The European Brass Band Association has confirmed that the B Section Contest has been cancelled for the forthcoming Championships to be held in Oslo in May, after the organisers received just one entrant.
Future
It is now understood that EBBA will be giving serious consideration to the future of the contest which has fluctuated in numbers and quality since being set up in 1994.
EBBA President Ulf Rosenberg told 4BR: "This will be an important topic for the EBBA meetings in Oslo in May.
EBBA has agreed with a proposal initiated by the Scottish Brass Band Association, to explore the possibilities of having a European Youth Brass Band Open Contest at the 2014 event which is being held in Perth, Scotland."
Welcome news
That has come as welcome news to Andrew Duncan, SBBA Development Manager, who added: "We feel that a European Youth Brass Band Open Contest will be a positive addition to our European Festival of Brass 2014, which includes the 2014 European Brass Band Championships.
This new event will enhance brass band development throughout Europe."
Championship line up
Meanwhile, EBBA has confirmed the line up of Championship contenders for the 2013 title in Oslo, headed by defending champions Black Dyke.
Black Dyke (defending champion) — Dr Nicholas J. Childs
Leyland (England) — Michael Bach
Brass Band Fribourg (Switzerland) — Frédéric Théodoloz
Windcorp Brass (Sweden) — Alexander Hanson
Brass Band Schoonhoven (Netherlands) — Erik Janssen
Eikanger-Bjørsvik Musikklag (Norway) – Prof. David King
Paris Brass Band (France) — Florent Didier
Brass Band Oberösterreich (Austria) — Hans Gansch
Cory (Wales) — Philip Harper
Brass Band Buizingen (Belgium) — Luc Vertommen
Lyngby-Taarbæk (Denmark) — Selmer Simonsen
a day in the life of the pond from the rising sun as it bursts through the morning mists to an imaginary dance as the creatures of the forest dance into the nightComposer,Stig Nordhagen
Test piece
The test piece to be performed by the bands has been written by Norwegian Composer Stig Nordhagen and is entitled, ‘Myth Forest (Hestefallstjonn).
The 16 minute long work has been commissioned by the Norwegian Band Federation with support from the Fund for Performing Arts (Norsk Kulturrad) and is inspired by the forest found near the composer’s home, and in particular the atmosphere and feelings that are suggested by a pond that lies within it.
Pond life
The composer describes it as, ‘...a day in the life of the pond from the rising sun as it bursts through the morning mists to an imaginary dance as the creatures of the forest dance into the night.’
