The Executive Committee of the European Brass Band Association (EBBA) has announced the appointment of Carsten Hering Nielsen as its new General Secretary.

At a recent meeting in Utrecht it was decided that the 45 year old Dane would take over from the Berit Handegard who has served EBBA with great distinction as General Secretary since 2007.

New roles

Carsten will take over his new role with immediate effect, working in tandem with Berit until the end of the year. He will be nominated for ordinary election at the next EBBA AGM in Oslo in May.

Meanwhile, Berit also takes up her new role as Event Manger for the 2013 European Brass Band Championships in Oslo, and told 4BR: "It has been great to work for EBBA and the bands for the last five years.

I’m now looking forward to concentrating on Oslo 2013. I wish Carsten and the EBBA Committee all the very best in their future work."

Carsten was elected into the EBBA Executive Committee in May 2012 after having served as the Danish representative since 2006.

Improve

EBBA President Ulf Rosenberg told 4BR: "We have known since the re-election in May 2011 that Berit would step down during her election period, and this had been communicated to us.

This will improve the situation in the Executive Committee where four key people will stand for election in 2015, and can possibly leave at the same time. With the election of a new General Secretary in 2013 we reduce this risk.

We thank Berit very much for all her excellent work during the last five years. Her efforts have maintained and developed the quality of the European Championships and its side events, and it has been very enjoyable to have had Berit in the team."

Experienced

He added: "I first met Carsten more than 15 years ago and I’m looking forward to working with him. He has been involved with the Danish Band Federation for more than 20 years and has a highly respected professional background.

Carsten is an experienced administrator and true bandsman and has played at the European Brass Band Championship himself."

He has been involved with the Danish Band Federation for more than 20 years and has a highly respected professional backgroundEBBA President, Ulf Rosenberg

Honoured

Carsten added: "I am very proud and honoured by the trust invested in me by the Executive Committee and will do my best to make things run smoothly.

I also know that I will have to ask my colleagues for advice many times to ensure we keep the European Brass Band Championship as the world’s most prestigious band event."

He concluded: "The level of playing we heard this year in Rotterdam was out of this world, and I sincerely believe that we will continue the progress in Oslo with a strong line-up and excellently organised event."