Innovation will certainly be the name of the game in Bradford in a couple of weeks time as the Yorkshire Regional Committee will run a Children’s Adjudication Panel for the very first time.

Wanted!

The idea is to ask four children under the age of 16 and their parents to come along and be part of a team that will give their own adjudication on the Third Section and its test piece, ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’ on Saturday afternoon.

The aim is to try and encourage children and their families to enjoy the contest whilst finding out more about the music and how bands approach it on stage.

Published

Their opinions will be published on 4barsrest and the lucky quartet will get first hand advice on how to go about their job and what to listen out for from adjudicator Robert Childs, composer Paul Lovatt-Cooper and euphonium star Mark Bousie.

The families will all sit and listen to the bands with the rest of the press corps and will get their opinions and decisions published on 4BR to see if they were in agreement with the men in the box!

It’s a great new idea and I’m looking forward to meeting the children and their families to try and give them a few clues on what to listen out for. I hope they agree with me and Philip at the end of the day though!Dr Robert Childs

Great idea

Regional Secretary Peggy Tomlinson told 4BR that she is really excited by the idea. "We are always looking to make the contest here in Bradford a family occasion and we think this will be a wonderful chance for four lucky children to enjoy as well as learn more about a brass band contest."

Peggy feels that the chance to have their views printed and to meet the composer, one of the judges and a star player should make it both an interesting and fun occasion too. "We are grateful to Paul, Robert and Mark who will give up their time to come and talk to those involved before the event. We hope everyone will find it interesting and challenging."

Clues

Adjudicators Dr Robert Childs and Philip Harper are fully supporting the venture: “It’s a great new idea and I’m looking forward to meeting the children and their families to try and give them a few clues on what to listen out for. I hope they agree with me and Philip at the end of the day though!”

Philip added: “It’s so important we try and make contesting fun for children to enjoy. This is a great idea and will hopefully encourage them to enjoy brass bands even more. Bob and I will have to be on our toes now!”

Meet the composer and judges

It is envisaged that four children and their parents will meet at St George’s Hall on Saturday morning where Iwan Fox and Peggy Tomlinson will take them to meet Bob Childs, Paul Lovatt-Cooper and Mark Bousie before the contest starts in the afternoon.

Insight

There they will have an exclusive insight into what the judges are looking out for as well as hearing from both Paul and Mark about the piece, its inspiration and how the players will try and play it.

Composer Paul Lovatt-Cooper told 4BR that he is looking forward to the occasion.

Imagination

"This is a real innovative idea that I’m delighted to support. Each of the children will have a score to study, and I will try and explain the inspiration behind the piece as well as try and get their imaginations to run riot in the way they describe the performances. I would love them to try and think about the piece as a musical space adventure and to see if the bands capture the sense of excitement as well as mystery about the side of the moon we never see."

Be a part

If you want to be part of something new then all you have to do is get in touch with 4BR.

4BR Editor Iwan Fox is hoping that all the four places will be filled immediately. "If you are interested then get in touch with us on 01495 792014 or e-mail me at "

Free tickets

4BR will meet all travel costs, provide the scores, pens and clipboards and take everyone for sandwiches and a cup of tea at the hall before the contest starts at 2.00pm on Saturday, whilst the Yorkshire Regional Committee has provided free tickets for the youngsters and parents for the whole weekend as well as presenting the budding judges with a CD of the performance from the band they think was the best in their opinion.