HOW TO ENTER
Eligibility
This competition is for brass quintet: 2 trumpets, horn, trombone, tuba.
Brass players wishing to take part must be aged 18 – 30 at the time of the Competition, with a group average age of no more than 28. Applications will therefore be accepted from those born on or after 19 July 1995.
One change in membership of a participating group (from submission to Competition date) is permissible, if due to important professional or personal circumstances. Two or more changes in membership will be at the discretion of the Artistic Director
The Competition is open to competitors of any nationality.
PJIBEC Competition
Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (RBC), Birmingham
13th – 18th July 2026
Competition Process
Selection of participating groups
An online application will include the following:
A free choice video recording to last 18-22 minutes to include:
Lutoslawski: Mini-Overture (Chester Music)
plus either
JS Bach: Chromatic Fugue in D minor BWV903 (Onyx Brass Publishing) OR
Mark Nightingale: Song for Rosie (Onyx Brass Publishing)
This can be a private YouTube (or equivalent) online video submission. Studio quality is not required, but the best possible sound format is advisable; each piece must be recorded in one complete take, but not necessarily the whole programme.
The selection panel will comprise members of Onyx Brass (but not any who may be serving on the jury for the main competition).
Applications open: 1st September 2025
Applications close: 1st March 2026
Selected groups will be invited by 14th March 2026
ROUND ONE
The selected groups will be invited to Birmingham to perform in Round One, on either 14th or 15th July.
Round One
Tuesday 14th July 2026
Wednesday 15th July 2026
Followed by deliberation and announcement by the Jury on Wednesday 15th July, up to six groups will be selected to proceed to Round Two.
Each group to present a free choice programme of 23-27 minutes in duration, to include:
Charlotte Harding: Rhombus, and at least one other substantial original work composed for brass quintet.
Masterclass Day
Thursday 16th July 2026
All groups who do not proceed beyond the first round will be able to take part in a chamber music masterclass with a member of the jury.
SEMI FINAL
Round Two
RBC Bradshaw Hall
Friday 17th July, times to be confirmed
Followed by deliberation and announcement of finalists by the Jury, three groups will be selected by the Jury to perform in the Final Round.
Each group to present a free choice programme of 33-37 minutes in duration, to include one of the following works:
Tim Jackson: Two Haiku (Onyx Brass Publishing)
Augusta Read Thomas: Avian Capriccio (Nimbus Music Publishing)
Stuart MacRae: Two Cairns (Novello & Co)
Final Round
Final Round
RBC Bradshaw Hall
18th July 2026
Open to the public. Times to be confirmed
Massed ensemble performance while the jury deliberates, followed by the announcement of awards by the jury chair.
Each group to present a free choice programme of 40-45 minutes in duration, to include two of the following works (or 1 only, if the Jackson is selected)
Luciano Berio: Call (Wise Classical)
Cheryl Frances-Hoad: The Madness Industry (Cadenza Music)
Tim Jackson: 17 Variations on a Theme of John Dowland (Onyx Brass Publishing)
Mark-Anthony Turnage: ONYX30 (Boosey and Hawkes)
Errollyn Wallen: Onyx (ErrollynWallen.com)
General Information
Throughout the Competition the Jury reserves the right to stop any performance that overruns the time limit.
Free choice repertoire may be repeated in Rounds One and the Semi-Final only, but must adhere to the Competition Requirements which follow.
The Jury will be provided with copies of all stipulated repertoire, but competing groups must provide one (printed) copy of free choice repertoire in advance of Competition rounds.
Groups must either introduce programmes verbally, and/or provide a brief programme note (printed in English) for each programme played.
A public draw will be held to determine order of play for each round.