Adjudicators

2010 National Finals adjudicators

The judges for the 2010 Lower Section National Finals, due to take place on 25 and 26 September at Harrogate, have been release as:

Championship Section - David Read, Derek Broadbent, Dr. Chris Davis MBE

Section 1 - David Lancaster and Kevin Wadsworth

Section 2 - Lynda Nicholson and C. Brian Buckley

Section 3 - David Lancaster and Kevin Wadsworth

Section 4 - Ian Brownbill and Jim Davies

Said Philip Morris of Kapitol, which presents the ‘Finals’: “These adjudicators have a great deal of experience in brass banding, both as players and judges, together with a vast knowledge of the repertoire.”

2009 National Finals adjudicators

Philip Morris of Kapitol Promotions, which presents the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain, has announced the adjudicators for sections 1 - 4 of the 2009 'Finals', due to take place on 26 and 27 September at the Harrogate International Centre. 

They are:

 

Section 2

Saturday 26 September
Dr. Robert Childs and Ray Farr

Section 4

Saturday 26 September
Roy Roe and David Horsfield

Section 3

Sunday 27 September
Dr. Robert Childs and Ray Farr

Section 1

Sunday 27 September
Roy Roe and David Horsfield

 

 

 

 

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The adjudicators for the 2008 National Finals:

Experienced team picked to judge top section ‘Final’

Kapitol Promotions Ltd., presenter of the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain, today revealed the adjudicators for the Championship Section Final of the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain as David Read, Professor David King and James Gourlay.

Speaking about the appointments, Philip Morris, of Kapitol Promotions Ltd., commented: “This year’s panel of adjudicators for the Championship section represents a wealth of experience across the spectrum in so far as we have selected three top adjudicators from the field of brass banding who not only have experience in judging, but also in education and conducting at the very highest level. The choice of panel this year also reflects Kapitol’s policy of nurturing new blood in the Championship Section Final ‘box’, whilst continuing to appoint judges with many years of experience in adjudicating at this level.”

David Read is one of Britain’s most experienced and sought after adjudicators, and a familiar face on the panel of adjudicators for the top section ‘Final’. He first came to the RAH ‘box’ in 1985 and this year will see him notch up his 19th adjudication at the event. Professor David King, who has accepted the appointment to judge the top section for the second consecutive year, joins David Read in the ‘box’, together with fellow top-flight musician, James Gourlay, for whom this represents his first adjudication remit at the Championship Section ‘Final’, although he has been a member of many other top-level adjudicating teams across the world.

Introducing the adjudicators of the 2008 Championship Section Final

David Read FTCL, FLCM, LRAM.

David Read commenced his career as a cornet player with Askern Colliery Band in South Yorkshire, eventually joining Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band. From ‘Carlton Main’, he joined Munn and Felton’s Band (later the famous GUS [Footwear] Band) and, in due course, became the band’s Principal Cornet Player. During his period with the band, it won four National championships and a World Championship at the Royal Albert Hall.

David Read was also a member of Harry Mortimer’s All Star Brass and, during his military service, belonged to the Regimental Band of the Welsh Guards. He was also Assistant Principal Solo Cornet Player of the Virtuosi Band of Great Britain and a member of the Kings of Brass.

He became the Champion Cornet of Great Britain three times and the outright British Open Solo Champion once. Together with his membership of the famous GUS (Footwear) Quartet, which achieved a hat-trick of wins in the British Championship, these titles secured David Read’s his place as one of Britain’s best cornet players.

In his professional career, David Read concentrated his efforts on teaching and was, for many years, Senior Instrumental Teacher for the Cambridge Area Education Authority, for which he conducted youth bands at five National Youth Band Championships of Great Britain. He also conducted the Cambridge Co-operative Band for nearly 15 years with great success, regularly performing on BBC radios 2 and 3, appearing in the Championship Section Final of the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain at the Royal Albert Hall in London, as well as in the Pontin’s Brass Band Championships and the Southern Counties Championship in Folkestone, which his band won. He additionally appeared on BBC Television’s Best of Brass series.

David Read is one of the world’s leading brass band adjudicators and is invited to judge all the major band contests throughout Britain, Europe, Australia and the USA. Such appointments to adjudicate at the highest level include 18 in the ‘box’ of the Championship Section Final in the Royal Albert Hall, London, one on the European Championship jury and 16 appearances a piece in the ‘boxes’ at the British Open and the All-England Masters championships, bringing his total number of appointments to adjudicate major championships to a staggering 51.

During 2005, David Read was a member of the juries appointed to judge the national brass band championships in The Netherlands, France and Belgium, as well as for that which adjudicated the World Brass Band Championships in Kerkrade, Holland.

In 1983, David Read was honoured by the Worshipful Company of Musicians, which presented him with the Iles Medal in recognition of his outstanding services to brass bands and, in 1996, he received the All-England Master’s Dedicated Service Award.

David Read was also the first Chairman of the Association of Brass Band Adjudicators.

PROFESSOR DAVID KING

Australian by birth, David King is regarded as one of the most dynamic figures in the world of brass today. With an enviable record of musical accomplishments and successes, both as an instrumentalist and conductor, he is at the forefront of music education and is Chair of Music - Performance at the University of Salford.

David King studied trumpet and cornet at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, and music education at Avondale College, NSW, where he studied with Alan Thrift, graduating in 1978.

In 1982, as Australian Cornet Champion, he was awarded a scholarship to study music at Salford University College, Manchester, where he graduated with distinction in Performance in 1985.

In Britain, David King pursued a distinguished career as a cornet soloist, winning the title North of England Solo Champion on three occasions (1983/84/85). He remained unbeaten on Bb cornet at the British Open Solo Championships for five consecutive years (1987-91) and, in 1992, represented the United Kingdom as British Open Solo Champion, at which he won the prestigious title, International Brass Musician of the Year in Auckland, New Zealand.

David King is a member of the Adelphi Research Institute for Creative Arts and Social Sciences, University of Salford and, in 2000, completed his Doctor of Musical Arts degree - the first recipient of a Performance research doctorate awarded within the British university sector.

As a conductor, Professor David King holds a prominent position in Europe and is revered as one of the most successful conductors on the concert and contest platform in the last decade. He has represented England in the European Brass Band Championships on 11 occasions as a conductor and has won the title ten times, twice with Black Dyke Mills Band (in 1990 and 1991) and eight times with the Yorkshire Building Society Band (in 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004.)

Today, Professor King makes his second appearance in the Royal Albert Hall as an adjudicator of Championship Section of the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain. He has also previously adjudicated the National Championships in Switzerland, The Netherlands, and Australia.

 

JAMES GOURLAY

James Gourlay was born in Scotland where, at the age of ten, he was ‘volunteered’ to play in his school brass band. As the tallest in class, he was serendipitously given the tuba, an instrument loves and continues to promote all over the world.

After much success as a solo champion, James Gourlay entered the Royal College of Music but left after a short time, aged 18, to become Principal Tuba of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Four years later, he took up the same position with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, with which he performed for ten years before joining the Orchestra of the Zürich Opera, where he remained for ten years.

James Gourlay’s career as a chamber musician has been extensive. He has been a member of the Philip Jones and English Brass ensembles, with which he has toured the world. As a soloist, he performs extensively and he has recorded five solo CDs. The latest, British Tuba Concertos, recorded for the Naxos label with the Royal Ballet Sinfonia, has received international critical acclaim.

James Gourlay’s work within the Brass Band movement forms a vital component of his creative output. After early success with Brass Band Berneroberland, he became music director of Williams Fairey Band, with which he won the All-English Masters and British Open contests. He has also been Professional Conductor of Grimethorpe Colliery and Brighouse and Rastrick bands.

James Gourlay’s commitment to music education is a continuing passion. He has been Head of Wind and Percussion at the Royal Northern College of Music and Deputy Principal and Music Director at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Scotland’s International Conservatoire. He holds a Masters Degree from Leeds University, a Fellowship of the Royal Northern College of Music, a Fellowship of the London College of Music and is a recipient of the Iles Medal, presented by the Worshipful Company of Musicians.

 

The adjudicators for sections 1 – 4 of the 2008 National Finals

• Section 1
• Section 2
• Section 3
• Section 4

 

The adjudicators for Section 1: Melvin White and Steve Sykes

MELVIN WHITE

Melvin White’s early musical training was garnered from the Salvation Army at Chalk Farm, followed by studies at the Royal College of Music and the London College of Music.

Initial conducting experiences were with choral groups and orchestras but a period as Assistant Conductor with the Hendon Band heightened his enthusiasm for brass bands.

Melvin White’s record over 30 years in the London area is unparalleled and this has led to invitations to work with bands in the Midlands, the West of England, Wales and Norway. He is particularly proud of successes with Newham, BTM and GUS.

He has won 12 titles at the Regional Championships of the National Finals, which have earned him the position of seventh on the all-time list of the most successful conductors at this event. He has also qualified bands for National Final at the Royal Albert Hall on 24 occasions and appeared regularly at Lower section Finals.

Based in Dartford, Kent, Melvin White combines his conducting and adjudicating with work as a teacher in local schools.

STEVE SYKES

Steve Sykes is without doubt one of the finest soloists to emerge from the British brass scene.

His musical roots are firmly based in Yorkshire brass bands, beginning with Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band.

In 1978, he accepted an invitation by Elgar Howarth to join the famous Grimethorpe Colliery Band as principal tuba and soloist. With Grimethorpe, he performed as soloist throughout Europe and Australia, and was awarded the prestigious title, Granada Television Soloist of the Year, during this period.

Because of an ever-increasing demand for Steve Syke’s talent, both as soloist, conductor and clinician, he now works as a freelance musician appearing in the USA, Canada, Europe and Scandinavia, and is a firm favourite with players and audiences alike.

Many compositions for solo tuba and orchestra/band have been inspired by, dedicated to and premiered by him, including major works by Ellerby, Golland and Brand. One of the busiest soloists in the UK, forthcoming engagements will see Steve Sykes performing in Australia, New Zealand, America, Canada and, of course, Europe.

He has been directing Championship Section bands since the age of 22 and, listed among his professional conducting appointments, are CWS (Co-op) (Glasgow) and SunLife (Stanshawe). He has directed bands at the National Finals, the British Open, the All-England Masters and European championships and has many commercial recordings and national radio broadcasts to his name. Steve Sykes continues to work with many bands throughout the year, including BAYV (Cory), Leyland, Fairey, Tredegar and BTM. He has presented conducting workshops on behalf of the National Association of Brass Band Conductors and conducting seminars on behalf of the North American Brass Band Association in Washington DC. He regularly appears as an adjudicator at leading music festivals throughout Britain, North America, Norway and Switzerland, and is frequently asked to adjudicate major competitions, including the National Brass Band Finals and the Yorkshire Regional Championships. Steve Sykes is also on the British Federation of Brass Bands’ official list of approved adjudicators.

A member of the World of Brass Sextet comprising some of the world’s finest players, including Richard Marshall and Brett Baker (Black Dyke Band), Phillip Cobb and Andrew Van Der Whele (The International Staff Band), plus Sheona White, Steve Sykes is also tuba tutor for the Brass Band Summer School (Oxford) and the International Brass Band Summer School (Sedbergh/Swansea), where he is now also responsible for the Brass Band Conducting Course. He also lectures in low brass studies at Bath Spa University College and is tutor and Professor of Brass to HM Royal Marines Band in Portsmouth, Plymouth, Lympstone and Dartmouth.

PETER ROBERTS

Born in June 1950, into a Grimethorpe coal-mining family, Peter Roberts joined the re-formed Grimethorpe Junior band in January 1960, becoming its first principal cornet.

Success with the band quickly followed and he transferred to soprano cornet in 1963. Two years later, in 1965, he was promoted to the world-famous Grimethorpe Colliery Band, with which he played at the British Open in the September of same year. Peter Roberts remained with ‘Grimethorpe’ until Christmas 1989, winning three British Open championships, six Granada Band of the Year titles, six Rothmans Brass in Concert championships and one ‘National’ title. Peter Roberts also has a clutch of solo awards to his name including Granada Band of the Year, Rothmans Brass in Concert, the Mineworkers festival, the British Open Solo Championship, plus New Zealand’s Errol Mason Brass Musician of the Year and Champion of Champions titles.

In 1991, he joined Dodworth Band, with which he won the Grand Shield a year later. From Dodworth, he joined Stocksbridge and Sellers International bands in succession, winning the soloist award at the Swiss Open with the latter. He was then invited to play with Marple band at the French Open, which the band won, and went on to join Yorkshire Building Society Band in 1997, with which he won three All-England Masters titles, four British Open competitions and six European Championships

He has toured America, Australia and mainland Europe extensively and, in 2003, published his autobiography. The following year saw him receive the award for Best Instrumentalist at the Championship Section National Final at the Royal Albert Hall, London. From there, he joined the famous Black Dyke Band in 2004, with which he won yet another European Championship title, plus two more British Open titles in 2006 and 2007. He was also awarded Best Soprano at the two British Open events.

Peter Roberts holds a BA (Hons) degree in Brass Band Studies and an LRSM (Bandmaster) Diploma from Barnsley College, where he studied under Major Peter Parkes.

Having retired from playing last year, Peter Roberts is now sought after for his adjudicating skills; he has judged at the North of England, Midlands and Yorkshire Regional Championships, the Senior Trophy at the Spring Festival of the British Open, Brass in Concert Championship and the British Open Solo Championships, as well as the 3rd Section National Final.

JIM DAVIES

Jim Davies was born in the small village of Ynyshir, in the Rhondda Valley of South Wales.

He began playing the cornet at the age of nine and went on to win dozens of prestigious solo awards, including Champion Soloist of Wales at the age of 15.
During his illustrious career, Jim Davies has made numerous TV and radio appearances, later winning the much-coveted Granada TV Best Soloist award twice. He has been featured as guest artist at both the European and National Brass Band championships, and has also performed in all the major concert halls of the British Isles. He has undertaken concert tours all over Europe and North America, and has even toured Russia on behalf of the Welsh Arts Council.
Jim Davies spent 30 years as one of the finest principal cornet players in Britain, firstly with Cory Band in South Wales and then with the Brighouse and Rastrick Band in West Yorkshire. During his time with Cory, the band won many prizes, including the European Championship and four National Championship titles. More National success followed at Brighouse and he released his solo CD Evergreen, accompanied by the band.
Jim Davies has been in demand as a conductor since the age of 22, when he took over the top section Markham Band. He later conducted the South Wales bands of Ynyshir, Tongwynlais, Mid-Rhondda and Tredegar to contest success. He even won the Section 2 National Finals with Ammanford Town from the dreaded No.1 draw, as well as the famous Joshua Tetleys Contest with Point of Ayr Colliery.
On moving to Yorkshire, Jim Davies enjoyed three years as Musical Director of Carlton Main Frickley Colliery and Wingates bands. Most recently, he has been responsible for the resurgence of the EYMS Brass Band in Hull and the Yorkshire Imperial Band.
Jim Davies has a Masters Degree in Advanced Musicology and teaches music with his, wife, Rhiannon, at the prestigious Ackworth School West Yorkshire. He is proud to have spent his career steeped in the British brass band tradition and now brings all of his experience to the adjudicators’ box.
For many years a popular instrumental and band adjudicator at the National Eisteddfod and Welsh brass band contests, Jim Davies has also judged the London and Midlands Area qualifying rounds, Pontin’s Finals and at the Brass in Concert Entertainment Contest in Spennymoor. He is thrilled to be judging at the National Finals this year.

The adjudicators for Section 3: Kevin Wadsworth and Stan Lippeatt

KEVIN WADSWORTH

Kevin Wadsworth took up the cornet at the age of six, switching to the tenor horn at the age of eight.

A member National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain (NYBBGB), by the age of 12 he was the first recipient of the Pye Records Award for the Outstanding Soloist in the NYBBGB. He attended King Alfred’s College, Winchester, between 1970 and 1973, during which time he was a founder member of the City of London Band.

However, Kevin Wadsworth is perhaps best known for his stint as principal tenor horn for Black Dyke Mills Band, which he joined at the tender age of 14 – then the youngest ever player signed by the band.

He has played with many eminent musicians including Andre Previn, Sir Paul McCartney and Sir Edward Heath. He has also conducted Nigel Kennedy and Julian Lloyd-Webber from the orchestral world.

Kevin Wadsworth was tenor horn for the famous Kings of Brass ensemble and also co-presented BBC Radio’s GMR Brass programme for five years. He has tutored international music schools in the UK, Norway and Switzerland, and is a busy adjudicator, having judged the Whit Friday Marches, and the Pontin’s and Scottish championships. Looking ahead, December will see him judge the Swiss Solo Championships.

STAN LIPPEATT

Born in Hemsworth, South Yorkshire, for many years Stan Lippeatt was the flugel horn player with Grimethorpe Colliery Band.

As a player and soloist for Grimethorpe, he featured in many of the band's comic routines and, as a conductor, regards entertaining the audience as a main priority.

In more recent years, Stan Lippeatt has played flugel horn with the Kings o’ Brass.

A distinguished playing career brought him many successes, but his proudest moment was performing the world premiere of John Golland's Flugel Horn Concerto, a work that he himself commissioned.

Stan Lippeatt’s conducting career started in 1983 with Grimethorpe Colliery Junior Band. In 1987, he finally left the Grimethorpe organisation (as both a player and a conductor) to become Musical Director of Thoresby Colliery Band, a position he held for 17 years, leading the band to victory at the French Open Championship.

As player and conductor, Stan Lippeatt has performed at the ‘National’. British Open, National Mineworkers, All-England Masters and French Open championships, as well as at the BBC Band of the Year, Granada Television Band of the Year, Rothmans Brass in Concert Championship, and the Solo and Quartet Championships of Great Britain.

Over the year's, he has toured Austria, Australia, Germany, France, Spain, Yugoslavia, Italy and Switzerland with bands. After studying part time at Barnsley College for a degree in Band Studies, Stan Lippeatt became a Peripatetic Brass Teacher in Nottinghamshire. With the wealth of experience he has gained in the brass band movement, it was no surprise when, in 2003, Butlins invited him to discuss the demise of the CISWO Mineworkers' Championships and made him Contest Advisor to assist with the formation of the new Butlins National Mineworkers' Open Brass Band Festival.

Stan Lippeatt is also an Executive Committee member of the Association of Brass Band Adjudicators and, as an adjudicator, has officiated at the ‘National’ and Regional Championships, the Belgium National Championships, Pontin’s Championships and countless other competitions in England, Scotland and Wales.

 

The adjudicators for Section 4: Richard Evans and Chris Wormald

RICHARD EVANS

Richard Evans is one of the most colourful and flamboyant characters on the British brass band scene.

Born in Aldershot, the regular son of a regular soldier, he spent the first two years of his life in India. On returning to England, his family moved to Preston, Lancashire, and it was in nearby Leyland, with the British Legion Band, that Richard Evans was introduced to the cornet.
Within three years, he was one of the founder members of the National youth Brass Band of Great Britain, for which he became principal cornet under the baton of the late Harry Mortimer, OBE, CBE.

He moved from the British Legion Band to Leyland Motors (the forerunner of the band today known as Leyland). There, Richard Evans studied under the band’s forefathers, Harold Moss and William Haydock.

National Service took Richard Evans to Berlin and, when he returned to civilian life, he joined Black Dyke Mills Band.

However, it was in the art of conducting that Richard was to carve a brilliant career. Graduating from the Royal Northern College of Music, he became a full-time teacher and also played freelance trumpet with the BBC Northern Symphony Orchestra, the Manchester Mozart Orchestra, Syd Lawrence and many other famous ensembles. During this period, his conducting skills were being perfected in a vast theatre of experience including in brass bands, choral societies and the directions of operas.

He became conductor of Wingates Temperance Band in 1975 and went on to win the British Open Championship with the band three months later. The following year, he joined Fairey Engineering Band as its musical Director and, in 1978, was recruited to rebuild Leyland Vehicles Band with the specific remit of achieving Championship Section within three years, which he accomplished. He then worked with Foden’s and Yorkshire Building Society bands and, in 2004, accepted the position of resident Musical Director with Grimethorpe Colliery (UK Coal) Band. Today, he enjoys connections with the world-famous Brighouse and Rastrick Band as Associate Conductor, although most of his work is now freelance.

Richard Evans was recently appointed Visiting Professor of Brass to Senzoku Gakuen College of Music in Tokyo, and his prowess as a conductor, teacher, adjudicator and movement leader was recognised in 1986, when he received the J. Henry Iles Medal from the Worshipful Company of Musicians. He has worked with bands all over the world and is Musical Director of the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland.

CHRIS WORMALD

Chris Wormald has been a long-time member of the National Association of Brass Band Adjudicators and the National Association of Brass Band Conductors. He has adjudicated all over the world since 1991, including the inaugural 2006 English National Brass Band Championships, the Scottish Open Championships, the Senior Trophy of Spring Festival for the British Open, the Yorkshire, North West, Scottish and London Regional championships, Muse Festival (Singapore), the Wilkinson Northern Open Championships, the Pontin’s Championships, the Carnegie Trust Championships, the British Open Solo and Quartet Championships, plus countless other competitions up and down the country. This year alone sees Chris Wormald booked to adjudicate at the North West Area Contest, the Spring Festival in Blackpool and the English National Championship (for the second time in three years).

Born in 1961, Chris has been an Assistant Headteacher and Director of Arts at Smithills School in Bolton since 2003. Prior to that, he was Head of Music at Smithills from 1990, the year he also joined James Shepherd Versatile Brass. He is formerly a member of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain alongside Ian Bousfield, Nicholas Childs, Steven Mead and Martin Winter. From 1983 – 1990, Chris Wormald was also Head of Brass Instrumental Teaching for Bolton MBC, during which time he also taught at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. He has conducted at the highest level in many contests, including in the All-England Masters and the British Open, including Grimethorpe Colliery, with which he made his debut in April 2007, Brighouse and Rastrick, Wingates and many top bands in concert.

As a conductor, horn player, teacher and arranger, Chris Wormald has won numerous contests, competitions, festivals and awards. As a musical director, he has amassed numerous contest victories, concert highlights, broadcasts, CD recordings and national titles.

He formed the internationally renowned Smithills School Senior Brass Band in 1992, since when the band has won over 40 major national competitions, including six at the Royal Albert Hall School Proms. He has conducted Smithills all over the world, from Norway and New Zealand to Japan and the USA (three times).

In 2001 Chris was named Classic FM Music Teacher of The Year. Since then he has won both the Brian Hicks Memorial and Gerald Taylor Awards for continued outstanding dedication to brass bands. He is also a recipient of the Mortimer Medal from the Worshipful Company of Musicians, awarded in 1998 at the British Open Championship, in Birmingham’s Symphony Hall.

As an orchestral horn player, Chris Wormald made his professional London debut in the Philharmonia Orchestra at The Barbican as recently as 2003, after two decades of freelancing throughout the UK.

His arrangements for brass band continue to be published by Wright and Round (Gloucester), Studio Music (London) and Obrasso (Switzerland).