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 of no more than 28. Applications will therefore be accepted from those born on or after 20 July 1991.
One change in membership of a participating group (from submission to Competition date) is permissible, if due to important professional or personal circumstances. Two changes in membership will be at the discretion of the Jury Chair.
The Competition is open to competitors of any nationality.
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.
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: 18 November 2022
Applications close: 21st March 2023
Selected groups will be invited by 31st March 2023
ROUND ONE
Competition at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (RBC), Birmingham
10th – 16th July 2023
The selected groups will be invited to Birmingham to perform in Round One, on either 11th or 12th July.
Round One. RBC Recital Hall, times to be confirmed.
Tuesday 11 July
Wednesday 12 July
Followed by deliberation and announcement by the Jury on Wednesday 12 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:
Trish Clowes: The Mighty Pencil (Onyx Brass Publishing) and one other substantial original work composed for brass quintet.
Round Two
Round Two. RBC Bradshaw Hall. 14 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. 15 July, times to be confirmed.
Deliberation and announcement of awards by the Jury.
Showcase of winning groups.
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)
Francisco Coll: Aurum (5 minute version) (Golden Fanfare) (Faber)
Tim Jackson: 17 Variations on a Theme of John Dowland (Onyx Brass Publishing)
Gwilym Simcock: Stomper (Onyx Brass Publishing)
Cheryl-Frances-Hoad: The Madness Industry (Cadenza Music)
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 Two 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 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.