The highly successful 15 year musical partnership between conductor Ivan Meylemans (above) and Noord-Limburgse Brass Band in Belgium has ended.

Under his charismatic guidance the band rose from the lower sections to win a brace of Belgian National titles in 2010 and 2011 and go on to come runner-up at the 2012 European Championship in Rotterdam

Much more

A Band spokesperson told 4BR: "Ivan has been much more than just a conductor to us. He will forever be a part of the NLBB-family and we wish him nothing but good luck during his further musical career."

New direction

The partnership will make its last contest appearance together at the Belgian National Championships later this year, whilst it has also been announced that Dutch conductor Erik van de Kolk will take over the professional conducting duties from 1st March 2017.

The MD of current Dutch Open champion Brass Band Rijnmond was the winner of the EBBA European Conductors Competition in 2011 and has since become one of the most sought after conductors in The Netherlands.

Ivan has been much more than just a conductor to us. He will forever be a part of the NLBB-family and we wish him nothing but good luck during his further musical careerNoord-Limburgse Brass Band

Looking forward

The band spokesperson added: "We are delighted to welcome Erik to the band and look forward to this new and exciting musical partnership.

He is an exceptional conducting talent and we are delighted that he has agreed to lead us."