Yorkshire and Humberside Brass Band Association

Malton Brass

Concert Programme Contest

Sponsored by 

North Yorkshire County Council, Ryedale District Council 

and Malton Town Council

The 2010 Contest will be held at Norton College 

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

  For full results of 2009 contest click here

Photo Gallery

Yorkshire & Humberside Brass Band Association

For more information, please contact the  Hon. Secretary:

Mrs M. Williams
7 The Lea,
Garforth,
Leeds,
LS25 2BT

Tel:  (+44) 0113 2860005

This page was last updated 02/11/2009

Contests page