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Results: Belgian National Championship

Upset sprouts in Brussel as Festival Brass Band claim Belgian National title, as Willebroek miss out.

Festival
 

On Sunday 30th November, VLAMO, the Flemish Amateur Music Association held the Belgian National Brass Band Championships in the Royal Music Conservatoire of Brussels.

Upset

There was something of an upset in the main Championship Section contest, where reigning champion Brass Band Willebroek saw their hopes of representing the home country at the 2009 European Championships in Ostend, dashed by Festival Brass Band, conducted by Manu Mellarts.

Second band

After seven consecutive victories Willebroek, Festival Brass became only the second band this Millennia to deny the three time European Champion a domestic victory. With Noordlimburgse Brass Band coming second, it would appear that Willebroek’s hopes of an 18th appearance at the premier European event have been ended.

After seven consecutive victories Willebroek, Festival Brass became only the second band this Millennia to deny the three time European Champion a domestic victory4BR

British trio

Interestingly there was a trio of British judges for the Championship Section contest, where bands played Eric Ball’s arrangement of ‘Checkmate’.

High class contest

In what was a high class contest, with a number of fine performances from each of the six contenders they opted for the Festival Brass, who in the process not only won the a Besson Sovereign cornet, but also booked themselves a place at the European Championship.

Second placed Noordlimburgse will also take part in the Ostend event, playing the pieces entered in the 'European Composers Contest'.

First Section

In the First Section, it was the fast rising Brass Band Heist conducted by Bert Van Thienen who claimed yet another victory (their third of a successful contesting year), which means they will be promoted to the Championship Section in 2009 after their performance of the set work, ‘James Cook –Circumnavigator’ and own choice selection, ‘Golland’s ‘Concerto for Band’ gave them a clear nine point win over Brassband Zele.

Second Division

In the Second Division Brass Band Leieland conducted by Wouter Loose took the honours with two solid performances including the test piece, ‘Kaleidoscope’ and own chpoice selection, ‘Spectrum’, whilst in the Third it was Brass a Musica, Michaël Dils that claimed victory with their duo of performances that included the set work, ‘Lydian Pictures’ and ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’.

Results:

Championship Division:
1. Festival Brass Band, Manu Mellaerts — 560pts
2. Noordlimburgse Brass Band, Ivan Meylemans – 558pts
3= Brass Band Willebroek, Frans Violet – 554pts
3= Brassband Buizingen, Luc Vertommen – 554pts
5. Metropole Brass Band, Guy Audenaert – 540pts
6. Kortrijk Brass Band, Nigel Seaman – 520pts

Adjudicators: David Horsfield, Malcolm Brownbill, Paul Cosh

First Division:
1. Brass Band Heist, Bert Van Thienen – 530pts
2 Brassband Zele, Bart Van der Strieckt – 521pts

Adjudicators: Steven Pritchard-Jones, Raymond Tennant, Dirk Lautenbach

Second Division:
1. Brass Band Leieland, Wouter Loose – 517pts
2. Brassband Scaldis, Erwin Pallemans – 507pts
3. Mons St. Georges Brassband, Thiery Descamps – 470pts

Disqualified: Brassband Panta, Paul Voet

Adjudicators: Steven Pritchard-Jones, Raymond Tennant, Dirk Lautenbach

Third Division:
1. Brass a Musica, Michaël Dils – 504pts
2. Brassband Euterpe, Roland Van Buggenhout – 501pts
3. Kon. Brassband Retie, Kevin Houben – 500pts

Adjudicators: Steven Pritchard-Jones, Raymond Tennant, Dirk Lautenbach

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