The British Open Championship has announced that for the first time in its history, an invitation will be extended to a European band to compete at the oldest and most famous brass band contest in the world.
4BR has been informed that the invitation will be extended to the highest placed non-British band at this year’s European Championship event in Perth, to compete at the 2015 British Open Championship at Symphony Hall in Birmingham.
2015 invitation
A spokesperson told 4BR: "We are delighted to announce that the highest placed non-British band at this year's European Championship will receive an invitation to compete at the 2015 British Open.
The decision will not impact on the current British Open points system which determines the two bands demoted to the Grand Shield each year.
We also welcome any European band that wishes to try and qualify for the British Open through the Spring Festival contest structure.
We envisage that the European band, if they elect to accept, would participate in the contest for one year, regardless of their performance and placing, although this can be further reviewed."
Contenders
The decision will see a 2015 invitation extended to one of Eikanger Bjorsvik, Brass Band Schoonhoven, Brass Band Bugermusik Luzern, Concord Brass Band, Paris Brass Band, Brass Band Willebroek or Austrian Brass Band of the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz.
Until now, only bands from the former British Empire, Commonwealth and the United States of America have been invited to compete, with the title being won in 1924 by Newcastle Steel (Australia) and in 1953 by the National Band of New Zealand.
Status
The spokesperson added: "The European Championships feature the finest bands from the continent.
We feel that the decision to invite the highest placed European band to the British Open will add a extra dimension to the most famous brass band contest in the world as we strive to develop and enhance its status further in the coming years."
the highest placed non-British band at this year's European Championship will receive an invitation to compete at the 2015 British OpenBritish Open
Best wishes
They concluded: "We send our best wishes to all the competitors this weekend in Perth and look forward to the opportunity of welcoming another of the world's leading brass bands to Birmingham Symphony Hall in September 2015."
Further information
Further information on the British Open can be found at the following link:
