Former European champion Manger Musikklag has claimed the 8,000 Euro first prize on offer at the International Brass Band Contest at the Lemmensinstituut in Leuven in Belgium on the weekend.

Challenge

Conducted by Martin Winter, the Norwegians beat off the challenge of local favourites Nord- Limburgse, with the rising stars of Belgian banding, Brass Band Heist in third. Another former European champion, Brass Band Willebroek was fourth just ahead of British contenders Redbridge Brass and Brass Band Buizingen.

The innovative adjudication process saw no less than nine judges — Philip Sparke, Andrew Warriner, Ray Farr, Gavin Pritchard, Manu Mellaerts, Benny Wiame, Gareth Pritchard, Jacob Dijkstra and Garry Cutt give their opinions and marks on each performance with the highest and lowest score discounted to gain the aggregate result.

Set work and own choice

Manger performed the set work, ‘Ruslan & Lyudmilla’, which won then best test piece performance prize, as well as their own choice test piece selections of ‘Concerto for Brass Band’ by Derek Bourgeois and ‘Cantigas’ by Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen and their soloist performance.

The band also claimed the prize for the best percussion section.

Limburgse meanwhile added ‘Audivi Media Nocte’ and ‘Old Blues Licked Up’ to their set work, with Brass Band Heist playing ‘Spiriti’ and ‘Energy’.

The main solo prize was won by Harman Vanhoorne of Brass Band Buizingen

Lower Division winners

The Lower Division Championship saw Young Brass Band Willebroek claim the 3,500 Euro first prize on the set work ‘Ad Optimum’ and their own choice selections.

A more comprehensive report will feature later today on 4BR.

Result:

1. Manger Musikklag (Martin Winter)- 93.86 + 94.57 = 94.21%
2. Nord Limburgse (Ivan Meylemanns) — 92.85 + 91.14 = 91.99%
3. Brass Band Heist (Bert Van Theinen) — 92.71 + 91.00 = 91.85%
4. Brass Band Willebroek (Frans Violet)- 92.28 + 90.71 = 91.49%
5. Redbridge Brass (Jeremy Wise) — 92.71 + 89.28 = 90.99%
6. Brass Band Buizingen (Luc Vertommen) — 88.57 + 92.30 = 90.50%
7. Oslo Brass (N/K) — 89.28 + 90.28 = 89.78%
8. East London Brass (Jayne Murrill) — 86.57 + 88.00 = 87.28%

Best Soloist: Harmen Van Hoorne (Brass Band Buizingen)
Best performance of set work: Manger Musikklag
Best Percussion: Manger Musikklag

Lower Division:

1. Young Brass Band Willebroek
2. Ensemble de Cuivre la Covatte
3. Jersey Premier Brass

Best Soloist: Lode Violet (Young Brass Band Willebroek)
Best test piece: Young Brass Band Willebroek
Best percussion: Young Brass Band Willebroek