Expecting top brass at annual competition
Some of the country’s best brass musicians will be in Newark next year for the town’s second brass festival.
Newark Brass Festival will be at Barnbygate Methodist Church on the weekend of January 23-24, following the success of the inaugural event, in January this year.
A music competition will again be the centrepiece, offering prize money of up to £1,000.
It will be divided into three sections determined by ability and age.
The top section for players, aged 11-30, with a minimum standard of grade eight or equivalent, offers a prize of £1,000 and will take place on Saturday, January 23.
The intermediate section, for players aged 15-17, with a minimum standard of grade six or equivalent, will be on the same day, with a prize of £250.
The junior section, for players aged 11-14, will take place on the morning of Sunday, January 24, offering a prize of £250.
People can watch any of the competition performances free of charge.
The festival organiser, piano and brass teacher Angela Smith, of Valley Prospect, Newark, said they wanted to make it a serious competition.
She said several national brass players had been attracted by the level of prize money and the competition was supported by all the leading conservatoires.
Angela Smith confirmed there would again be a strong panel of judges — all top musicians in their field.
They will be trumpet player Paul Archibald, trombonist John Kenny, and tuba player Stephen Wick. Trombonist Denis Wick is again the festival patron.
Angela Smith said she offered to hold the 2010 festival in London but all the judges were adamant it should stay in Newark because that was what gave the festival its identity.
In a change from this year, the judges will lead a free master class on the Sunday afternoon.
Angela Smith said it would be open to players of all abilities.
“It is not just about the competition. It is about having a go and mixing with these people,” she said.
Those who bring along an instrument and take part in the master class will be given free entry into the gala concert at 4pm on the Sunday.
The concert will feature a world premiere of a piece of music composed by Cecilia McDowall specially for the 2009 competition winner, trombone player Michael Buchanan.
Cecilia McDowall will give a talk on the process of composing the piece.
Paul Archibald and Newark Town Band will perform at the concert, hosted by BBC Radio Lincolnshire’s Judy Theobald.
There will be a collection for Beaumond House Community Hospice, Newark.
Tickets are available from the Advertiser offices on Magnus Street, RST Music Services on Cartergate, and Beaumond House Community Hospice on London Road.
Places for the master class must be booked online at
www.newarkbrassfestival.co.uk
