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2012 European Championships — Side events and features

Away from the main contests, the European Championships revealed plenty of things to keep you interested...

Ulf Rosenberg and Philip Cobb
The President and the Master: Ulf Rosenberg and Philip Cobb

Further Goldy Solution images can be seen at:

www.pbase.com/troonly/2012_ebbc
www.4barsrest.com/articles/2012/1310g.asp
www.4barsrest.com/articles/2012/1310k.asp
www.4barsrest.com/articles/2012/1310l.asp

As always with the European Championships, there was a great deal of interesting things to listen to away from the main spotlight events.

On the Thursday the Composers Competition came of age with a quartet of diverse works performed splendidly by Brass Band Groningen and Brass Band Rijnmond in the compact surroundings of the smaller Jurriaanse Zaal.

Well supported


Well supported it gave the whole event a uplifting start, despite Paul McGhee’s excellent winning composition ‘Lullaby’ taking inspiration from a poem that leads to instant death!  

His is a very unique compositional voice, that fully deserved the claim the 3000 Euro first prize, but EBBA could perhaps enhance the prestige of the event by also ensuring that the winner gets to write the B Section test piece the following year.   

Men in organge
The sartorial elegance of the average Dutchman...

Wonderful opportunity

Meanwhile, the European Youth Band continued to provide a wonderful opportunity for young players with an experience they will never forget, thanks to the fine conducting of Erik van de Kolk and some well planned events.

They performed splendidly in their joint role as Euro ambassador/ salesmen in their series of concerts – a role that surely led to many more people taking time to come and listen to the event as a whole.

Brass band culture

Paul Hindmarsh chaired an interesting Brass Conference, where representatives from Norway, Scotland, France and Ireland gave presentations into how a brass band culture has grown and continues to grow in their countries.

Of particular interest was Roy Terry’s clear analysis of French banding, which holds such promise in so many ways – from the development of high class community ensembles to the possible hosting of the championships by entrepreneurial cultural departments in cities such as Lille.

Special mention

A special mention though for the Gala Concert, which featured the remarkable Philip Cobb, the brass ensemble of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra under the baton of Ivan Meylemans and Manger Musikklag directed by Martin Winter (with Peter Sebastian Szilvay on fourth percussion!).

The first half was serious music making of the very highest class – as the pros strutted their stuff without a flicker of misplaced emotion. 

The second half was a hoot – as Manger blew the roof off with a brilliant reprise of their prize winning SIDDIS entertainment programme. It was sensational.

It provided a fitting climax to a wonderful festival.
 
Iwan Fox



Longridge Band - Anniversary Concert

Saturday 12 July • Longridge Civic Hall, 1 Calder Avenue, Longridge, Preston PR3 3HT


Haverhill Silver Band - Proms Concert - St Ives

Saturday 12 July • Hill Rise Park, St Ives PE27 6SP


The Hepworth Band - A Summer Proms Concert

Sunday 20 July • Hepworth United Sports Club, Far Lane, Hepworth, Holmfirth. HD9 1RN


Petworth Town Band - Ebernoe Horn Fair

Friday 25 July • Ebernoe Cricket Ground GU28 9LD


Petworth Town Band - Dorset House School Fete

Saturday 26 July • Dorset House School RH20 1PB


Ilkeston Brass

July 11 • We are looking for additional cornet players to join us – positions negotiable! Ilkeston Brass is a friendly 4th section band with a long history based in the SE of Derbyshire.


Olney Brass

July 11 • OLNEY BRASS currently seeking a talented player to fill the following vacancy, in order to strengthen their line up: Eb BASS. We're an ambitious and friendly 2nd section band, with a variety of contests, concerts & community events annually.


Olney Brass

July 10 • OLNEY BRASS currently seeking talented players to fill the following vacancies, in order to strengthen their line up: SOLO CORNETS. We're an ambitious and friendly 2nd section band, with a variety of contests, concerts & community events annually.


Sam Fisher

BA (Hons), PGCE, Dip.ABRSM
Conductor, Adjudicator (AoBBA), Composer/Arranger, Cornet & Flugelhorn Soloist


               

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