The European Brass Band Association has confirmed that 17 bands will compete for the Championship and Challenge Section titles at its 41st Championship event to be held in Utrecht.

Elite contenders

12 bands from eleven countries will take part in the elite competition at the TivoliVredenburg on the weekend of the 5th/6th May, with Norway represented by defending champion Eikanger Bjorsvik and Stavanger.

There will be a debut top flight appearance for former B Section winners Brass Band Froschl Hall from Austria, whilst the home nation is represented for a 20th time by De Wâldsang.

British hopes of returning the famous European trophy to the UK rest with Cory, making an 18th consecutive appearance, Fairey and Whitburn. The European representation is completed by Valaisia (Switzerland), Hauts-de-France (France), 3BA Concert Band (Germany), Brass Band Willebroek (Belgium) and Concord Brass Band (Denmark).

Challenge Section

Meanwhile, five bands will take part in the Challenge Section. The Italian Brass Band will defend its title against rivals from Germany, Sweden, Lithuania and Northern Ireland.

EBBA President Ulf Rosenberg stated: "It's great to see that the brass band movement in Europe is still developing with new bands coming in the Challenge Section.

Further on, we are proud to have such a strong line-up in the Championship Section and we are looking forward to all the performances."

European Youth Championship

On the Sunday (6th May) the 5th European Youth Brass Band Contest will see four bands in the Development Section and five in the Premier Section.

With Young Brass Band Willebroek not defending its titles, there will be a brand new name on the trophy in the Premier Section, whilst the event sees debutant entries with Tasta Skolekorps from Norway, Catch Bassin Brass Band from Austria and Seindorf Beaumaris Youth Brass Band from Wales.

It's great to see that the brass band movement in Europe is still developing with new bands coming in the Challenge SectionEBBA President, Ulf Rosenberg

Championship Section:

3BA Concert Band (Thomas Ludescher) — Germany
Brass Band Froschl Hall (Corsin Tuor) — Austria
Brass Band Willebroek (Frans Violet) — Belgium
Concord Brass Band (Jesper Juul Windahl) — Denmark
Cory (Philip Harper) — Wales
De Waldsang (Rieks van der Velde) — Netherlands
Eikanger Bjorsvik Musikklag (Ingar H. Bergby) — Norway
Fairey Band (Garry Cutt) — England
Hauts-de-France (Luc Vertommen) — France
Stavanger (Allan Withington) — Norway
Valaisia (Arsene Duc) — Switzerland
Whitburn (Prof Nicholas Childs) — Scotland

Challenge Section:

Badische Brass Band (Dominik M. Koch) — Germany
Göta Brass (Michael Thomsen) — Sweden
Italian Brass Band (Filippo Cangiamila) — Italy
Laganvale (Metal Technology) (Stephen Crook) — Northern Ireland
Sunday Brass (Tadas Sileika) — Lithuania

European Youth Brass Band Contest:

Development Section:

Brass Band Aukstyn (Piet Visser) — Lithuania
Elland Silver Youth Band (Samantha Harrison) — England
Tasta Skolekorps (Morten Ovrebekk) — Norway
Wardle Academy Youth (Lee Rigg) — England

Premier Section:

Brass Band Berner Oberland Junior (Jan Muller) — Switzerland
Catch Bassin Brass (Andreas Lackner) — Austria
Danish Youth Brass Band (Stig Maersk) — Denmark
Seindorf Beaumaris Youth (Gwyn M. Evans) — Wales
Youth Brass 2000 (Chris Jeans) — England