The European Brass Band Association has disclosed that after technical accounting amendments, the organisation ended 2016 by making a small profit of around 8,000 Euros. However, its losses for the year ending December 2015 were also revised upwards to over 45,000 Euros.

Reserves

It is the first time since 2013 that EBBA has recorded a profit on its activities, although it was noted during its Annual General Meeting that they did take on the responsibility of running and financing the 2015 Championships event in Freiburg.

Bank reserves, which according to EBBA President Ulf Rosenberg (above), were to protect against what he called 'a rainy day', remain at close to 100,000 Euros.

It was also revealed that the budget for the 2017 event in Utrecht in The Netherlands has been set at just over 61,000 Euros — a figure that will be financed by over 30,000 Euros of projected sponsorship monies — an increase from 2016.

Upbeat report

An upbeat Annual Report was presented by Ulf Rosenberg, whilst the annual accounts were presented by EBBA Auditor Nigel Morgan, who outlined the reasons behind the accounting amendments.

There was also a detailed presentation made on the progress for the 2017 Championships in Utrecht by event organisers Zimihc.

All main structures were now in place — from logistics and event production personnel to hotel links and PR. The contest will be held in two halls at the impressive TivoliVredenburg auditorium, home to the Dutch National Championships.

Meanwhile, EBBA hoped that a contract for the 2019 event in Lithuania will be signed in the next month or so following a final visit to approve the hall and local infrastructure in Palanga, whilst a contract for Wales in 2020, where EBBA had been told that 'optimistic progress was being made', could be signed later in the year.

It was also revealed that the budget for the 2017 event in Utrecht in The Netherlands has been set at just over 61,000 Euros — a figure that will be financed by over 30,000 Euros of projected sponsorship monies4BR

Formal interest

It was noted however that if neither event could be confirmed, formal hosting interest had already been expressed by Stavanger, Malmo, Linz, Montreux and more recently, Perth.

With no annual elections to the EBBA Executive, the only new appointment came through the retirement of the highly respected EBB Treasurer Raf Anseeuw, with by John Woods elected to take on the role.