BBCA Semi-finalists Announced
The Brass Band Conductors Association has announced the semi-finalists competing for the BBCA Conductor Competition title. The tweleve successful candidates are: Neil Brownless; Andrea Durante; Colum O'Shea; Ian Walshaw; Stuart Black; Kieron Howe; Helen Douthwaite-Teasdale; Alan Gifford; Davide Casafina; Carl-Emil Björklund; Boris Oppliger and Jack Capstaff.
The competitors can be viewed in action here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XV3XBRffWOU
The semi-final will take place on Saturday 18th June at Eccles Town Hall near Manchester. Each will rehearse the Hammonds Band on either 'Contest Music' by Wilfred Heaton or 'The Essence of Time' by Peter Graham. Adjudicators Paul Hindmarsh and David Thornton will select the six conductors who will progress to the evening's final, where they will conduct Eccles Borough Band in concert.
The BBCA Chair, James Holt stated, "It's fantastic that our competition is returning in-person and we were delighted to get a high-class field of entrants from around the globe. This is a superb opportunity for conductors to work with outstanding bands and get feedback from professionals in their field and I am sure it will be a great day for those involved."
The semi-finals are open to the general public between 11.00am and 3.00pm with the final evening Gala Concert starting at 7.30pm, both at Eccles Town Hall. The first half of the evening will consist of the six chosen finalists leading the band through their final piece before a second half where the band will be led by BBCA Executive Committee member Mareika Gray. Entrance is free with a retiring collection.
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