4BR has been informed that there is to be one final effort from a competing band at the ill fated International Brass Band Competition held in Leuven in Belgium in 2012 to try and get outstanding monies owed to them by the organisers.
Court hearing
It is understood that the Noordlimburgse Brass Band, has instructed their legal representatives to set up a court hearing to try and enforce payment which they believe is owed to them.
The competition attracted bands from all over Europe with an advertised prize fund of 25,000 Euros as well as additional concert fees.
The Championship contest attracting eight bands, including former European Champion Manger Musikklag, Oslo Brass, Brass Band Willebroek, Nord Limburgse, Buizingen, Brass Band Heist and British challengers Redbridge and East London Brass.
In addition, a further three bands performed in the A Section contest.
Chaotic
Problems arose with the chaotic organisation of the contest weekend almost immediately, with bands (including Brighouse & Rastrick, who were due to perform in the Gala Concert) and adjudicators telling 4BR that initial promises were broken.
No prize money
Bands — including eventual winners Manger Musikklag, did not receive the prize money that was advertised — with the Norwegians still awaiting full payment of the 8,500 Euro first prize.
In addition, audiences for the events were negligible — with less than 40 people attending the Gala Concert, and only a handful at times in the auditorium for the contest themselves.
Statement
In a statement to 4BR, Noordlimburgse’s frustration was made clear:
"Following a lengthy procedure to settle this matter a lot of promises were made by the organisation representative Mr. Dils.
Noordlimburgse received sound promises from the organisation that the prize money owed would be paid by the middle of 2013.
However, payment was not received and the organisation formally denied all responsibility by the means of a letter of its attorney."
Unwilling
The band go on to state: "Despite attempts to solve this matter outside court, the organising body of the IBBC has continued to show that it is unwilling to pay the prize money due.
Noordlimburgse feels their case is strong enough to enforce payment legally and has instructed their attorney to set up a court hearing."
Noordlimburgse feels their case is strong enough to enforce payment legally and has instructed their attorney to set up a court hearingNoordlimburgse Brass Band
Final attempt
The latest attempt by one of the competing bands may well be the last effort to try and finally gain payment from an event that from the outset almost seemed too good to be true.
Noordlimburgse may only hope that the promise given by the organisers to 4BR in December 2012 is kept.
Organiser's promise
Then they said: "We will not abandon the bands — that would be too easy to do and we will try to find a solution for everything that went wrong, including we make sure bands will receive their prize money. However, let it be clear—that will take a lot of time."
That time may well be finally up.
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