The 2025 French Open Championships take place in the wonderful Loire Valley town of Amboise on the weekend 23rd — 25th May where ten bands will compete for the various titles on offer.

It commences on the Friday evening (6.30pm) with a welcoming ceremony at the Chateau d' Amboise, where the draw will take place and a mini concert will be given by Amersfoort Band conducted by Vincent Verhage.

Competitions

On Saturday morning the action starts at the Beaumarhais Theatre (8.00am) where the competing bands will perform programmes which must include the set test-piece.

These are 'Dances and Arias' (Edward Gregson) for the Championship Section, 'Horizon — The Promised Land' (Andrew Wainwright) for the First Section, 'Images for Brass' (James Curnow) for the Second Section, 'Corineus' (Christopher Bond) in the Third Section with the Fourth Section bands playing 'Smoke Sketches' (Daniel Hall).

The adjudicators Chris Jeans (Jury President), Laurent Douvre (France) and Peter Collins (UK).

French Whit Friday

There is a Whit Friday style march competition on the Saturday afternoon (10.00am) in front of the Chateau d' Amboise. The band will also perform their own entertainment sets at the Parking Tour Heurtault (2.30pm).

The closing Gala Concert and results ceremony on Saturday evening (9.00pm) will feature Rothwell Temperance Band conducted David Roberts.

On Sunday (11.30am) there will be a festival of brass performing in front of the Chateau d' Amboise.

Competing bands:

Championship Section:

Concord Brass Band (Stig Maersk)
Exobrass (Mathias Charton)
Rothwell Temperance (David Roberts)

First Section:

Amerfoort Brass Band (Vincent Verage)
Pro Rege Brass Band (Jan Werkman)

Second Section:

Cadences Brass Band (Nicolas Biget)
Brass Band Roosendaal (Ward Dierick)

Third Section:

Brass Band du CRR de Tours (David Hubert)
Brass Band de la Vienne (Mathias Charton)

Fourth Section/Youth Section:

Brass Band en Seine (Christopher Duffy)