National Finals judges announced
Kapitol Promotions Ltd., which presents the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain, has announced the line-up of adjudicators and bands for the 2023 National Finals.
Deliberating on bands competing at London’s Royal Albert Hall on 21 October are Dr. Robert Childs, Dr. Stephen Cobb and Prof. Roger Webster.
For Sections 1-4 at The Centaur, Cheltenham Racecourse, set to take place from 16-17 September, the four judging panels will be:
Section 1 – Paul Holland, David Hirst and Glyn Williams
Section 2 – Alan Bourne, Nicholas Garman and Mark Wilkinson
Section 3 – Stan Lippeatt, Christopher Bond and Duncan Beckley
Section 4 – Gary Davis, Martin Heartfield and Sheona White
Kapitol Promotions has also announced that the Royal Albert Hall National Final competition will see Scotland’s Whitburn Band appear in the pre-results concert with top trumpet soloist and Smith-Watkins Artist, Mike Lovatt. Whitburn and Mike Lovatt have presented three concerts: a virtual one in 2020, the band’s 150th anniversary one in February, and another in May.
Said Kapitol’s MD, Philip Morris: “Welsh and English champion bands have featured at past National Final concerts, so this year we wanted to feature Scotland’s 2022/2023 Champion and 2023 Grand Shield Champion, Whitburn, to represent its nation with the in-demand trumpeter, Mike Lovatt.”
Enthusing about appearing at the RAH concert, Mike Lovatt, who helped Amersham Band by sitting in its ranks at the London and Southern Counties Regional Championships earlier this year, told BBW: “I’m so excited about playing at the National pre-results concert this coming October. It’s great to be performing with the Scottish Champion, Whitburn, following our fabulous concert in May this year. The music performed will include the exciting, stratospheric MacArthur Park, plus Hollywood gems arranged by Colin Skinner. See you there!”
Said Charlie Farren, Whitburn’s Chairman: “Our thanks go to Kapitol Promotions for the opportunity to perform in concert at the Royal Albert Hall with such a world-renowned soloist as Mike Lovatt. It will be great for everyone at Whitburn to perform with Mike again after our successful concerts with him in recent years.”
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