The picturesque Loire Valley location of Amboise is getting ready to host the 27th French Open Championships.
The event takes place over the weekend of the 2nd to 4th June in the historic town with the traditional contest enhanced by a Gala Concert as well as popular outdoor events.
Varied programme
The competing contest bands will all play a varied programme which must include the set-work, whilst the Whit Friday march event takes place on Saturday morning in the town square in front of the famous Château d' Amboise.
The Championship Section bands must perform Edward Gregson's 'The World Rejoicing', whilst Gilbert Vinter's classic 'Entertainments' challenges the Second Section contenders.
'Lions of Legends' by Thierry Deleruyelle will be played in the Third Section with the combined Fourth & Youth Band competitors playing Christopher Bond's 'Neverland'.
The adjudicators Chris Jeans (Jury President) and Luc Vertommen. The march competition will be judged by Peter Collins, who will also adjudicate the outside entertainment performances in the afternoon.
Kick off
The weekend commences on the Friday evening (6.30pm) with a welcoming ceremony for all the bands at the Château d' Amboise, where the draw will take place for the competition and a mini concert performed by the Amersfoort Band from the Netherlands.
The following day (9.00am) the Beaumarchais Theatre will host the main contests, whilst bands will also perform their marches from 10.30am in the Michel Debre Place before marching up to Château d' Amboise.
In the afternoon all the bands will perform their entertainment programmes from 1.45pm till 7.30pm outside before the Gala Concert (9.000pm) will be given the Hammonds Band conducted by Morgan Griffith before the announcement of the results.
Sunday sees a festival of brass event take place from 11.30am in front of the Château d' Amboise performed by A Tours de Brass conducted by David Hubert.
So having eight bands competing this year at the event, two championship bands, three
Further details at: www.openamboise.com
The competing contest bands will all play a varied programme which must include the set-work, whilst the Whit Friday march event takes place on Saturday morning in the town square in front of the famous Chateau d' Amboise4BR
Competing bands
Championship Section:
Hammonds Band (Morgan Griffith)
Brass Band Brassage (Benoit Dehaine)
Second Section:
Brass Band Des Pays De Loire (Hans Loirs)
Brass Band De La Vienne (Mathias Charton)
Brass Band Occitania (Lucas Mazeres)
Third Section:
A Tours De Brass (David Hubert)
Fourth & Youth Section:
Youth Brass Band of Tours Conservatory (David Hubert)
Brass Band En Seine (Christopher Dufay)
