*
banner

National focus falls on Utrecht

34 bands will compete at the Netherlands National Brass Band Championships in Utrecht this weekend — and 4BR will be there to bring you the action.

Utrecht
  The Netherlands National Championships take place this weekend.

34 bands will take to the stage at the TivoliVredenburg concert hall in Utrecht this weekend for the 37th Netherlands National Brass Band Championships.

Euro host

The host venue for the 2018 European Championships should be packed for the action which starts on Friday afternoon (27th October) with the six bands competing in the Fourth Division. The set work is 'Purcellian Fantasia' by Jan de Haan.

They will be followed later in the evening by the five bands in the Third Division performing another brand new work, 'A Journey to the Bermuda Triangle' by Pimpanit Karoonyavanich.

Saturday sees nine bands tackle Stephen Bulla's evocative 'Frontier Vision' in the Second Division, followed by the four rivals in the First Division performing the equally descriptive 'Stonehenge' by Jan Van der Roost.

National honour

The Championship Division comprises ten bands, led by defending champion Brassband Schoonhoven in hoping to claim the 1500 Euro first prize and the honour of representing the home nation at the European Championships back in Utrecht in six months time. The set work is Kenneth Downie's 'Handel in the Band'.

4BR is making the trip alongside Goldy Solutions Ian Clowes to cover the action as it happens.

The Championship Division comprises ten bands, led by defending champion Brassband Schoonhoven, hoping to represent the home nation at the European Championships back in Utrecht in six months time4BR

Championship Division:


Set Work: Handel in the Band (Kenneth Downie)
Saturday: 28th October
Adjudicators: Garry Cutt, Florent Didier, Jan Van der Roost

Altena Brass (Anno Appelo)
Amsterdam Brass (Pierre Volders)
Brassband Rijnmond (Erik van de Kolk)
Brassband Schoonhoven A (Ivan Meylemans)
De Bazuin (Klaas van der Woude)
De Waldsang (Rieks van der Velde)
ProClass Brassband Limburg (Renato Meli)
Provinciale Brassband Groningen (Richard Visser)
Soli Brass (Anne van den Berg)
Spijkerpakkenband (Erik Janssen)

First Division:


Set Work: Stonehenge (Jan Van der Roost)
Saturday 28th October
Adjudicators: Garry Cutt, Florent Didier, David Thornton

Brassband Breukelen (Syde van der Ploeg)
Excelsior (Rieks van der Velde)
Kunst naar Kracht (Erik Kluin)
Oefening en Uitspanning (Anno Appelo)

Second Division:


Set Work: Frontier Vision (Stephen Bulla)
Saturday 28th October
Adjudicators: John Doyle, Durk Lautenbach, Jan Van der Roost

Brassband Amersfoort (Vincent Verhage)
Brassband Schoonhoven B (Robbert Vos)
Constantijn Huygens (Richard Visser)
David (Wilbert Zwier)
De Bazuin B (Sietse Hamersma)
De Lofklank (Gerk Huisma)
Excelsior (Herman Sibma)
Gloria Dei (Jaap Musschenga)
Martini Brassband (Rieks van der Velde

Third Division:


Set Work: A Journey to the Bermuda Triangle (Pimpanit Karoonyavanich)
Friday 27th October
Adjudicators: John Doyle, Durk Lautenbach, David Thornton

Backum Brass (Vincent Verhage)
Blaast de Bazuin (Theun van Leijen)
Gereformeerde Brassband (Jan Werkman)
Greidebrass (Marco Middelberg)
Looft den Heer (Gijs Heusinkveld)

Fourth Division:


Set Work: Purcellian Fantasia (Jan de Haan)
Friday 27th October
Adjudicators: John Doyle, Durk Lautenbach, Jan Van der Roost

Blaast de Bazuin (Paulus de Jong)
Ere Zij God (Gerben Huizinga)
Euphonia Ternaard (Paulus de Jong)
Felison Brass (Patricia Geertse)
Immanuel (Jan Werkman)
Soli Deo Gloria (Sijtze van der Hoek)

Become a supporter and help make our future secure.

4barsrest continues to be a proudly independent voice. There are no paywalls to overcome to be able to enjoy what we do to keep our journalism at the heart of the brass banding world. Support us with a one-off donation or subscribe from just £2.50 per month.

Support us    


Thonrotn and Raisbeck

Iles and Mortimer Medal honours for Thornton and Raisbeck

February 14 • David Thornton and Ian Raisbeck are the recipients of the 2026 Iles Medal and Mortimer Medal.


RBC

Brass Band Day at RBC

February 13 • Spend Valentine's Day exploring your love of brass at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire — alongside Thomas Fountain, Ian Porthouse, Eric Ball and Gordon Langford.


rncm

BBC Radio 3 to feature RNCM Festival highlights

February 13 • Performances from Black Dyke, Foden's and Cory are to be featured on BBC Radio 3.


Durham Miners

Fishburn offer musical solidarity for Big Meeting

February 13 • RMT Fishburn Band will support the fund raising efforts of the famous Durham Miners Gala.


Regent Hall Concerts - Royal Greenwich Brass Band

Friday 27 February • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - Oompah Brass XXL

Friday 27 February • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - Royal Greenwich Brass Band

Sunday 1 March • St. Alfege Church. Greenwich Church Street. London SE10 9BJ


Regent Hall Concerts - London Central Fellowship Band

Saturday 7 March • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - Regent Hall Band of the Salvation Army

Tuesday 10 March • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Cambrian Brass

February 11 • We are an inclusive and hard-working brass band seeking a Percussionist on a project basis to join us for the Welsh Regional Brass Band Championships on Saturday 14 March. This is a great opportunity to perform as part of a focused and supportive team.


Cambrian Brass

February 11 • We are a friendly, inclusive and hard-working brass band, welcoming players of all ages and abilities. We are particularly keen to fill our Soprano Cornet, Flugelhorn and EEb Bass positions.


Thornton Cleveleys Band

February 10 • MD POSITION AVAILABLE AFTER NW AREA CONTEST.. A full and happy band awaits. Currently 3rd section. Confirmed entry to Fleetwood Contest. . Based in the Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde area.


Stephen Tighe

ARCM, LDBBA, (Dip)PFS.
Adjudicator / Music Director / Arranger


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd