The European Brass Band Association (EBBA) and Scottish Brass Band Association have announced the line-up for the new Challenge Section of the 2014 European Brass Band Championship.

New event

Replacing the old B Section contest, the new event will take place at Perth Concert Hall on Saturday 3rd May, starting at 9.00am, and will see four bands perform an own choice programme of music that will include the premiere ‘The Pilgrim’, composed by Josiah Walters.

The competitors that will take part are:

1st Old Boys Band: (Stephen Cairns) — Northern Ireland
Drogheda Brass Band: (Michael Maher) — Republic of Ireland
Brass Band Wipptal: (Martin Gruber) — Italy
Tullis Russell Mills Band: (Paul Drury) — Scotland

Fantastic return

EBBA President, Ulf Rosenberg told 4BR: "It is fantastic to see the Challenge Section return to the European Championship, and we are sure that the concept of the own choice programmes, including the specially commissioned work, ‘The Pilgrim’, will create a special event for the bands and audiences."

Changes

He added: "The contest has been renamed; changing it from the B Section to Challenge Section.

The former B Section was introduced in 1994 and its future was discussed by the EBBA Executive Committee and Music Commission during 2013, with a survey undertaken with B Section bands in the EBBA member countries.

There is strong support to have the section continue, but to slightly modify it. The organisation believes the event should challenge those countries that don’t have a well developed brass band movement or are unable to have bands qualify through a national contest.

We therefore want to enable the bands from these countries to have the opportunity of experiencing a well organised competitive environment, and to enjoy the benefits of preparing and participating in such an event, providing them with a goal to help improve their musical abilities."

Host invite

The EBBA President also confirmed that the organisation also decided to invite the host organisation, the Scottish Brass Band Association, to nominate a band to take part in the event – resulting in newly crowned Scottish Second Section champion Tullis Russell Mills Band, representing the home country.

The aim and purpose of the future European Brass Band Challenge Competition shall be to promote the values of the brass band movement across EuropeEBBA President, Ulf Rosenberg

Values

Ulf Rosenberg concluded: "The aim and purpose of the future European Brass Band Challenge Competition shall be to promote the values of the brass band movement across Europe.

We wish to develop the standards of competition performance of participating brass bands, improve the repertoire of brass band music and inspire non-EBBA member countries who wish to establish national championships, preferably within a national band organisational structure."

More information

For more information on the future system for the Challenge Section, see ebba.eu.com