The ambitious International Brass Band Contest based at the Lemmensinstituut in Leuven, Belgium is taking place this weekend.

Go ahead

Despite the news that the event organisers had to cancel the Saturday evening Gala Concert appearance of Brighouse & Rastrick at late notice due to travel arrangement problems, they have stressed that the contests themselves will go ahead as planned.

The opening concert was provided by former European champion Manger Musikklag from Norway and local favourites Nord- Limburgse on Friday evening, whilst the Lower Division Championship takes place this morning with three bands battling it out for the 3,500 Euro first prize.

Lower Division

The Belgian challengers of Ensemble de cuivre La Covatte and Young Brass Band Willebroek will lock musical horns with Jersey Premier Brass on the set work, ‘Ad Optimum’ as well as providing the nine man adjudication team with their solo, own choice test piece and hymn/choral work.

Later today the first part of the Championship event will take place with Manger Musikklag, Noord-Limburgse Brass, Brass Band Willebroek, Redbridge Brass, Brass Band Buizingen, East London Brass, Oslo Brass and Brass Band Heist tackling the set work, ‘Ruslan & Lyudmilla’.

The second part of the contest takes place on Sunday, when the destination of the 8,000 Euro first prize and other awards will be revealed4BR

8000 Euro first prize

The bands will also have to perform a solo work and two own choice test pieces. The second part of the contest takes place on Sunday, when the destination of the 8,000 Euro first prize and other awards will be revealed.

The innovative adjudication process sees no less than nine judges — Philip Sparke, Andrew Warriner, Ray Farr, Gavin Pritchard, Manu Mellaerts, Benny Wiame, Gareth Pritchard, Jacob Dijkstra and Garry Cutt give their opinions and marks on each performance with the highest and lowest score discounted to gain the aggregate result.

Concert

The Saturday evening concert will now features Oslo Brass and Buizingen, whilst the pre-results concert by Brass Band Willebroek will now be shorted.

More information:

For further information go to: http://www.ibbc.be/International_Brass_Band_Contest/Program.html