AoBBA Announce New Chair

The Association of Brass Band Adjudicators (AoBBA) has announced that Brett Baker has been elected as Chair, following its AGM on Sunday 21st January. Brett succeeds Sheona Wade who stepped down after two years leadership, with the membership warmly thanking her as she stays on the executive committee for a further year in an ex-officio capacity.

Speaking about his election to the post, Brett said: “I am delighted to accept the position of Chair with the Association of Brass Band Adjudicators and look forward to working with the executive committee in this role. I would like to thank the hard work of previous Chairs, most recently Sheona Wade, in addition to the tireless energy demonstrated by secretary Nicholas Garman as we continually strive to make improvements to the way we work and define our role within the brass band community.”

All other officer posts were re-elected, with new executive members David Ashworth, Stephanie Binns & Alan Duguid completing the committee for 2024. The full executive is therefore:

Chair – Brett Baker
Secretary – Nicholas Garman
Treasurer – Chris King
Trainee Adjudicator Programme Leader – Martin Heartfield
Public Relations Officer – Christopher Bond
Ex-Officio – Sheona Wade
Committee Members – David Ashworth, Stephanie Binns, Helen Douthwaite-Teasdale, Alan Duguid & Stan Lippeatt

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Discussions during the AGM included the benefits and disadvantages around open and closed adjudication, further instruction on handing in smart watches (in addition to mobile phones as per previous agreements) at Kapitol Promotions contests and an agreement that open dialogue between all interested parties of brass banding should be furthered. More news on this will follow after the executive committee’s first meeting in March.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) was given by Alan Morrison (Speaking from the Stage), Martin Heartfield (The Development of the Trainee Adjudicator Programme) and Nicholas Garman (Score Preparation) with the day concluding with Stan Lippeatt and Steve Sykes sharing amusing anecdotes and reminding everyone of the fun to be found within banding.