After many years of concerted effort and determination the German brass band movement has formed its own National Association.

Deutscher Brass Band Verband (DBBV) came into being following a meeting in Fulda on 13th of November with 11 member bands. It is the culmination of many years of hard work since an inaugural event was held in Wuerzburgn 2007 and the first official German Brass Band Championships in Ingolstadt took place the following year.

Official organiser

DBBV will now become the official organiser of the German National Brass Band Championships which will take place on a bi-annual basis, with the seventh event scheduled for the Prinzregentenbau Concert Hall in Bad Kissingen in May 2018.

For the first time in the events history it will also provide a competition for youth bands.

Services

Beside the organisation of competitions the DBBV will also offer special services to their member bands to seek links, beneficial associations and concerts and to further develop the banding movement through various youth initiatives throughout the country. The Association is now looking for sponsors who will support its work.

DBBV will now become the official organiser of the German National Brass Band Championships which will take place on a bi-annual basis4BR

New board

A spokesperson told 4BR: "Arnd Bolten from the Youth Brass Band NRW has been elected the new President, with Alexander Richter of Brass Band BlechKLANG as Vice-President and Head of the Music Commission.

Vice President and Head of the Competition Commission is Joerg Seggelke of Bayerische Brass Band Akademie and the board will completed by Nora Krueger of Youth Brass Band NRW and Dr. Johannes Leutloff of Brass Band BlechKLANG."