The British Open Solo & Quartet Championship continues to be dominated by the growing wave of high-class European performers, as competitors from Belgium won both the Senior and Intermediate titles this year.

20 players

Jef Vermeiren of Brass Band Nord-Limburgse and Lode Violet of Brass Band Willebroek were part of almost 20 players who made the trip by mini bus from Belgium to take part in the contest held at Dukinfield Town Hall.

Support

Supported by family and fellow players, and overseen by Frans Violet, the conductor of triple European Champions, Brass Band Willebroek, the delighted contingent started their journey at 4.00am on Saturday morning and returned home by catching the 5.00am ferry on Monday.

Any of them could come and play in our bands," Jason remarked, before having to playfully restrain his language a touch by adding that Lode’s 'cracking performance' had stood out like a dog’s proverbial appendages4BR

Intermediate Champion

They had plenty to celebrate however on their long trip home, as first Frans’ son, Lode produced a superbly crafted slow melody performance of 'Russalka’s Song to the Moon' to take the Intermediate title ahead of Brighouse & Rastrick horn player Jonathan Bates and Forest of Dean baritone player Ben Stratford.

Adjudicators Jason Katsikaris and Dr Nicholas Childs were immensely impressed by the standard they heard from the six finalists.

"Any of them could come and play in our bands," Jason remarked, before having to playfully restrain his language a touch by adding that Lode’s 'cracking performance' had stood out like a dog’s proverbial appendages!

Memorable

To round off a memorable day for Belgian banding it was Jef Vermeiren who impressed judges Dr Nicholas Childs and Kevin Wadsworth.

In a high class contest which featuring outstanding performances from all nine finalists, Jef’s rendition of the Vladimir Peskin 'Concerto No.1' saw him beat off the challenge of fellow Belgian cornetist Harmon Vanhoorne of Brass Band Buizingen, with Leyland Band’s Australian baritone star Kristy Rowe in third.

"The winner deserves all the accolades," Dr Childs remarked. "There was a very high standard of performance today from some fantastic players, and I hope the winner can use this victory as a platform for what I am sure will be a exciting musical career."

Junior Champion

Earlier in the day, the Junior Slow Melody title was won by trombonist Gemma Riley of Trinity Girls Band with fine performance of 'Where’re You Walk', ahead of fine efforts from Vincent Gils of Brass Band Hageland and Bethany Moore of Rochdale Youth.

Jason Katsikaris and Kevin Wadsworth were also impressed by what they had heard from the nine competitors. "There were some real stars of the future playing here today," Kevin told 4BR.

Disappointment

The only disappointment of the event was that there was no Junior Quartet Contest, as not one entrant signed up for the competition.

Only four Senior Quartets appeared also – something which adjudicator Malcolm Brownbill perceptively commented upon. "Quartet playing can be so much fun," he remarked, "...as well as so beneficial to developing as a player. There are so many pressures on players nowadays playing in bands, but I hope the skills that are essential to becoming a good musician by quartet playing are not lost."

Hammonds champions

In the end it was a well constructed performance of Gilbert Vinter’s 'Elegy & Rondo' that gave the title to the four players of Hammonds Saltaire Band conducted by Morgan Griffiths, ahead of Blackburn & Darwen and Scherzo Brass.

Full retrospectives of the contest will appear on 4BR.

Results: British Open Solo & Quartet Championships

Senior Solo Final:
Adjudicators: Dr Nicholas Childs & Kevin Wadsworth

1. Jef Vermeiren (Brass Band Noord-Lamburgse) — Bb Cornet
2. Harmon Vanhoorne (Brass Band Buizingnen) — Bb Cornet
3. Kristy Rowe (Leyland) — Baritone

Finalists:

Glen van Looy (Brass Band Heist) — Euphonium
John Truscott (Desford Colliery) — Eb tuba
Stephen Lomas (Desford) — Bass Trombone
James McCabe (Rothwell) — Bb Cornet
Stan Nieuwenhuis (Brass Band Buizingnen) — Bb Cornet
Ben Thomson (unattached) — Eb tuba

Individual Instrumental Award

Best Soprano/Cornet: Harmon Vanhoorne (Brass Band Buizingnen)
Best Flugel/Eb Horn: Tim De Maeseneer (Brass Band Buizingnen)
Best Baritone/Euphonium: Kristy Rowe (Baitone)
Best Trombone: Stephen Lomas (Desford)
Best Bass: Ben Thomson (unattached)

Intermediate Slow Melody Final:
Adjudicators: Jason Katsikaris & Dr Nicholas Childs

1. Lode Violet (Brass Band Willebroek) — Bb Cornet
2. Jonathan Bates (Brighouse & Rastrick) — Tenor Horn
3. Ben Stratford (Forest of Dean) — Baritone

Unplaced Finalists:
Charlotte Heaven (Dobcross Silver) — Bb Cornet
Joshua Flynn (Oldham Lees) — Eb Tuba
Jamie Smith (Hammonds Saltaire) — Bb Cornet

Junior Slow Melody Final:
Adjudicators: Jason Katsikaris & Kevin Wadsworth

1. Gemma Riley (Trinity Girls) — Trombone
2. Vincent Gils, (Brass Band Hageland) — Euphonium
3. Benthany Moore (Rochdale Youth) — Bb Cornet

Senior Quartet:
Adjudicators: Malcolm Brownbill & Thomas Wyss

1. Hammonds Saltaire
2. Blackburn and Darwen
3. Scherzo Brass
4. Oldham (Lees)

There were no quartets competing in the Junior Quartet Section.

4BR retrospectives can be found at:
http://www.4barsrest.com/articles/