The 36th Belgium National Championships take place this weekend at a new contest venue in Heist-op-den-Berg.

15 bands in four sections will perform at the Cultural Centre Zwaneberg, opened in 1990 (above), with the top section winners going on to represent their country at the European Championship in Freiburg in 2015.

The adjudicators for the event are Leyland flugel star John Doyle (who returns for a second successive year), composer Philip Sparke and the highly respected Tom Brevik from Norway.

Reigning champion

Last year’s winner Brass Band Willebroek will be looking to win the title for a record 19th time, but face strong opposition over the two legged event from the likes of 2013 champion Brass Band Buizingen, former winners Noord-Limburgse and local favourites Brass Band Heist.

The set work is Martin Ellerby’s ‘Electra’, whilst there is an intriguing list of own choice works selected – from Philip Harper’s ‘The Divine Right’ and ‘REM-scapes’ by Thomas Doss to the recent Dutch National test piece, ‘Journey of the Lone Wolf’ by Simon Dobson.

Lower sections

In the First Section, Brass Band Bacchus will look to retain their title against Brass Band Ghent, Brass Band Panta Rhei and Brass Band Scaldis.

There are just two entrants in the Second Division and two bands in the Third.

Last year’s winner Brass Band Willebroek will be looking to win the title for a record 19th time4BR

Championship Section:
Set Work: Electra (Martin Ellerby)

Brass Band Buizingen
Brass Band Heist
Brass Band Leieland
Brass Band Willebroek
Brass Band Zele
Festival Brass Band
Kortrijk Brass Band
Noord-Limburgse Brass Band

Own choice selections:
Concerto for Brass Band (Kenneth Downie)
Concerto Grosso (Derek Bourgeois)
English Heritage (George Lloyd)
Journey of the Lone Wolf (Simon Dobson)
Music of the Spheres (Philip Sparke)
REM-scapes (Thomas Doss)
Revelation (Philip Wilby)
The Divine Right (Philip Harper)

First Section:
Set Work: In Memoriam RK (Elgar Howarth

Brass Band Bacchus
Brass Band Ghent
Brass Band Panta Rhei
Brass Band Scaldis

Own choice selections:
Corpus Christi (Robert Redhead)
Coventry Variations (Bramwell Tovey)
Hostile Skies (Richard Grantham)
The Land of the Long White Cloud (Philip Sparke)

Second Division:
Set Work: Evolution — Five States of Change (Philip Sparke)

Brassband Euterpe
Braz'Art Harelbeke

Own choice selections:
Royal Parks (George Lloyd)

Third Division:
Set Work: Parnasus (Jan Van der Roost)

Kon BB de Grensbewoners Smeermaas
Dender Brass

Own choice selections:
Arkansas (Jacob de Haan)
Chaucer’s Tunes (Michael Ball)