The 39th Belgian National Championships will take place at the Cultural Centre Zwaneberg in Heist-op-den-Berg this weekend, where 19 bands will compete in four divisions of competition.

The winner of the two-legged Championship Section will represent the nation at the 2018 European Championship in Utrecht by impressing the trio of international adjudicators, Mareika Gray, Nigel Boddice and Torgny Hanson.

Music

The set-work is 'Metamorphosis' by Jan de Haan, whilst the own-choice selections include , 'Apocalypse', 'Destination Moon', 'Fraternity', 'Earthrise', Handel in the Band, 'Metropolis 1927', 'Perihelion' and 'Where Angels Fly'.

The defending champion is Brass Band Buizingen who will be looking to secure a hat-trick of victories under MD Luc Vertommen.

First Division selections include, 'A London Overture', 'Brass Triumphant', 'Connotations', 'Endeavour', 'Salome' and 'Sinfonietta No. 3'. 'Renaissance' is being performed in the Second Division, with 'Cantabile', 'Darkwood', 'Firestorm' and 'Inspiration' in the Third.

New app

In a new innovation for the event, the organising body Vlamo has created a mobile phone app so that the audience can become more involved.

The First, Second and Third Division contest will take place on Saturday 25th November (starting at 10.30am), with the Championship contest the following day.

The defending champion is Brass Band Buizingen who will be looking to secure a hat-trick of victories under MD Luc Vertommen4BR

Competing bands:

Championship Division:

Set-Work: Metamorphosis (Jan de Haan)

Brass Band Heist (Bert Van Thienen)
Brass Band Leieland (Sam Werbrouck)
Brassband Buizingen (Luc Vertommen)
Brassband Willebroek (Frans Violet)
Brassband Zele (Bart Van Der Strieckt)
Festival Brass Band (Steven Verhaert)
Kortrijk Brass Band (Ward De Ketelaere)
Noord-Limburgse Brassband (Erik van de Kolk)

First Division:

Set-Work: Blackout (Thomas Doss)

Brassband Bacchus (Bart Van Neyghem)
Brassband Gent (Lieven Dobbelaere)
Brassband Panta Rhei (Tim De Maeseneer)
Brassband Scaldis (Raf Van Looveren)
Braz'Art (Geert Verschaeve)
Kon. BB de Grensbewoners Smeermaas (Danny Aerden)

Second Division:

Set-Work: Partita (Postcards from Home) (Philip Wilby)

Brassband Euterpe (Roland Van Buggenhout)

Third Division:

Set-Work: A Journey to the Bermuda Triangle (Pimpanit Karoonyavanich)

Dender Brass (Joeri Van Hove)
Mercator Brass Band (Johan De Win)
United Brass (Frank Vantroyen)
Young Brass Band Willebroek (Lode Violet)