Report & Result: 2025 European Conductor Competition

Jaap Musschenga of The Netherlands wins the first European title of the weekend in Stavanger.

34 year old Jaap Musschenga from the Netherlands claimed the first title of the 2025 European Championships in Stavanger as he was crowned the 8th Conductor Competition winner.

His impressively controlled direction of Stavanger Band on Kjetil Djonne's major test -piece 'Catharsis', (used as the top section set-work at the 2025 Norwegian Championships) secured the first prize of 2,500 Euro, made up of 1,500 Euro in cash plus 1,000 worth of sponsorship towards further study and development.

It not only found favour with the judges Allan Withington, Michael Bach and Russell Gray, but also with the players of the band who voted him their winner of the 500 Euro 'Band Prize'.

Memorable weekend

It rounded off a memorable week for the conductor of the Dutch Championship Section De Bazuin Oenkerk Band after coming through an initial preliminary process of 31 European-wide competitors to head to Stavanger for three rounds of competition.

That saw him conduct Sola Brass to get through to the semi-final where he directed the Insimul Chamber Ensemble to reach the final.

Supportive

The first people he told the news to was his family who supported his decision to enter the competition.

"I've just told them and they are all so excited," he said as he held the trophy in his grasp.

"My wife has been so supportive of me after I made the decision to enter, and I've two young children who are now looking forward to seeing me come home with the prize!"

He added: "I've conducted De Bazuin Oenkerk for four years and am fortunate to direct other bands, but I wanted this experience to test myself further as a conductor.

The standard has been amazing and I was very pleased to be asked to come to Stavanger to compete, and then after seeing the others conductors in action, thrilled that I managed to get through to the semi final."

Fantastic conductors

He added: "To get through to the final and then win was beyond my expectations, as both Eline and Roel are fantastic conductors.

'Catharisis' was a great piece to work on with such a fine band and they responded to everything I asked for — it was a pleasure to conduct Stavanger as well as the other ensembles in the earlier rounds.

Now I will have a little celebration and then go home to my family and start back with rehearsals with my band. I have so much to thank them all for their support."

Jaap now joins Jose-Raphael Pascual, Jesper Juul Sorensen, Christian Radner, Mathias Wehr, Erik van der Kolk, Kalle Kuusava and Carlos Alberto Ramon-Perez as the winner of the competition.

Beneficial experience

For runner-up Eline Storheim, the future will also hopefully include a great deal of brass band conducting too, as the 26 year old from Manger won a prize package of cash and study worth 1,500 Euro, with her clearly defined direction of 'Lowry Sketchbook'.

Her engaging direction saw her add a further 500 Euros by winning the 'Audience Vote' prize.

She later told 4BR that entering the competition had been a hugely beneficial experience. "It has been so good for me as a conductor. I've just finished my Masters in conducting in Oslo and want to work as a freelance conductor — and hopefully with many more brass bands. They offer so many exciting possibilities."

New avenues

That sentiment was shared by 26 year old Roel Laethem from Belgium who is already enjoying working with five different ensembles each week.

Having worked under Ivan Meylemans in his studies, he also wishes to expand his brass band horizons further. "He told me to enter and I'm so glad he did," he said. "This competition has really opened a new musical avenue for me to explore further."

Having conducted 'Fraternity', he was awarded a 1,250 Euro prize of cash and study, whilst all three conductors will now be given the opportunity to work with Cory conductor Philip Harper as an extra addition to their prizes.

With a sizeable audience making their way to the Fartein Valen Hall, the competitive action was supplemented in the second half by an uplifting concert from the European Youth Brass Band conducted by Margie S Antrobus.

My wife has been so supportive of me after I made the decision to enter, and I've two young children who are now looking forward to seeing me come home with the prize!Jaap