Big Losses for Euro

European Brass Band Championships announce big losses

The European Brass Band Association has released details to 4BarsRest that confirm that last years European Championships in Montreux in Switzerland made large financial losses of around 11,500 Euros (about £7500).

The latest press release from the organisation states that they feel that the losses were primarily caused by the lack of ticket sales for the Celebration Gala Concert held before the announcement of the results on the Saturday evening, and they further state that they feel it is the responsibility of bandspeople to try and support the championships by purchasing tickets for these events.

Further details of the 25th Championships to be held in Brussels, plus details of the new registration rules for the contest and the 2nd European Young Composers Competition can be found on the EBBA website: www.pskpba.be or www.brass.ch/­ebba or www.ebbc2002.be .

The Press Release regarding the losses incurred at Montreux reads as follows:

The European Brass Band Association is disappointed to report a loss of around EUR 11'500 at this year’s European Brass Band Championships at the Montreux festival. This is in sharp contrast to the EUR 11'500 profit made at the Birmingham festival in 2000, although funding was received from the UK Millennium Commission. EBBA see the reason for losses, recorded at Montreux and Munich, due to the last two to three hundred tickets not been sold at the Celebration Gala Concerts held before the results ceremonies. Even though they receive a certain amount of sponsorship from Boosey & Hawkes and other organisations, ticket sales are essential income to cover massive running costs for both the organisers and bands. In particular, costs to hire the most prestigious concert halls in Europe and continue to develop the contest and other fringe events of the festival. The Gala concert is the prime opportunity for brass bands to raise their profile and widen their appeal to the public at large, as tickets are available to everyone. If bandspeople wish to continue to play at the best halls around Europe, then they must try and support their National and European Championships and gala concerts.

Each festival features top brass entertainment at the gala concerts to provide an exciting build-up to the announcement of results at the championships, and are an integral part of the Festival. The Swiss Army Central Band wowed the audience in Montreux this year with renditions of ‘When the Saints Go Marching In’ and ‘Rocky’, whilst moving around the stage to an immaculately choreographed routine! Brussels in 2002 promises to continue with the high standard of entertainment at it’s gala performance—details to follow!

If you would like to speak to the European Brass Band Association about any of the issues in this press release, please contact Mrs Nelly Unternaehrer, EBBA Secretary, Pfistergasse 21, CH 6003 Luzern, Switzerland. Tel/Fax: 0041 (0) 41 240 79 60 E-mail: or to Markus S. Bach, EBBA president, E-mail:

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