The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain (NYBBGB) has announced the finalists that will take part in the band’s Conductors’ Competition, supported by the Garfield Weston Foundation.
The six selected conductors will perform with a band of NYBBGB members in the penultimate stage of the competition, and be assessed by Martyn Brabbins, Dr Rober Childs and Captain Sam Harisine RM. The repertoire will consist of three marches: Mephistopheles, Shipley Douglas; Knight Templar, George Allan and The Cossack, William Rimmer.
The six finalists are:
- Anna Beresford, 24
- Chris Binns, 27
- Leon Franzten, 23
- Derrick Morgan, 27
- Enyi Okpara, 22
- Lewis Wilkinson, 26
In the final stage of the competition, three finalists will be invited to rehearse either Resurgam by Eric Ball, Music for a Festival by Phillip Sparke or Shine as the Light by Peter Graham.
Martyn Brabbins, one of the judges and the guest conductor for the 2022 competition, said: ‘The prospect of encountering a new generation of conductors is always exciting. The NYBBGB Weston conducting competition has attracted a plethora of conducting talent, and I look forward to engaging with the six finalists in January. My aim is to create a collaborative and creative atmosphere in order that all involved have a positive musical experience.’
Mark Bromley, CEO of NYBBGB, added: ‘The response to our call for entries went beyond our expectations. I would like to thank everyone who made the effort to submit an entry. Whatever the outcome, the passion of each of our six finalists for brass banding is clear and that alone fills me with hope for the next generation of music leaders. If you are free please do come and support our finalists in January. It's going to be so inspiring.’
The competition will take place on 29 January 2022. The winner will receive a fee of £500 to work alongside and be tutored by Martin Brabbins and the NYBBGB during their 2022 summer residential course, and conduct a work in the concert.
For more information, or to enter future competitions, visit the NYBBGB's website.
