Report & Results: 2017 Aalborg Music Festival

There was a great deal of celebratory music making on show at the recent Aalborg Festival — led by top section winners Lyngby-TaarbÃ¦k and concert visitors Foden's.

A record entry of 21 bands and two ensembles took part in the recent 10th Aalborg Music Festival in Denmark.

Due to the large number of competitors in the five sections, two halls were used for the first time, whilst the growing popularity of the event was enhanced by the appearance of Foden's Band, who performed in the Gala Concert prior to the announcement of the results.

Foden's appearance

The festival also saw the first concert appearance of a special Childrens Band consisting of players from four different Danish bands. They had held their first rehearsal in April and opened a friendly Sunday concert where they were accompanied by members of the Danish National Youth Band as well as Foden's, for a performance of 'Eventide'.

There was a great deal of impressive playing on show in the various competitive events, with the difficult task of separating out the bands in their entertainment format sets undertaken by Foden's stars Mark Wilkinson, Mark Bousie, John Barber and MD Michael Fowles.

Foden's also awarded a new prize of a brand new cornet to the band the adjudication team felt had showed the 'greatest potential' — won by the delighted all-female ensemble from Brovst Pigegardes Brass Band.

The prestigious Herbert Møller Special Award was presented to Orla Juul-Pedersen, with 10 year anniversary awards going to Aalborg Brass, FDF Frederikshavn Brass, Brovst Pigegardes Brass and Vesthimmerlands Ungdomsbrass.

Lyngby victory

The main Open Section saw former Danish champion Lyngby-TaarbÃ¦k conducted by Michael Thomsen claim a deserved victory with a polished 30 minute set that included the set-work 'Glow' by Jacob Vilhelm Larsen, as well as the neatly chosen march 'The Cossack'.

Flugel player Helle Burkal Hansen took the 'Best Soloist' award for her fine rendition of the atmospheric 'Domen', whilst 'Jupiter — The Bringer of Jollity' and a new work, 'In the Middle of the Hidden' by the band's principal cornet Mikkel Amsinck gave the band a narrow one-point victory over rivals Aarhus Brass, with Det Danske Ungdoms Brass, a point further back in third.

Dania win

In the A Section there was a clear victory for Danish First Division National champion Dania Brass conducted by Dennis Aaberg Andersen, as they took a clean sweep of the honours including 'Best Conductor', 'Best Soloist', which went to principal trombone Emilie Steffensen and 'Best March' for their rendition of 'Knight Templar'.

There was a first ever victory at the event for Aalborg Brass conducted by Huw Thomas in Section B, whilst Vesthimmerlands Ungdomsbrass led by Marie Bak won Section C.

10 years

Speaking to 4BR, Festival founder, Henrik Juul-Brinkmann said: "I'm extremely proud of what we have achieved with the Aalborg Music Festival. Over 10 years we have built it from nothing to the largest and most respected festival of its kind in the country.

This year was a record in terms of the number of bands and the audience who enjoyed the event, and we are now well known around the world and already looking forward to making plans for next year's Festival."

Foden's thanks

Talking further about the impact of Foden's visit, he added: "I would like to personally thank Mark Wilkinson for his work in helping arrange the trip and making my dream to get Foden's Band to Denmark possible.

We have worked so hard to get them here, and when they walked on stage in their famous uniforms and played the first fortissimo chord of 'All Night Long' with cheering from the large and appreciative audience, it made all the effort worthwhile.

Foden's were on fantastic form and all the audience appreciated their entertaining programme."

This year was a record in terms of the number of bands and the audience who enjoyed the event, and we are now well known around the world and already looking forward to making plans for next year's FestivalHenrik Juul-Brinkmann

Results:

Open Section:

Adjudicators: Mark Wilkinson, Mark Bousie

1. Lyngby-TaarbÃ¦k (Michael Thomsen) — 95
2. Aarhus Brass (Jacob Vilhelm Larsen) — 94
3. Det Danske Ungdoms Brass (Stig Maersk) — 93
4. Nordvestjysk Brass (Lars Peder Sorensen) — 92
5. Langgaard Brass (Huw Thomas) — 91
6. Silkeborg BlÃ¦serne (Niels-Ole Bo Johansen) — 90

Best March: Lyngby-TaarbÃ¦k (The Cossack)
Best Soloist: Helle Burkal Hansen (flugel) — Lyngby TaarbÃ¦k
Best Conductor: Jacob Vilhelm Larsen (Aarhus Brass)

Section A:

Adjudicators: Michael Fowles, John Barber

1. Dania Brass (Dennis Aaberg Andersen) — 90
2. FDF Frederikshavn Brass (Anders Larsen) — 87
3. Skanderborg Brass (Erik Bjorn Lund) — 86
4. Hjørring Brass (Huw Thomas) — 85
5. Brovst Pigegardes Brass (Henrik Juul-Brinkmann) — 84 p

Best March: Dania Brass (Knight Templar)
Best Soloist: Emilie Steffensen (trombone) — Dania Brass
Best Conductor: Dennis Andersen (Dania Brass0

Section B:

Adjudicators: Mark Wilkinson, Mark Bousie

1. Aalborg Brass (Huw Thomas) — 78
2. Aalborg Garden (Henrik Juul-Brinkmann) -76
3. Hinnerup Garden Anne Mette Tilsted Hansen) -75
4. Aalborg Postorkester (Henrik Juul-Brinkmann) — 74
5. Senex Brass (Boris Kertsman) — 73
6. Greve Pigegarde (N/K) — 72

Best March: Senex Brass Band (Barnard Castle)
Best Soloist: Kathrine, Ida og Amanda (trombone) — Aalborg Garden
Best Conductor: Huw Thomas (Aalborg Brass)

Section C: