The Welsh Open Entertainment Championship celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2023.

First held in 1998, the event has become the traditional season contest opener for Welsh brass banding, although it is now open to brass bands from all over the UK and beyond.

First come first served

Entry packs for the entertainment contest will be available from Monday 31st October for bands wishing to take part. However, numbers are restricted with just 14 places up for grabs on a first come first served basis, although there will be a waiting list.

With a generous prize fund, excellent organisation and a packed audience guaranteed at the Riverfront Theatre and Arts Centre in Newport, it promises to be another highly successful day on Saturday 18th February.

The adjudicator is Glyn Williams and the contest is open to all nationally graded Championship and First Section bands, with a first prize of £1,000 alongside the magnificent CISWO Challenge Trophy.

British Open link

There is also a link to the British Open Spring Festival, with the highest placed qualifying band gaining an invitation to compete at the Senior Trophy in Blackpool.

Contest Organiser, Dean Evans told 4BR: "We are very grateful to Martin and Karyn Mortimer for allowing our contest to continue to be part of the qualification process, which shows that the British Open continues to reach out to ambitious bands."

The defending champion is Pontardulais Town, who captured the 2022 title under the baton of Matthew Jenkins.

Further information:

For further information or to request an entry pack, please contact the Contest Organiser, Dean Evans at: contestcontroller.welshopen@gmail.com