Norwegian champion Eikanger-Bjørsvik will head to the British Open Championship in Birmingham with two new signings in the ranks.

New signings

Cornet player Dingaan Chabalala joins the solo cornet bench from Manger Musikklag, whilst Andreas Roslund joins the percussion team.

Originally from Kimberly in South-Africa, Dingaan came to Norway to spend a year at the Toneheim Folkehøgskule as part of the South African Field Band Foundation, which has had an exchange programme with the Norwegian Band Federation for over twenty years. He later went on to study trumpet in Tromsø and later Bergen.

Meanwhile, percussionist Andreas joins the band after working with many leading orchestral ensembles such as the Swedish Chamber Orchestra and the symphony orchestras of Gothenburg, Norrkøping, Malmø and Helsingborg.

Trained as both a percussionist and violinist he has been teaching and playing for many years — roles that he will continue to undertake.

We are delighted to welcome the new signings to the band at such an exciting time, and are thrilled that we continue to attract performers literally from every corner of the banding globeViggo Bjorge

Global appeal

The latest signings mean that Eikanger now boasts a solo cornet team of five players from five different countries and three different continents, with a line-up of Stanley Westh (Denmark), Stefan Cooper (USA), Ben Hirons (England), Dingaan Chabalala (South Africa) and Arnfinn Rønneberg (Norway).

As band spokesperson Viggo Bjorge told 4BR: "We are delighted to welcome the new signings to the band at such an exciting time, and are thrilled that we continue to attract performers literally from every corner of the banding globe."