95th West of England Bandsmen’s Festival Details Announced

Thoughts of summer days, though well ahead, are always welcome, so the West of England Bandsmen’s Festival is pleased to announce during these darker days of winter the Test Pieces chosen for next summer’s Festival on June 16th.

Chosen as always to challenge the Bands with attractive music, thought is also given to ensure a pleasant listening experience to entertain the large audience which always attends this unique Open Air Festival.

The emphasis this year is on music by Cornish composers and those with Cornish connections. Gareth Churcher and Christopher Bond are continuing to make an impact with their accessible, but still challenging new pieces, with an evergreen piece by the late Goff Richards always welcome. Several Salvation Army pieces make a welcome appearance, with Eric Ball, who had a very close connection with the Festival, providing the Championship Test Piece.

95th WEST OF ENGLAND BANDSMEN’S FESTIVAL, Saturday 15th June 2019.
TEST PIECES:-

CHAMPIONSHIP SECTION
Journey into Freedom (Eric Ball)
The Lord Bless You and Keep You (Nik & Emma Pears Arr. Paul Sharman)

FIRST SECTION
Ad Undas (Gareth Churcher)
March – Unconquered (Arthur W. Gullidge)

SECOND SECTION
Corineus (Christopher Bond)
March – Victors Acclaimed (Bramwell Coles)

THIRD SECTION
Olympus (Philip Harper)

FOURTH SECTION
A Saddleworth Festival Overture (Goff Richards)

YOUTH SECTION
Own Choice Test Piece.

TRAINING SECTION
Own Choice (No more than 10 minutes)

All music titles are available to purchase from the Brass Band Music Shop at http://www.brassband.co.uk

The adjudicator for the event will be Glyn Williams. This year’s prize money totals some £4000, with £1000 going to the winners of the Championship Section, as well as the prestigious Royal Trophy, presented by the then Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall to the Festival in 1913.

Well over 40 other Trophies are presented throughout the various Sections, including 12 special Soloists Awards, which are eagerly sought after by the Musicians.

As a Summer Festival the Trustees are aware of the difficulty this can cause to Bands who would like to attend, but may have problems caused by player’s holidays and examinations for younger musicians in entering with a full Band. To assist with this potential problem the Rules have now been changed to allow a Band to include up to 5 Guest Players, subject to certain conditions to be found in the Festival Rules our Web Site, where full details of the Festival and Entry Forms can be found at http://www.buglebandcontest.co.uk