Brass Band Schoonhoven led by Erik Janssen produced an impressive 30-minute programme to retain the Dutch Open title in Groningen.

The event was part of an extensive 5-day 'Brass Experience Festival' that also included concert and masterclass performances from the likes of Brass for Africa, percussion quartet Elbtonal, the Southbrass Ensemble and trumpet soloist Matilda Lloyd.

Programme

Opening with the short 'Fanfare for the Best' written by Thomas Doss to honour the 50th birthday of his friend Otto M. Schwarz, they followed it with 'Around the Campfire' from Philip Harper's 2024 'Magnificent Seven' Brass in Concert programme for Cory Band — although this time with its own Dutch cowboy soloists.

Their set was completed with a fine account of Oliver Waespi's major test-piece, 'As if a voice were in them…'

It gave the former Dutch National champion a clear two-point winning margin over runner-up, Provinciale Brass Band Groningen, with current National champion Brassband De Waldsang in third.

Praised

Speaking about their eighth victory at the event, Schoonhoven spokesperson Leon Monteny told 4BR: "We worked very hard on each of the three pieces, and we were delighted that each of the judges praised us for the musicality, control and balance shown in our contrasting choice.

We are now looking forward to the National Championships and to our appearance at Brass in Concert later this year, whilst we also made sure we celebrated with our fantastic B Band members who claimed a brilliant victory in the Second Division contest on the weekend."

Close rivals

Provinciale Brass Band Groningen led by Gerk Huisma certainly pushed the eventual winners in their bid to claim the title for the first time since 2022.

Their programme opened with the energetic 'Blue' by Geert Jan Kroon, followed by 'Remointze' by Ludovic Neurohr. They closed by giving an absorbing performance of Jan de Haan's 'Mirage', inspired by the legend of 'The Flying Dutchman', which is to be used as the set-work for the 2026 World Championships in Kerkrade.

De Waldsang's hopes of a first victory since 2005 under the experienced Rieks van der Velde also fell short despite fine renditions of 'Stormseye' by Stijn Aertgeerts, the lyrical cornet solo 'Song of the Night' by Christopher Bond, played by Willem van der Leest and their own-choice test-piece, 'Destination Moon'.

Behind the podium finishers came De Bazuin Oenkerk, whose featured soloist Jisse Kuipers gave a dazzling account of the third movement of the Bourgeois 'Trombone Concerto' to deservedly take the 'Best Soloist' award.

Fifth place went to Soli Brass who gave a welcome reprise of Kevin Houben's former European Championship set-work, 'Where Angels Fly', whilst welcome visitors Ensemble de Cuivres Euphonia led by Glenn Van Looy was sixth.

1st Old Boys history makers

There was a significant piece of banding history made in the First Division Championship as 1st Old Boys became the first band from Northern Ireland to claim a contesting title outside the British Isles.

Under MD Dr Jonathan Corry their programme opened with Tom Davoren's 'Spero per Musica' which was followed by a thrilling rendition of 'The Piper of Dundee' by 'Best Soloist' award winning tenor horn player, Daniel Sharpe.

They closed with a splendid rendition of their own-choice of Peter Graham's 'Metropolis 1927' saw claim a clear two-point margin of victory and signal celebrations that lasted long into the Groningen night.

Belfast pride

Spokesperson Andy Pentland told 4BR: "It is real privilege to work alongside such a hard-working group of people who buy in to our projects and support each other in trying to achieve the goals we set out as a group.

We are proud to come from Belfast and our hope is that our recent success elevates the profile of brass banding throughout the whole island of Ireland."

Second place went to Brassband Oefening en Uitspanning with a space inspired set which claimed the contest's 'Most Innovative Programme' prize, whilst third place went to the German visitors of Cologne who once again showed the major steps they are taking in becoming a force at this level.

Schoonhoven doubles

The celebratory drinks in the bar were certainly 'doubles' for supporters of Brass Band Schoonhoven, as their B Band, led by Joop Nijholt claimed success at the event for the first time since 2016.

A finely worked programme started with 'Starburst' by Daniel Price, followed by the cornet and euphonium duet 'Time and Eternity' by Ivor Bosanko, performed by Matthijs Looren de Jong and Wouter van de Werken. They closed with a fine account of their test-piece own-choice of 'A Brief Symphony of Time' by Simon Dobson.

It saw the band claim the honours from defending champion Gereformeerde Brassband Groningen led by Jan Werkam, whilst third place went to Greidebrass, whose fine trombone trio of Jitze van den Berg, Oeds Visser and Germ Zeephat excelled on their solo feature of 'The Attack of the Killer Tomatoes'.

The event was covered with live reporting by the CU Brass website: https://www.cubrass.nl/

We worked very hard on each of the three pieces, and we were delighted that each of the judges praised us for the musicality, control and balance shown in our contrasting choiceBrass Band Schoonhoven

Results:

Championship Division:

Adjudicators: Russell Gray; Senne La Mela; Les Neish

1. Brass Band Schoonhoven (Erik Janssen): 97
2. Provinciale Brassband Groningen (Gerk Huisma): 95
3. Brass Band De Waldsang (Rieks van der Velde): 93
4. De Bazuin Oenkerk (Jaap Musschanga): 92
5. Soli Brass (Anne van den Berg): 91
6. Ensemble de Cuivres Euphonia (Glenn van Looy): 90

Best Soloist: Jisse Kuipers (De Bazuin Oenkerk)

First Division:

Adjudicators: Dick Bolt Mike Kilroy; Stephan Krause

1. 1st Old Boys (Jonathan Corry): 95
2. Brassband Oefening en Uitspanning (Yves Wuyts): 93
3. Cologne Concert Brass (Heinrich Schmidt): 92
4. Brass Band Pro Rege (Jan Werkman): 90
5. Youn Brassband Willebroek (Lode Violet): 88
6. Brassband Breukelen (Erik Kluin): 87
7. Excelsior Zalk (Rieks van der Velde): 86

Best Soloist: Daniel Sharpe (1st Old Boys)
Most Innovative Programme: Brassband Oefening en Uitspanning

Second Division:

Adjudicators: Russell Gray; Senne La Mela; Les Neish

1. Brass Band Schoonhoven B (Joop Nijholt): 93
2. Gereformeerde Brassband Groningen (Jan Werkman): 91
3. Greidebrass (Gijs Heusinkveld): 89
4. Brassband Immanuel (Jan Werkman): 88
5. Brassband Excelsior (Marco Middelberg): 87
6. Brass Band Duren (Martin Schadlich): 85

Solo Prize: Trombone section of Greidebrass