Future destinations for the European Brass Band Championships could well include Malmo in Sweden, Stavanger in Norway, Linz in Austria and Montreux in Switzerland, after EBBA President Ulf Rosenberg revealed at the organisation's Press Conference in Lille that the cities had expressed an early interest in possibly hosting future events.

Presentations were also made at the EBBA Annual General Meeting to show the solid progress made for the hosting in Ostend in 2017, followed by Utrecht in Holland in 2018 and Palanga in Lithuania in 2019, whilst Wales announced that 'things were on track' to formally confirm their hosting of the Euro Festival in Cardiff in 2020.

Freiburg loss

Meanwhile, it was revealed that the EBBA hosted Euro Festival in Freiburg last year made a loss of approximately 20,000 Euros — although this was budgeted for. However, in the past two financial years (ending Dec 2014, and Dec 2015) the organisation lost a combined sum of just over 54,000 Euros.

Representatives from Utrecht stated that their event will be underpinned by local/regional authorities.

Besson on board

EBBAs accounts revealed that total sponsorship income in 2015 amounted to 39,500 Euros, whilst fees from member federations added another 9,360 Euros.

During his speech to the audience at the European Youth Championship on the Sunday Ulf Rosenberg announced that a new three-year agreement had been signed with Besson to once again be the main sponsor of the Championships and the organisation.

Meanwhile, at the Press Conference he added that EBBAs financial reserves remained healthy, and that future events should balance financially with appropriate support from hosting cities etc.

However, he did clarify that the announcement that the Championships had been 'sold out' for a ninth consecutive year did in fact relate only to the Saturday afternoon own-choice discipline and Gala Concert.

Actively contribute

Ulf Rosenberg also admitted that he hoped that all members countries would seek to 'actively contribute as much as possible' to working with EBBA in developing their long terms aims and objectives — which includes seeking to obtain cultural funding from appropriate European institutions.

At the EBBA Annual General Meeting the retirement of Joe Cassells as Chairman of the Music Commission, saw the unopposed election of Paul Hindmarsh from England to take over the role.

Joe was thanked for his outstanding service to EBBA over many years and was presented with a framed painting in appreciation of his dedication and commitment to the organisation. Paul Hindmarsh will now also become a member of the EBBA Executive Committee.

it was also confirmed that both Germany and Italy have become full members of EBBA, with structures in place to host formal National Championships in Bad Kissingen in Bavaria this week and in Ascoli Piceno in October4BR

Germany and Italy

Meanwhile, it was also confirmed that both Germany and Italy have become full members of EBBA, with structures in place to host formal National Championships in Bad Kissingen in Bavaria this week and in Ascoli Piceno in October.

Due the timing of their National Championship and the progress made in setting up a formally constituted body, Germany had been allowed to enter a band in the Championship Section of the 2015 and 2016 events.

This also means that representative bands from both countries can now perform in the EBBA Championship Section contest if they so wish.