On what was a busy weekend of major contest battles in Europe, Concord Brass Band reclaimed the Danish National Championship at the Lynghøjskolen venue in Svogerslev.

Their fourth victory since 2009 and first since 2013 also denied defending champion Lyngby-Taarbæk the opportunity of claiming a hat-trick of titles. Former winners Aarhus Brass Band was third.

Ostend invitation

Under the baton of Prof Jesper Juul Windahl Concord's performances of the set-work, '...Dove Descending' and their own-choice of 'Metropolis 1927' secured the narrowest of victory margins as well as the invitation to represent the nation at the 2017 European Championships in Ostend.

Victory also marked a triumphant return for their MD, as 10 years after he last conducted them in competition he inspired his players to produce a brace of high class performances — each securing 94 points from the British panel of judges Roger Webster, Owen Farr and Mike Kilroy.

Consistency the key

That level of consistency proved the key as Lyngby-Taarbæk bounced back after ending the first day in fourth place to produce a stunning rendition of 'Extreme Make-over' to very nearly pip their rivals, whilst Arhus gave a imposing rendition of 'Music of the Spheres'.

Section success

Elsewhere, Dania Brass Band claimed their first, First Division title as they followed up wins in the Second Division in 2011 and 2012 with yet another success under the direction of Dennis Aaberg Andersen, whilst Hvidovre Musikskoles Brass Band claimed their first National title success in the Third.

Victory also marked a triumphant return for their MD, as 10 years after he last conducted them in competition he inspired his players to produce a brace of high class performances4BR

Results:

Elite Division:

Adjudicators: Roger Webster, Owen Farr, Mike Kilroy, David Johnson
Set Work: …Dove Descending (Philip Wilby)

Set-Work + Own Choice = Average total

1. Concord Brass (Prof Jesper Juul Windahl): 94 + 94 = 94
2. Lyngby-Taarbæk (Chris Turner): 89.3 + 98 = 93.7
3. Aarhus Brass (Gert Skovlod Hattesen): 91.7 + 92 = 91.8
4. FDF Christianshavn Brass (Stig Mærsk): 91 + 89.7 = 90.3
5. Silkeborg Blaeserne (Prof Niels-Ole Bo Johansen): 85.7 + 91 = 88.3
6. Nordvestjysk Brass (Andras Olsen): 87.3 + 88.7 = 88

First Division:

Adjudicators: Roger Webster, Owen Farr, Mike Kilroy, Martin Reinhardt, David Johnson
Set-Work: Voyage to Worlds Unknown (Peter Graham)

1. Dania Brass Band (Dennis Aaberg Andersen): 89.2
2. Skanderborg Brass Band (Erik Bjørn Lund): 88.0
3. Svogerslev Brass Band (Steffen Mærsk): 87.7
4. Frederiksberg Brass Band (Rasmus Kærsgaard): 86.8

Third Division:

Set-Work: An English Suite (Michael Ball)
Adjudicators: Roger Webster, Lars Hastrup and Owen Farr

1. Hvidovre Musikskolens (Bo Fuglsang): 93.8
2. Brovst Pigegarde (Henrik Juul-Brinkmann): 93.0
3. Hinnerup Gardens (Anne Mette Tilsted Hansen): 88.0
4. Sønderborg Gardens (Jeppe Rasmussen): 87.2
5. Selandia Brass (Jacob Vilhelm Larsen): 86.2
6. FDF Gladsaxe (Carl Viggo Jespersen): 85.5
7. Greve Pige Garde (Christian Lykke Jensen): 82.7
8. Brass Band Da Capo (Peter Deichgräber): 79.2