Music Panel
The members of the Panel listed below are responsible for selecting the test-pieces for the Regional and National Championships each year. The test-pieces for each Regional qualifying series are released at the National Brass Band Championships (Sections 1-4 Finals) in September of the year before the Regional Championships take place, and the five ‘Finals’ test-pieces are released in April of the year in which the ‘Finals’ take place.
All test-pieces selected are revealed on this website first.
The Kapitol Promotions Music Panel enjoys independence in the selection of the test-pieces, and each member of the panel possesses a wide experience in playing with, conducting and adjudicating bands at every level in the five ‘National’ sections - as you can see from their biographies below.
If you are a composer or publisher and would like your work to be considered by the Music Panel for either Regional or National level, please get in touch with Tim Jones (Music Panel Administrator - tim@kapitolpromotions.co.uk) for more information. The Music Panel welcomes all submissions equally.
Philip Morris – Chairman
Tim Jones - Administrator
Panel Members: John Maines, Dr. Robert Childs, Sandy Smith, Duncan Beckley, Andrea Price
John Maines
John Maines began his playing career with the Wigan Boys Club, Prescott Cables and Cammell Laird bands.
He spent some of his playing career in Cornwall with St. Austell and Bodmin bands, where he quickly made his mark with a succession of victories at solo competitions throughout the South-east.
At that time, he became the Champion Trombone Player of Great Britain on three successive occasions, one of only two players to achieve a hat-trick in this event.
John Maines went on to play solo trombone for Stanshawe, Bristol and Fairey Engineering bands, as well as principal trombone for Harry Mortimer’s Men o’ Brass. He became principal trombone for Black Dyke Band, with which he won many major titles, including a hat-trick of ‘European’ Championships.
Since 1979, John Maines has been a tutor of trombone at the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain and is a Council member of the organisation. He is also a member of the Association of Brass Band Adjudicators, and regularly judges in Britain and abroad. He also directs the National Youth Brass Band of Denmark.
A BA Music (Hons.) graduate from the University of Sheffield, John Maines is in great demand as a conductor of many of Britain’s best brass bands, as well as a master of ceremonies at several prestigious banding occasions.
He presented the long-running BBC weekly radio programme, GMR Brass, for many years and, in 1995, received the Manchester Music Makers’ Award for his contribution to the broadcasting of music in the Greater Manchester area. He now presents the World of Brass online radio show.
Dr. Robert Childs
Dr. Robert Childs is a leading figure in the world of brass music. For over thirty years he performed at the highest level giving solo performances in many of the world’s most prestigious venues. He has given masterclasses throughout Europe’s finest conservatoires and is now recognised as a leading education specialist.
Following a glittering career as principal euphonium and soloist with many of Yorkshire's finest brass bands, in 2000 Robert relinquished his position as principal euphonium and associate conductor of Black Dyke Band in order to become Musical Director of Cory Band in Wales. During his twelve year tenure with Cory, the band won the World Brass Band Championships, National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain, Brass in Concert Championship, British Open Championships (on 5 occasions), European Brass Band Championships (including a 2008-2010 hat-trick), Welsh Regional Championships (on 9 occasions) and he led the Band from 13th to No.1 in the official World Rankings.
In 2002 Robert was awarded a Doctorate in Musical Arts from the University of Salford and is also an Associate of The Royal College of Music and Fellow of The London College of Music. Robert gained a Masters Degree with distinction from University of Leeds, holds a Post Graduate Certificate in Education from the Open University and in 2007 his remarkable achievements were recognized by the Worshipful Company of Musicians when he was awarded the prestigious Iles Medal. In 2008 Robert was given ‘Freedom of the City of London’ and also received the prestigious John Edwards Memorial Award by the Welsh Music Guild for outstanding contribution to Welsh Music.
Having relinquished his position as Musical Director of Cory in 2012, he returned to Black Dyke, sharing conducting duties with his brother Nicholas, before accapting the position of Principal Conductor and Director of Music at Grimethorpe Colliery Band in 2014. This was an offer he couldn’t refuse, with Robert stating, “Grimethorpe was the first top band I played solo euphonium for in the 1970s and they are probably the most famous band in the World.” During his first year with Grimethorpe Robert led them to a record breaking 16th victory at the international Brass In Concert Championships at The Sage, Gateshead, and in September 2015, directed the band to its fifth British Open Chamionship title at Symphony Hall, Birmingham - Grimethorpe's first victory at the contest in 25 years.
As an educator, Robert is pre-eminent in his field. He is now an Honorary Felllow of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, where he is also Director of Brass Band Studies; he is a visiting Professor at Tokyo's Senzoku Gakuen College of Music; Chairman of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain organisation; advisor to the Harry Mortimer Trust; Musical Director of both Woodfalls Band and the North American Brass Band Summer School, and Managing Director of Performing Arts in Education.
Sandy Smith
Sandy was born in Scotland and began his career with the Whitburn Band. Studying initially in Edinburgh he gained L.T.C.L. and L.L.C.M. teaching and performing diplomas and also became principal horn of the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland before moving to Yorkshire.
In a playing career as principal horn with the Black Dyke, Fairey and Grimethorpe bands he has won 6 British Open, 4 National Championships, 8 European, 6 Brass in Concert, 2 All England Masters and 11 championship section Area titles. He also plays tenor horn and mellophonium in “La Banda Europa”, an orchestra of 35 diverse European instrumentalists. He has also played with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra in works requiring tenor horn.
Sandy is well known as an arranger and has lectured on brass band scoring, arranging and the history and repertoire of the brass band at Huddersfield University. His teaching activities have encompassed every stage of musical education from primary school to university standard including the RNCM in Manchester and Leeds College of Music. He has taught on many brass band residential courses including the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, The Brass Band Summer School and the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland.
He studied conducting while at college and began conducting brass bands in the late 1980’s. He has worked with many leading bands including Brighouse and Rastrick, Grimethorpe Colliery and the Fairey band. He has collaborated as conductor and arranger with artists from wider genres such as The Unthanks folk group, jazz trumpeter Matt Halsall, electronic keyboard artist and vocalist Hannah Peel, folk Singer Kate Rusby and folk singer John Watterson.
Sandy was the brass orchestrator for the “Pandemonium” and Olympic Anthem sections of the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics and in 2016 co-founded Tubular Brass which premiered his own arrangement of Mike Oldfield's “Tubular Bells” for brass band. When time permits he is in increasing demand as an adjudicator having officiated from the 4th through to the Championship section in area contests, the Spring Festival and the Scottish Open.
Sandy is well known for his forthright views on brass band repertoire and is a vocal advocate for championing the use of quality music as a central part of improving the standards of all bands.
Duncan Beckley MBE
Duncan was born in London but moved shortly afterwards to Wakefield, West Yorkshire where his love for music grew into a passion and a profession.
He started playing the flugel horn and progressed to the tuba, which he played with many brass bands. He is now a conductor, band trainer, teacher and adjudicator. He is a leading member of the Association of Brass Band Adjudicators.
Duncan is a member of The Royal College of Music and a Fellow of Trinity College of Music. He has a degree in Music from Sheffield University and holds a P.G.C.E. from Leeds University. He also has a MA in Education from Leeds University.
As a conductor he travels widely conducting bands throughout Great Britain gaining National Championships, at all levels. He was Musical Director of the Championship Section Newstead Band for 27 years achieving many successes during that time.
Duncan has widespread experience of adjudication at all levels and is in increasing demand as a freelance conductor, adjudicator and band trainer.
Andrea Price
Andrea’s background in world-class music education is matched by two decades of experience in performance at the highest level. Having enjoyed a stellar career as a percussionist for a number of brass bands, including the world famous YBS and Black Dyke Band, Andrea has won every major brass band competition, recorded numerous CDs, and toured the world as a performer. She is a highly respected adjudicator both in the UK and internationally, held in esteem for her keen ear, outstanding analytical skill, and ability to inspire through her constructive and caring feedback. She is also an extremely successful composer with a wide range of published and recorded works.
Most recently, her Section 4 test-piece "I, Daedalus" was selected as the set test for the Regional Championships 2025 of the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain.
As a conductor, Andrea has worked with a number of youth and adult bands, most recently the Rainford and Wingates bands in the North West.
Andrea is incredibly passionate about the future of brass banding and particularly enjoys working with youth bands; she has been involved with the The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain and the Greater Manchester Youth Brass Band (Greater Manchester Music Education Hub) for many years and is a strong advocate for improving diversity and equality. Alongside her work as a composer, adjudicator, conductor and performer, Andrea has a busy teaching and pastoral role at the world-renowned Chetham's School of Music.
