Final preparations are being put in place ahead of the finals of the Foden's Online Solo & Ensemble Contest to be streamed on Friday evening (30th October 7.00pm BST)

Originally launched in 2010 the annual contest has grown to become the largest of its kind in the UK, although due to the effects of the worldwide Coronavirus pandemic, Foden's took the decision to hold it online this year.

Support

Thanks to support from sponsor and from Arts Council England the innovative approach has been a huge success with the 70 entries in the different categories being viewed 145,000 times on the Foden's Facebook page.

In addition a further 14 ensemble and percussion entries have boosted the numbers with the panel of judges having the difficult task of narrowing down the field to the finalists in each category.

You can now enjoy each of those performances on Friday evening — so sit back and join Iwan Fox, Editor of 4Barsrest as the action unfolds.

Mix and match

The mix and match approach will see performances from different categories following on from each other and at the end of the evening after the judges have given their remarks, the prize winners will be announced.

Foden's Band Manager Mark Wilkinson told 4BR: "Over the past week each finalist has been recorded 'live' with a Foden's band member present on Zoom to ensure that only one take of each performance was recorded.

Our adjudication panel of Simone Rebello, Mark Landon, Russell Gray, Gary Curtin, David Childs, Jonny Bates, Michael Fowles John Barber, Bram Tovey and I have had the most difficult task picking the winners. The standard has been incredibly high — something which we think everyone will agree upon when they enjoy the performances."

Enjoy

The stream commences at 7.00pm on Friday 30th October (BST) and can be accessed Via: www.youtube.com/fodensband1900