The Wychavon Festival of Brass has announced that its 30th anniversary event will see its first international competitor — with high hopes that others will follow.

Brass Band Regensburg from Germany will make the trip later this year to Evesham with interest also coming from other European bands that are increasingly attracted by an autumn visit to the UK.

Beacon

Over the last ten years Regensburg has become a beacon of Bavarian brass banding innovation and development and claimed third place at the 2017 European Challenge Section. Their domestic popularity has seen them attract large audiences from the region whenever they perform.

Their interest in competing at the event on Saturday 2nd November came after Wychavon Festival Chairperson, Val Trim originally contacted the band some years ago to see if she could join them for a rehearsal.

Encouraging

Since that time the band under MD, Christine Hartmann has also linked up regularly with the respected conductor Dave Lea, who was also instrumental in encouraging them to compete at Wychavon in a competition very different from that which they experience at home.

Val told 4BR: "We will be thrilled to welcome the band to Wychavon. This will be a wonderful opportunity for them to test their mettle against UK bands and to enjoy all that we have to offer.

We have already been delighted by the response of UK bands to the 2019 event, but this has added an extra dimension — and hopefully will encourage other European bands to attend. They will be guaranteed the warmest of welcomes."

We have already been delighted by the response of UK bands to the 2019 event, but this has added an extra dimensionVal Trim

Entries open

Val confirmed that Regensburg will appear by invitation in both the First and Championship Sections, although they will not be eligible for an invitation to the British Open Spring Festival Senior Trophy competition.

All bands are reminded that the competition is open for entry and that a third of the available places are already filled.

Postal and online entry forms are available at: www.festivalofbrass.co.uk