The Flemish Open Brass Band Championship will be taking place in Mechelen on the weekend of the 16th/17th April, with 24 bands taking part in four sections.
Support
Supported by the city and sponsors Besson and RoGa Percussion, the contest includes 15 non-Belgian competitors — from The Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Germany and the UK as well as none home rivals, and will see each perform a 30 minute programme including the set work.
Live broadcast
The adjudicators are Jan Van der Roost, Blaise Heritier and Jan de Haan, and will be broadcast live for the cost of Euro 12.50 for a full weekend of music.
Further details can be sought at: http://hafabralivestream.nl/
Tickets:
Ticket prices for the contest itself range from Euro 6 to Euro 6/19 and can be ordered from:
office@vobk.org: http://www.vobk.org/en/tickets-2/
SECTION A:
Saturday 16th: 6.00pm
Competing Bands:
Brassband Schoonhoven A
Brassband Buizingen
Brassband de Waldsang
Brassband Heist
Festival Brassband
Oberaargauer Brass Band
YBB NRW
The top flight set-work is entitled 'Behind the Curtain' by Ludovic Neurohr, and was commissioned by the VOBK for the 2016 Championship.
The work explores the moments before the entry on stage — ie. behind the curtain. There is stress, excitement, hesitation, confidence and apprehension — final thoughts flicking between colour, balance, technique and musicality. Those thoughts end as the band finally walks onto the stage to perform.
SECTION B:
Sunday 17th: 2.00pm
Brass Band Sursilvana
Brassband De Spijkerpakkenband Opsterland e.o.
Brassband Merum
Brassband Scaldis
Mercator Brass Band
The set-work is also a new commission from composer Johan Evenepoel, entitled 'Log Out'.
SECTION C:
Saturday 16th: Noon
Brass Band De Bazuin B Oenkerk
Brass Band Constantijn Huygens
Brass Band David Zwolle
Burgermusik Untereggen
Brass Band Gloria Dei
Royal Brass Band 'De Grensbewoners' Smeermaas
Namur Wallonia Brass Band
Youth Brass Band of Upper Austria
The set-work 'Light' by composer Fredrick Schjelderup.
SECTION D:
Sunday 17th: 10.30am
Brassband Harp en Luit (NL)
Brassband Leest (BE)
Brassband Lembeek (BE)
Coppull & Standish (UK)
The set-work is a newly commissioned piece by Stan Nieuwenhuis, entitled 'Ouverture Noire', which explores a world of fear, chaos and sadness after the terrorist attacks in Paris 2015.
