Malton Brass Contest

	On behalf of the Yorkshire & Humberside Brass Band Association I would like to apologise to every member of all competing Bands for the débâclè which has occurred at the Contest Venue. In the course of preparing an overall scheme for the upgrading of these premises the District Council recently discovered that the floor of the large up-stairs room used for registration and access to the stage is unsafe and unusable. Consequently, registration etc. will now have to be undertaken downstairs. All Bands are asked to co-operate by leaving all instrument cases, boxes of equipment etc. on busses or in cars as far as it is physically possible as there are only two small rooms available for band use. These being allocated to the Band competing and to the Band getting ready to compete. Unfortunately this year, on account of the lack of space it will not be possible to leave any accoutrements in the Hall or Band rooms. Access to the stage will be via the stairway and as before. Exit from the stage will be via the emergency stage exit on the right had side of the stage then out into the car park. and round the outside of the building. Pre-assembled Percussion will be taken quietly to the space at the top of the stairs and moved onto stage as normal. *However all items of Percussion will have to be taken off stage by the emergency route. As National Rule 18 (four minutes) will not apply all bands will enter the stage and scene shifting etc. will then occur. It would be very helpful if all bands would bring a Percussion Plan layout to assist with the positioning of the larger items required. For a list of percussion provided click here On an upbeat note:- this year hot food - Pie, Peas and Chips etc. will be available at the Bar. Any forward placing of orders on the day will minimise any waiting times. Alan Martin (Contest Controller)* 4^th October 2008

The origin of the Malton Brass Contest series lies in the BBC Radio York “Knockout Brass” competitions, where bands played a concert programme of their own choice music within a set time limit, which was recorded for broadcasting and for adjudication. The radio series ended in 1987 and the following year the Association introduced the Malton Brass Contest held then and thereafter in the Milton Rooms. The basic format was adapted to suit a live music competition catering for all grades of brass bands.

The contest usually takes place on a Sunday in mid-November at the Milton Rooms in Malton. Only Member Bands of the Y.H.B.B.A. and bands located within the Ryedale District Council area can take part and brass bands, ranging from the small village band to the Championship Section, present short concerts throughout the day and are judged both on the standard of their music and on the selection of their concert programme. There are three “classes”, namely “A” for Nationally Graded bands of Championship, First and Second Section status, “B” for the third and fourth Section bands with “C” recently introduced for Ungraded bands. Class “A” bands are required to include in their programme a Contest March and an item for a solo player accompanied by the band. Class “B” must include a March and a solo piece, while Class “C” simply have to include a March. Each Class has a defined performance time ranging from about 15 minutes for Class "C" to about 25 minutes for Class "A". For a copy of the Rules click here.

Occasionally bands may choose to perform the same pieces but the format of this contest means that the audience get to listen to a great range of music in the course of the day. . For a list of placings and adjudicators click here

Entry is by programme, which enables the audience to come and go as they wish during the day; A bar and catering are readily available in the building with a fine range of pubs, cafes and restaurants within easy walking distance of the Milton Rooms.. In any case, it is a wonderful opportunity to listen to brass bands doing what they do best – entertaining an audience!

Over the years more than seventy bands have participated in this contest, from all the areas covered by the Association. For a a list recording them in Chronological order of first entry, together with the number of times they have competed and with any subsequent name changes click here