THE sound of brass band music is to return to a museum which used to be famous for its open air concerts.

The annual Teesdale Brass Band Contest, which until now has taken place in a village school, is to be held in future in the grounds of the Bowes Museum, at Barnard Castle, County Durham.

Neville Turner, a retired vet who is chairman of the event, announced the switch yesterday and said it was hoped the setting would attract more competing bands as well as a bigger audience.

He said: "It is a magnificent venue for a competition like this, and we are sure it will give us a major boost. It will be easier for many more people to attend."

For the last 20 years the contest has been held in the grounds of the village school at Middleton in Teesdale, but though it was highly popular at first the number of bands competing has fallen along with the attendance.

Mr Turner, who plays trombone in the Middleton in Teesdale band and also guests with other line-ups from around the North-East, said the first competition at the museum will be on the first Sunday of July.

The museum used to have its own bandstand, an impressive cast iron structure which was opened by Lady Glamis in 1912. It had two major open air concerts every year, with bands such as the Royal Marines and Cameron Highlanders.

Rachel Scott, marketing officer at the museum, said: "We are really looking forward to holding the contest in our grounds. Band music was always popular when the museum had its own bandstand, and it will be lovely to bring it back."

Published: 30/11/2004