Provinciale Brass Band Groningen conducted by Russell Gray has won the Euro Brass Championship for the first time in Drachten in the Netherlands on the weekend.
Strong challenge
Playing their own choice concert programme that included, ‘From Ancient Times’ by Jan van der Roost, the band beat off the strong triple Belgian challenge of reigning champion Brass Band Buizingen, Noord-Limburgse and Festival Brass Band.
Fifth place went to De Bazuin Oenkerk, whilst the prestigious solo award was won by cornet star Harmen Vanhoorne, who recently performed in the final of the European Soloist competition in Linz in Austria.
Groningen beat off the strong triple Belgian challenge of reigning champion Brass Band Buizingen, Noord-Limburgse and Festival Brass Band4BR
Narrow win
The jury consisted of Garry Cutt, Sheona White and Jan de Haan, who gave the winners a narrow two point margin to claim the first prize of a cornet worth 2,900 Euros and a possible invitation Brass in Concert in 2011.
In the B Section victory was secured by Brass Band Heman directed by Sietse Hamersma, whilst in the C Section Brass Gent took first prize under the baton of Lieven Dobbelaere.
Result:
Championship Section:
1. Provinciale Brass Band Groningen (Russell Gray) — 190
2. Brass Band Buizingen (Luc Vertommen) — 188
3. Noord-Limburgse Brass Band (Frans-Aert Burghraef) — 186
4. Festival Brass Band (Ben Haemhouts) — 182
5. De Bazuin Oenkerk (Klaas van der Woude) — 178
Best Soloist: Harmen Vanhoorne (Brass Band Buizingen)
Bass Trombone Prize: Noord-Limburgse Brass Band
B Section:
1. Brass Band Heman (Sietse Hamersma) – 186
2. Pro Rege (Siemen Hoekstra) — 182
3. De Bazuin Oenkerk (Bienze Ijlstra) — 180
4. Laksevag Musikkforening (Tom Brevik) — 178
5. Brass a Musica (Micheal Dils) — 172
6. De Lofklank (Marco Middelberg) — 170
Best Soloist: Gosse-Jan Visser (Pro Rege)
Bass Trombone Prize: Brass Band Heman
C Section:
1. Brassband Gent (Lieven Dobbelaere) — 180
2. Looft den Heer (Paulus de Jong) — 178
3. Immanuël (Wim Westerman) — 176
4. Constantijn Huygens (Richard Visser) — 174
5. Halleluja (Ido Gerard Kempenaar) — 168
6. Apollo (Piet Visser) — 166
7. Backum Brass (Willem van Koo) — 164
Best Soloist: Francis Impens (Brass Band Gent) (horn)
Bass Trombone Prize: Brass Band Gent
Best programme: Looft den Heer
Further information:
