rochdale Borough Youth (Ben Dixon)
Rotherham Schools Youth (Jeremy Wade)
Stockport Schools Senior (Iain McKnight)
Tewit Youth (Martin Hall)
Wigan Youth Zone (John Don-Duncan)
Junior Section:
RNCM Concert Hall
Own Choice programme that must include one piece of music composed for brass band and two verses of a hymn tune.
15 minutes playing time.
Adjudicators: Katrina Marzella and Paul Duffy
Commence: 1.00pm
Results Ceremony: 6.00pm approx
Beaumaris Junior (Bethan Lowri Evans)
Chalford Youth (Steve Tubb)
Denbighshire Music Co-operative (John Powell)
Elland Junior (Samantha Harrison)
Fred Longworth High School (Helen Robinson)
Hope Bank Junior (Max Lawrence)
Lancashire Youth (Helen Minshall)
Lions Junior (Tom Hancock)
Macclesfield Youth Junior (Tim Grindey)
North Manchester Youth (Thomas Ridgley)
Stockport Schools Intermediate (Owen Garbutt)
Tewit Youth Intermediate (Steve Heninghem)
Beginners Section:
RNCM Concert Hall
Own Choice Programme.
15 minutes playing time
Adjudicators: Dr Brett Baker and Dr David Thornton
Commence: 9.00am
Results Ceremony: 12.20pm approx
Astley Youth Training (Helen Minshall)
Dobcross Junior (Richard Windle)
Lions Beginners (Chris Thompson)
Macclesfield Youth Training (Liz Hudson)
Stockport Schools' Junior (Marrianne Garbutt/Steve Cavanagh)
Tewit Youth Junior (Dave Dunn-Birch)
Wardle Junior Blast (Lee Rigg)
Ysgol Bontnewydd Primary (Dylan Williams)
