Glen van Looy, the Principal Euphonium with Brass Band Heist has told 4BR of how shocked he is to have won the British Open Solo title on Sunday.

'I can't believe it. I've competed here before in the Intermediate Section where I came third last year and it'd the first time in the Senior Finals and I really can't believe it. I just wanted to give a good account of myself todayGlen van Looy

Can't believe it

Glen, 17, who also plays with Festival Brass said 'I can't believe it. I've competed here before in the Intermediate Section where I came third last year and it'd the first time in the Senior Finals and I really can't believe it. I just wanted to give a good account of myself today'.

Choice of piece

Talking about his choice of piece for the final, Concerto Per Flicorno Basso by Ponchielli, Glen said 'I heard Katrina Marzella play the piece last year at this contest and i've heard it on CD and I thought the style of the piece would suit me. It's a beautiful piece and it was an instinctive thing to play it here at the contest. I've never played it before on the contesting stage, but I went with it. For the preliminaries I knew I was limited to around 7 minutes playing time and I was happy with how it went and tonight I just relaxed'.

Long journey

Whilst trying to take in that he had won the title, Glen had other things on his mind, the journey home. He along with colleagues had a drive to Dover to catch the ferry and then there was a three hour drive once they'd reached Calais.

The future

Glen told 4BR he had been playing the euphonium for around ten years and on the horizon is the Belgium Championships. Glen now has the opportunity as the British Open Solo Champion to compete at the Ern Keller International Soloist Competition in Sydney, Australia next February. One thing is for certain, he'll make the journey back to the UK next year to defend the title he has won which he says is simply 'beyond my wildest dreams'.