The popular Wychavon Festival of Brass takes place on Saturday (October 29th) at the De Montfort High School in Evesham, where a full day of outstanding entertainment is in store.

In addition to the substantial prize money on offer in each section with successful bands taking home a host of new trophies, there will be a special award presented to each winning conductor — with a large silver platter going to the Musical Director of the newly crowned champion band in the top section.

Creative work

Wychavon Festival of Brass Chairperson, Val Trim, told 4BR: "We will award the Evesham Town Plate to the winning conductor in recognition of the hard and creative work that they have put into their band's performance. We feel it is right that their contribution to the success is recognised."

The award also recognises the support given by Evesham Town Council to the event over the past quarter of a century, and will be presented by the current Mayor. Although the trophy will need to be returned, an exact replica will be also awarded to the winning MD to keep.

Foundation award

In addition, the winning band in the Third Section will become the first recipients of the Elmley Foundation Cup which marks the growing relationship that the event now has with the Worcestershire based charity, The Elmley Foundation.

Its objectives are to encourage all forms of arts, crafts and design in the counties of Herefordshire and Worcestershire, and the Wychavon Festival of Brass has recently received financial backing from the Foundation which will secure its financial stability for the next three years as well as allowing it to develop its youth mentoring work. Its Director will make the presentation of the award.

Welcome visitors

Although there is no Second Section event this year due to lack of entries, the other sections have attracted an excellent line-up of bands from all parts of the country — including welcome visitor from Scotland.

The highest placed band in the top section not already qualified will be invited to compete in the 2017 British Open Spring Festival in Blackpool.

The doors open at De Montfort High School at 9.30am with all day tickets priced at just £10 with children under 12 admitted for free.

For more details please go to: www.festivalofbrass.co.uk

In addition to the substantial prize money on offer in each section with successful bands taking home a host of new trophies, there will be a special award presented to each winning conductor4BR

Competing bands: (Draw order)

Championship Section:

Main Hall
Adjudicator: Dave Lea
Start: 11.00am

Filton Concert Brass (Glenn van Looy)
Bilton Silver (Rugby) (Mark Allen)
BTM (Jeff Hutcherson)
Yeovil Town (Jon Griffin)
Verwood Concert Brass (Kevin Smith)
Foresters Brass (John Davis)
Langley (Cliff Parker)
Tylorstown (Gary Davies)
Eccles Borough (Mareika Gray)
Alder Valley (Roger Burke)
Sandhurst Silver (Andrew Porter)
Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel (David Hamilton)
SPAL Sovereign Brass (Trevor Jones)
Johnstone (Martyn Ramsay)
Medway (Melvin White)
City of Cardiff (Melingriffith) (Dewi Griffiths)

First Section:

Sports Hall
Adjudicator: Duncan Beckley
Start: 12.00

Foresters Brass (John Davis)
Aveley & Newham (Alan Duguid)
Eccles Borough (Mareika Gray)
Lewis Merthyr (Craig Roberts)
(AW Parker) Drybrook (Josh Ruck)
BTM (Jeff Hutcherson)
Johnstone (Martyn Ramsay)
City of Cardiff (Melingriffith) (Dewi Griffiths)
Langley (Cliff Parker)
Ocean Brass (Martin Humphries)
Bedworth Town (David Maplestone)

Third Section:

Small Hall
Adjudicator: Ceri Thomas
Start: 3.00pm

Abertillery Town (Josh Ruck)
Shipston on Stour Town (Howard Gibbs)
Cinderford (Chris Howley)
Wem Jubilee (Roger Thorne)
Wellington (Telford) (Mark Parry)
Waterbeach Brass (Andrew Kershaw)
Oxford Cherwell (Terry Brotherhood)
Weston Brass (Bryn James)
Stourport on Severn (Oliver Wilson)

Fourth Section:

Small Hall
Adjudicator: Sarah Groarke-Booth
Start: 10.30am

Rode Hall Silver (Nigel Butler)
City of Wolverhampton (George Draycott)
Ynyshir Brass (Gary Davies)
Nailsworth Silver (Ross Salvage)
Pillowell Silver (Ian Whitburn)
Bilton Silver (Rugby) Training (Jack Fisher)
Wem Jubilee (Roger Thorne)