For the second successive year, Norwegian National champion Eikanger Bjorsvik Musikklag has gained a substantial grant award through the Arts Council Norway and its Composer’s Fund.

Musical excellence

The NOK 200,000 (approx £17,400) recognises the band’s continued commitment to, and the promotion of, musical excellence through the commissioning of new brass band repertoire and high profile artistic endeavours.

The band has received a number of awards from the body since 2004.

Recognition

Band spokesperson Viggo Bjørge (above) told 4BR: “The band received a similar grant in 2014, and we see this award as continued recognition of our hard work presenting the brass band as an outstanding concert alternative for any music audience.

The money will be used to further help develop our successful concert series in Bergen in which we premiere new commissions, work with outstanding orchestral conductors and expand the brass band repertoire.”

we see this award as continued recognition of our hard work presenting the brass band as an outstanding concert alternative for any music audienceBand spokesperson Viggo Bjørge

Dream Sequences

Viggo added: “For instance, in 2014 we commissioned and premiered ‘Ground — Dream Sequences’ by Stig Nordhagen (the composer of ‘Myth Forest’ for the 2013 European Championships) which was also funded by Arts Council Norway and their Composer's Fund.

2015 will see the premiere of a concerto for two trombone soloists and brass band by Svein Henrik Giske and in 2016 we will premiere the five movement ‘Symphony No. 2’ by the highly influential Norwegian composer Markus Paus who lives and works in Berlin.

The special grant will also enable the band to plan more tours both at home and abroad.”