Saturday 17 June saw 12 semi-finalists travelling from as far afield as Canada, Italy and Lithuania to battle it out in the semi-final of the Brass Band Conductors’ Association’s flagship Conducting Competition at Eccles Town Hall.
Andrew Lofthouse, Kyle Blake, Fiona Bishop, Matt Ryan, Tom Hancock and Rokas Podelis impressed adjudicators Paul Holland and Mareika Gray with their conducting of Edward Gregson’s ‘The World Rejoicing’ and John Golland’s ‘Sounds’ to earn their place in the final. Hammonds Band followed their batons closely and gave high class renditions of both pieces.
In the evening, the six finalists each conducted the Eccles Borough Band playing a classic brass band concert item in the spectacular Gala Concert.
The standard of conducting was extremely high, and the BBCA are thrilled to announce the winners:
1st place & highest-placed UK Entrant: Matthew Ryan
2nd place: Andrew Lofthouse
3rd place: Kyle Blake
Matthew was presented with the Roy Newsome Conductors Shield, a £200 cash prize and a year’s free membership of BBCA. He will also have the opportunity to rehearse and conduct a championship band.
BBCA Chair, James Holt, commented: "My congratulations go to Matthew and all the finalists for what has been a wonderful and highly encouraging competition that attracted great interest from across the banding world.
My thanks also to Paul and Mareika, both Hammonds and Eccles Bands and to our sponsors. This is a competition that continues to grow in stature and today's excellence certainly showed that."
See the write-up from Malcolm Wood of 4barsrest.