European Brass Band Association President Ulf Rosenberg was one of many overseas visitors to the RNCM Brass Band Festival in Manchester on the weekend.
And with tickets for the European Championships in Montreux in Switzerland due to go on sale this weekend (Friday 1st February), he told 4BR that he had been keen to experience another of the banding world's foremost showcase events.
Brass band fan
"It was a hugely enjoyable and informative visit. As a brass band fan first and foremost it was great to hear so many top class bands play such interesting music, as well as hear world class soloists such as Ian Bousfield and David Childs perform.
It was also heartening to meet so many people from around the world who came specially to Manchester. Personally, I was very proud to see the three finalists from the 2019 European Soloist Competition perform at the festival — an innovative part of the prize packages they won in Utrecht.
2019 winner Felix Geroldinger from Austria, was so impressive performing Martin Ellerby's 'Baritone Concerto' with Brighouse & Rastrick.
Bass trombonist Lionel Fumeaux from Switzerland and tuba player Luc Geraats from The Netherlands also gave outstanding recital performances, including a world premiere of a duet work by Christian Overhead, a previous prize winner in the European Composers Competition."
My congratulations go to Festival Director Paul Hindmarsh and the RNCM for such a wonderful weekend of brass band music making — and I extend a warm invitation to everyone who was in Manchester to also make the trip to MontreuxUlf Rosenberg
Meetings
Ulf was able to mix business with pleasure and had a number of meetings, including Brass Bands England as well as bands, stakeholders, sponsors and partners that he hoped would continue to strengthen the links between British banding and their European colleagues.
"It's always good to meet up with friends and colleagues who share the same vision and hopes for the growth and success of events such as the RNCM Festival and the European Championships. Interest in both is growing and EBBA is determined to develop further progressive links to the banding movement in the UK."
He added: "My congratulations go to Festival Director Paul Hindmarsh and the RNCM for such a wonderful weekend of brass band music making — and I extend a warm invitation to everyone who was in Manchester to also make the trip to Montreux in April."
Tickets:
Tickets for the European Championships go on sale on 1st February:
Go to the appropriate link and order tickets.
