French National Champion, Hauts-de-France gained a timely competitive boost of confidence ahead of their forthcoming appearance at the European Championships in Birmingham, by claiming the honours at the 8th Flemish Open in Mechelen.

Directed by Luc Vertommen they secured single point victory over rivals and multiple Belgian National Champion, Brass Band Willebroek, with fellow Belgian challengers Festival Brass Band in third.

Fourth place went to Brassband Heist who performed under Michel Leveugle after conductor Bert van Thienen was unable to participate due to Covid-19.

Very happy

The French champion performed the set-work, 'Goldhorn' by Simon Van Hoecke, their own-choice work to be used at the forthcoming European Championships and Howard Snell's arrangement of Darius Milhaud's 'Brazilieria' from 'Scaramouche'.

Speaking about their success on their Facebook page they said that they were "very happy"to have won the title for the second time.

Despite not heading to Birmingham for the European Championship themselves, Brass Band Willebroek provided stiff opposition to the champion, as Frans Violet led them in a programme that in addition to the set-work, included a fine rendition of 'Other Lives' by Oliver Waespi as well as the upbeat 'Opening Night in Las Vegas' by Reig Gilje.

Third placed Festival Brass Band was directed by Katrrina Marzella Wheeler and as well as their own-choice major work of 'Heroes' by Bruce Broughton featured a wonderful baritone soloist in Leen Vandenhende playing 'Elena' by Nick Van Elsen.

Impressive Young Willebroek

The impressive Young Brass Willebroek led by Lode Violet, and sporting six trombones and four tenor horns in their line-up secured the B Division title in style.

A polished programme of the set-work, 'The Spider's Web' by British composer Mike Sheppard as well as a brace of works by Stijn Aertgeerts of 'Hope' and his major composition 'Bipolar' gave them a clear four point margin of victory over nearest rival Mercator Brass Band, with Brass Band Bacchus in third.

Austrian success

The competition welcomed bands from four different nations, and it was the talented young Austrians of Jugendbrassband Oberösterreich conducted by Karl Geroldinger that secured a clear victory in the C Division.

Their winning programme included fine accounts of the set-work, 'Gala Overture' by Steven Verhelst and 'Toccata E Fantasia' by Thomas Doss as well as 'Pulse' featuring their outstanding baritone soloist and former European Solo Champion Felix Geroldinger.

Lode Violet made it a conducting 'double' as he led Brass Band Leest to the D Division title with a set that included the opener 'Mita' by Lennert Van Laenen, the set-work, 'Echo' by Nick Van Elsen and 'The Baltic Way' by Jan de Haan.

Speaking about their success on their Facebook page they said that they were "very happy" to have won the title for the second time4BR

Results:
A Division:
Adjudicators: Blaise Heritier; Ben Haemhouts; Karl Ole Midtbø

1. Hauts de France Brass Band (Luc Vertommen): 97pts
2. Brass Band Willebroek (Frans Violet): 96pts
3. Festival Brass Band (Katrina Marzella Wheeler): 93pts
4. Brass Band Heist (Michel Leveugle): 89pts

Best Set Work: Hauts de France Brass Band

B Division:
Adjudicators: Blaise Heritier; Ben Haemhouts; Karl Ole Midtbø

1. Young Brass Band Willebroek (Lode Violet): 96pts
2. Mercator Brass Band (Johan De Win): 92pts
3. Brass Band Bacchus (Bart Van Neyghem): 89pts

Best Set Work: Young Brass Band Willebroek

C Division:
Adjudicators: Blaise Heritier; Ben Haemhouts; Karl Ole Midtbø

1. Jugendbrassband Oberösterreich (Karl Geroldinger): 92pts
2. Brass Band David Zwolle (Wilbert Zwier): 89pts

Best Set Work: Jugendbrassband Oberösterreich

D Division:
Adjudicators: Blaise Heritier; Ben Haemhouts; Karl Ole Midtbø

1. Brass Band Leest (Lode Violet): 91pts
2. United Brass (Frank Vantroyen): 84pts
3. Brass Band Lembeek (Hans Goris): 83pts
4. Brass Band de Thudinie (Jacques Clippe): 81pts

Best Set Work: Brass Band Leest