The Royal Philharmonic Society is pleased to to play a part in supporting the organisers of the triennial Philip Jones International Brass Ensemble Competition (PJIBEC).

The competition first took place in July 2019 at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. Its return - slightly delayed by the pandemic - was in July 2023, this time at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. The aim of PJIBEC is to bring together young brass quintets and to showcase excellence and enterprise in brass chamber music performance, building on the legacy of the great trumpeter Philip Jones CBE (1928-2000), founder of the acclaimed Philip Jones Brass Ensemble (pictured). Philip was awarded RPS Honorary Membership in recognition of all he so positively did in his lifetime to support brass music, a cause that his devoted wife Ursula Jones radiantly upholds to this day.

At the 2019 PJIBEC, winners were:

1st Prize - Connaught Brass
2nd Prize - RET Brass
3rd Prize - London Metropolitan Brass

The international jury comprised Reinhold Friedrich (trumpet), Barbara Butler (trumpet), Frøydis Ree Wekre (horn), Ian Bousfield (trombone) and Oren Marshall (tuba).

At the 2023 PJIBEC, winners were:

1st Prize - London Central Brass
2nd Prize - KamBrass
3rd Prize - New Antonine Brass
Clarence Myerscough Trust Award - Perrongen Brass

The international jury comprised Alan Thomas (trumpet), Annamia Larsson (horn), Mayumi Shimizu (trombone), Jens-Bjørn Larsen (tuba), and Pasi Pirinen (trumpet).

The next PJIBEC is expected to take place in 2026. Full details of the competition can be found on its website: www.pjbe.org