The Dutch National Championship takes place in Groningen this weekend, when 37 competitors take to the stage at the Martini Plaza Theatre, with titles to be won in five different sections.

Electra

Three new compositions have been commissioned for the event, including the 2012 British Open set work, ‘Electra’, which will test the eight Championship Section bands on Saturday evening.

The winner will represent The Netherlands at the European Brass Band Championship in Olso next May.

‘Time Machine’ by Thomas Doss is the test for the seven bands in the First Section, whilst ‘Cross Patonce’ by Goff Richards is the Second Section set work. The Third Section competitors will need to overcome ‘The Angel of the North’ by Richard Grantham, whilst a new work entitled ‘Parnassus’ by Jan Van der Roost is the Fourth Section set work.

Championship destination

The adjudication team of Luuk Tuinstra, Jan Van der Roost and Ray Farr have been given the task of deciding the destination of the Championship Section title and the first prize of a Sovereign euphonium and 1,000 Euros.

Reigning champion Brass Band Schoonhoven will be looking to claim a hat trick of National titles under the direction of Erik Janssen, and are considered the pre-contest favourites following their podium finish at the Europeans in Rotterdam in May.

They will face a stern challenge to get to Oslo however, with 12 time winner Brass Band De Wâldsang conducted by Rieks van der Velde looking to reclaim the title they last won in 2009, whilst last year’s runner up Brass Band Rijnmond will also be looking to capture their first national title since 2008.

First Section

In the First Section, reigning champion Heman, who impressed many neutral observers with their runner-up performance in the B Section of the European Championships earlier this year, will look to retain their title under the baton of conductor Anne van den Berg.

Both of last year’s podium finishers Brass Band Oefening en Uitspanning and Kunst naar Kracht are sure to put up a strong challenge, as they look to impress Messers Tuinstra, Van der Roost and Farr in what promises to be an interesting Championship Section aperitif.

2010 champion Brass Band Breukelen is another fancied runner in the field of seven bands set to tackle the intriguingly entitled ‘Time Machine’ by Thomas Doss.

Second Section

On paper it appears to be a question of who can stop Excelsior conducted by Herman Sibma from completing an unprecedented fourth consecutive victory in the Second Section on Saturday morning.

‘Cross Patonce’ has posed a number of questions of bands all around Europe this year, so it will not be a foregone conclusion that they will automatically claim the first prize from adjudicators Rob Goorhuis, Danny Oosterman and Hannes Buchegger.

Eight determined rivals will hope to snatch their crown, including 2008 winner and last year’s runner up De Lofklank conducted by Jaap Musschenga and 2007 champion and home town favourites Martini Brass Band directed by Rieks van der Velde.

Third Section

Many people are expecting another close run battle in the Third Section between the two form bands of reigning champion Constantijn Huygens directed by Richard Visser and former champions Gloria Dei conducted by Piet van der Heide.

Huygens denied their rivals a hat trick of wins last year, so there should be plenty to play for on Friday as the eight competitors get to grips with ‘The Angel of the North’ by Richard Grantham.

Last year’s runner-up Soli Deo Gloria under Chris van der Veen should also pose a confident threat as they seek their first Third Section national success.

Fourth Section

The contest weekend starts on Friday afternoon when five bands look to try and impress the adjudication trio of Rob Goorhuis, Danny Oosterman and Hannes Buchegger on the new Jan Van der Roost set work, ‘Parnassus’.

With 2010 and 2011 winner Backum Brass now competing in the Third Section, a new name will appear on the trophy for the first time in three years, with 2008 & 2009 champion Halleluja directed by Ido Gerard Kempenaar keen to return to the top of the podium.

Last year’s third placed Soli Deo Gloria under Gatse Hylkema will also look to claim their first title since 1985.

Reigning champion Brass Band Schoonhoven will be looking to claim a hat trick of National titles under the direction of Erik Janssen4BR

Championship Section:
Adjudicators: Luuk Tuinstra, Jan Van der Roost, Ray Farr

Altena Brass (Jan Gerrit Adema)
Amsterdam Brass (Pierre Volders)
Brass Band De Bazuin (Klaas van der Woude)
Brass Band De Wâldsang (Rieks van der Velde)
Brass Band Rijnmond (Erik van de Kolk)
Brass Band Schoonhoven A (Erik Janssen)
Soli Brass (Anne van den Berg)
Van de Kreeke Brass Band Limburg (Renato Meli)

First Section:
Adjudicators: Luuk Tuinstra, Jan Van der Roost, Ray Farr

Brass Band Breukelen (Kees Kramer)
Brass Band Oefening en Uitspanning (Anno Appelo)
Brass Band Excelsior (Rieks van der Velde)
Heman (Anne van den Berg)
Kunst naar Kracht (Erik Kluin)
Pro Rege (Siemen Hoekstra)
Regionale Brass Band De Spijkerpakkenband (Erik Janssen)

Second Section:
Adjudicators: Rob Goorhuis, Danny Oosterman, Hannes Buchegger

Brass Band David (John Blanken)
Brass Band Schoonhoven B (Robbert Vos)
CMV Euphonia (Syde van der Ploeg)
De Bazuin B (Bienze IJlstra)
De Lofklank (Jaap Musschenga)
Excelsior (Herman Sibma)
Martini Brass Band (Rieks van der Velde)
Veluwe Brass (Vincent Verhage)
Wâldbrass (John Blanken)

Third Section:
Adjudicators: Rob Goorhuis, Danny Oosterman, Hannes Buchegger

Backum Brass (Erik van der Kolk)
Brassband "De Nije Bazún" (Piet van der Heide)
Constantijn Huygens (Richard Visser)
Excelsior (Piet Visser)
Geref.Brass Band (Jan Werkman)
Gloria Dei (Piet van der Heide)
Looft den Heer (Paulus de Jong)
Soli Deo Gloria (Chris van der Veen)

Fourth Section:
Adjudicators: Rob Goorhuis, Danny Oosterman, Hannes Buchegger

Euphonia (Gatse Hylkema)
Felison Brass (Patricia Geertse)
Geref.Brass Band Immanuël (Wim Westerman)
Halleluja (Ido Gerard Kempenaar)
Soli Deo Gloria (Gatse Hylkema)