The French Open Championships have been taking place in the beautiful Loire Valley town of Amboise, where the sun blazed down for the contest and the rain poured down during the Gala Concert with a spectacular light show of a thunderstorm!

Winning performance

There was a remarkable winning performance of the set work, ‘Journey to the Centre of the Earth’ from 2012 French National Champion, Paris Brass Band under the direction of Florent Didier to claim the title.

The band’s principal euphonium Bastien Baument thrilled the audience with a stunning performance of Philip Sparke's ‘Harlequin’, to take the Solo Award Bastien, whilst the winners showed its all round strength by also taking the honours in the march contest — a first for a French band.

The day concluded with a superb gala concert by Cory under guest conductor David Childs.

A report will follow.

Championship Division:
Set Work: Journey to the Centre of the Earth (P. Graham)

1. Paris Brass Band (Florent Didier) — 118.50pts
2. Lockwood Brass (John Roberts)

Prix du Meilleur Soloist Prize: Bastien Baumet (euphonium) — Paris Brass Band

First Division:
Set Work: Reformers(Philip Wilby)

1. MG Reiden (Reto Naf)

Second Division:
Set Work: Evolution (P. Sparke)

1. Veluwe Brass Band (Vincent Verhage)
2. Brass Band A Tout Vent (William Houssoy)

Third Division:
Set Work: Oceans (G. Richards)

1. Brass Band de la Gorgue (Remy Lecomte)

Fourth Division:
Set Work: Variations on Laudate Dominum (E. Gregson)

1. Brass Band Junior du CRR de Tours