The line-up of bands that will proudly represent their nations at the 2017 European Brass Band Championships in Ostend have been announced.

Extras

Due to the lack of representatives from Scotland and Sweden, and in line with its current Rules 7a and 7e, EBBA has invited Brass Band Willebroek to compete as the second home nation band at the Championship event.

Wales will also have two representatives with defending champion Cory returning alongside Welsh champion Tredegar, to complete a line-up that is perhaps one of the strongest ever in the event's history.

Challenge Section

Six bands will perform in the Challenge Section this year with participants from Northern Ireland, Belgium, Germany, Scotland, Italy and Lithuania.

Youth Sections

The European Youth Championships, which round off the festival on the Sunday will see four bands compete in the Premier Section, led by Belgian's defending champion Young Brass Band Willebroek, whilst six bands take part in the Development Section headed by returning champions, Tertnes Skoles Musikkorps from Norway.

Tickets for the various events can be sought via www.ebbc2017.be

Please note that some events are already sold out.

Due to the lack of representatives from Scotland and Sweden, and in line with its current Rules 7a and 7e, EBBA has invited Brass Band Willebroek to compete as the second home nation band at the Championship event4BR

Participating Bands:

Championship Section:

3BA Concert Band: (Thomas Ludescher) — Germany
Brass Band Buizingen: (Luc Vertommen) — Belgium
Brass Band Oberosterreich: (Erik Janssen) — Austria
Brass Band Schoonhoven: (Ivan Meylemans) — Netherlands
Brass Band Willebroek: (Frans Violet) — Belgium
Brighouse & Rastrick Band: (Prof. David King) — England
Concord Brass Band: (Jesper Juul Windahl) — Denmark
Cory Band: (Defending Champion) (Philip Harper) — Wales
Eikanger-Bjørsvik Musikklag: (Ingar H. Bergby) — Norway
Paris Brass Band: (Florent Didier) — France
Tredegar Town Band: (Ian Porthouse) — Wales
Valaisia Brass Band: (Arsene Duc) — Switzerland

Challenge Section:

1st Old Boys Band: (Stephen Cairns)- (Northern Ireland)
Brass Band Panta Rhei: (Tim de Maeseneer)- (Belgium)
Brass Band Regensburg: (Christine Hartmann) — (Germany)
Coalburn Silver Band: (Gareth Bowamn) — (Scotland)
Italian Brass Band: (Filippo Cangiamila) — (Italy)
Sunday Brass: (Tadas Sileika) — (Lithuania)

Premier Section:

Youth Brass 2000: (Chris Jeans) — (England)
Swedish Youth Brass Band: (Berit Palmquist) — (Sweden)
Brass Band Berner Oberland Junior: (Jan Muller) — (Switzerland)
Young Brass Band Willebroek: (Defending Champion) (Frans Violet) — (Belgium)

Development Section:

Aukstyn Brass: (Remigijus Vilys) — (Lithuania)
Elland Silver Youth Band: (Samantha Harrison) — (England)
Tertnes Skoles Musikkorps: (Jan Egil Jørgensen) (Defending Champion) — (Norway)
1st Old Boys Youth Band: (Jacklin Bingham) — (Northern Ireland)
Manger Skulemusikklag: (Thorgeir Thunestvedt) — (Norway)
Scottish Borders Youth Brass Band: (Alan Fernie) — (Scotland)