The 15th Aalborg Music Festival returned this year endorsed by a visit from the Danish Minister of Culture.

Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen presented the prestigious Herbert Møller Award to Michelle Søndergaard Knudsen in recognition of her outstanding work inspiring youngsters to start playing brass instruments, as well as for her leadership, conducting and association with the National Youth Band of Denmark.

Wonderful return

The competitive element of the festival saw 16 bands take to the stage in the four sections, whilst the event was rounded off with a splendid Gala Concert featuring Eikanger Bjorsvik Band.

Speaking about the festival, organiser Henrik Juul-Brinkmann told 4BR: "It has been wonderful to return to contesting in this way and it was a dream come true to have Eikanger playing on the AaMuk stage".

Open Section:

The Open Section saw victory go to Arhus Brass Band conducted by Anne Mette Tilsted Hansen, who pipped Norwegian visitors Rong Brass, with Nordvestjysk Brass Band in third.

It saw Ã…rhus reclaim the title they last won in 2016 with an inventive entertainment set that opened with Paul Lovatt-Cooper's 'Enter the Galaxies'.

They then moved into Simon Dobson's arrangement of 'Mysterious Voices of Bulgaria' by Krassimir Kiurkchiiski and the classic march 'O.R.B' by Charles Anderson, before finishing with the more modern sounds of a 'Backstreet Boys Medley' arranged by Sofie Brems.

Speaking about their success on their Facebook page they said: "We are insanely happy and proud!"

Following the success, the band took part in their local Arhus 'Pride' parade celebrating inclusivity and diversity within their community.

Rong Brass certainly pushed them close, as MD David Morton took the 'Best Conductor' prize and flugel horn player Kine Oen being awarded the 'Best Soloist' accolade.

Section A:

In Section A victory went to Aalborg Postorkester conducted by Henrik Juul-Brinkmann who also added the 'Best Conductor' award to the haul of silverware.

The current Danish Second Division National Champion made it a 'double' by claiming their first Section A title at the event with a set that opened with 'Festival March — Motivation' by William Himes to take the 'Best March' prize,

They followed it by 'I Can Think of Him' by Joy Webb, 'Under the Boardwalk' arranged by Philip Harper featuring flugel soloist Orla Juul-Pedersen, before closing with PLC's 'Wall of Sound'.

In a closely matched tussle for the honours, defending champion Hinnerup Garden led by Anne Mette Hansen was second with 2015 winner Skanderborg Brass Band in third.

B Section:

Hjemmevaernets Musikkorps — Syd conducted by Morten Hoite claimed their first ever B Section title off the number 1 draw.

They opened their set with 'Majestic Prelude' by Jacob De Haan, before moving through 'Brass Band Syd's Jubilaeumsmarch' and the soprano solo 'Flowerdale' played by Morten Pedersen. 'Danmark nu blunder den lyse nat', 'Jesus Loves Me' and 'Wonderful Copenhagen' rounded things off as they claimed the title by a point from rival Hjørring Brass Band.

They in turn won the 'Best March' award for 'Ayr Citadel' whilst their fine trombone player Michael Rebild Højen took the 'Best Soloist' award. Henrik Juul-Brinkmann of Jammerbugt Garden claimed his second 'Best Conductor' accolade of the contest weekend.

C Section:

There was a clear C Section victory for the reigning Danish Third Section National Champion Peder Most Garden conducted by Helle Christiansen.

Their programme included the upbeat soprano solo 'Live and Let Die' played by soprano Mikael Kielsgaard Dziegiel Sørensen, as well as music form the film 'Nine to Five', 'The New Recruit', 'Solen er sa rød mor' and 'Party i provinsen' which included music by pop stars such as Huey Lewis and the News, Whitney Houston and the Pointer Sisters.

It has been wonderful to return to contesting in this way and it was a dream come true to have Eikanger playing on the AaMuk stageHenrik Juul-Brinkmann

Results:
Open Section:

Adjudicators: Reid Gilje; Martin Winter
1. Arhus Brass Band (Anne Mette Hansen): 96
2. Rong Brass (David Morton): 95
3. Nordvestjysk Brass Band (Huw Thomas): 93

Best March: Arhus Brass Band
Best Soloist: Kine Oen (flugel) — Rong Brass
Best Conductor: David Morton (Rong Brass)

Section A:

Adjudicators: Reid Gilje; Martin Winter

1. Aalborg Postorkester (Henrik Juul-Brinkmann): 89
2. Hinnerup Garden (Anne Mette Hansen): 87
3. Skanderborg Brass Band (Gert Skovlod): 85
4. Frederiksberg Brass Band (Mikkel Amsinck): 84
5. Flyverhjemmevaernets Musikkorps (Thomas Hylgaard): 82

Best March: Aalborg Postorkester
Best Soloist: N/K (cornet) — Flyverhjemmeværnets Musikkorps
Best Conductor: Henrik Juul-Brinkmann (Aalborg Postorkester)

Section B:

Adjudicators: Henning Anundsen; Sebastian Lamberg Torjusen

1. Hjemmevaernets Brass Band — Syd (Morten Høite): 75
2. Hjørring Brass Band (Marie Bak): 74
3. Jammerbugt Garden (Henrik Juul-Brinkmann): 73
4. Aalborg Brass Band (LP Sørensen): 72

Best March: Hjørring Brass Band
Best Soloist: Michael Rebild Højen (trombone) — Hjørring Brass Band
Best Conductor: Henrik Juul-Brinkmann (Jammerbugt Garden)
Boblerprisen: Jammerbugt Garden
Spirerprisen: Jammerbugt Garden

Section C:

Adjudicators: Henning Anundsen; Sebastian Lamberg Torjusen

1. Peder Most Garden (Helle Christiansen): 70
2. Sejs Blaeserne (Jan Nørgaard): 67
3. Aalborg Garden (Anders Larsen): 66
4. Hinnerup Gardens Juniorband (Michelle Knudsen): 65

Best March: Aalborg Garden
Best soloist: Michal Frumer (Sejs Blaeserne)
Best Conductor: Helle Christiansen (Peder Most Garden)
Boblerpris: Hinnerup Gardens Juniorband