Organisers of the Brass in Concert Championship have announced its adjudication panel for the 45th event, to be held at Sage Gateshead on Saturday 19 November in association with Yamaha, Banks Group and World of Brass.
The adjudicators for the 2022 event are:
Quality of Performance: Howard Evans and Martin Winter
Entertainment and Presentation: Kevin Hathway and Liz Lane
Programme Content: Frode Rydland
Soloists and Individual Awards: James Fountain
Exceptional quality
Brass in Concert CEO Nigel Stevens commented: "We're delighted to be able to reveal such a high-quality panel of judges. Although some are new to brass band adjudication in the UK, all are vastly experienced professional musicians, and we are especially pleased to have secured such a wide range of skills from across the musical spectrum.”
Howard Evans has previously held the posts of the National Bandmaster for the Salvation Army, Bandmaster of the Amsterdam Staff Band and Director of Classical Performance at the University of Salford. Along with his career in composing, arranging, and as a classical pianist, he brings a vast skill set to the adjudication team. Martin Winter brings experience from the orchestral world, being a member of the trumpet section of the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. He has also acquired a reputation as one of the most influential conductors, composers and arrangers in Norwegian brass banding, as well as having played for leading bands including Desford Colliery, Foden’s and Eikanger-Bjørsvik Musikklag.
Entertainment and Presentation will be overseen by Kevin Hathway, who has a celebrated career combining orchestral playing and teaching at the highest level. He is a member of the percussion team at the Philharmonia Orchestra, a role he carries out in conjunction with his duties as Head of Wind, Brass and Percussion at the Purcell School. Joining Kevin is Liz Lane, a composer whose music has been broadcast on BBC 1, ITV and BBC Radio 3. She has also composed extensively for brass band and currently works as a lecturer at the University of the West of England, the Open University and Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance.
Programme Content judge Frode Rydland has become a distinguished name in Norway as a composer and arranger, having been commissioned by many leading bands and the Norwegian Band Federation. Previously a freelance trumpeter with military bands and orchestras, his playing career continues as the soprano cornet player of Bjørsvik Brass.
James Fountain is one of the finest brass soloists in the orchestral and brass band worlds. He is currently the principal trumpet of the London Symphony Orchestra, and Professor of Trumpet at the Royal College of Music. James was formerly the principal cornet of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, GUS Band and Grimethorpe Colliery Band.
Tickets
General ticket sales for the Brass in Concert Championship are now open on the Sage Gateshead website.
Further information on the event, including the order of play, can also be found on the Brass in Concert website.