Seventeen year old euphonium player, Glen van Looy of the Festival Brass Band in Belgium took the British Open Solo title courtesy of a fabulous performance of 'Concerto Per Flicorno Basso' by Ponchielli.

Glen, who also plays for Brass Band Heist not only took the £350 first prize but will now compete at the Ern Keller International Championship in Australia next year.

Amazing standard

In a competition where the standard of playing was perhaps the highest ever heard at the contest, Harmen Vanhoorne of Brass Band Buizingen took the runners up spot with Iain Culross of YBS in third.

For the defending champion, Katrina Marzella, the elusive hat-trick that hasn't been achieved at this competition since James Shepherd did it in 1964, eluded her.

Senior Solo Final:
Adjudicators: Major Peter Parkes and David Read

1.Glen van Looy (Festival Brass/Brass Band Heist) — Euphonium
2.Harmen Vanhoorne (Brass Band Buizingen) — Bb Cornet
3.Iain Culross (YBS) — Bb Cornet

Finalists:

Mark Howcroft (New South Wales) — Euphonium
Katrina Marzella (Leyland) — Baritone
Jef Vermeiren (Brass Band Willebroek) — Bb Cornet
Kristy Rowe (Leyland) — Baritone
Jonathan Truscott (Desford) — Eb Bass
Nick Walkley (Leyland) — Bb Cornet

Highest Placed Instrumentalists in the Preliminary Senior Solo Competition:

Best Soprano/Cornet: Harmen Vanhoorne, Brass Band Buizegnen
Best Flugel/Eb Horn: Helen Varley, YBS
Best Baritone/Euphonium: Glen van Looy, Festival Brass BB Heist
Best Trombone: Rebecca Stead, Longridge
Best Bass: Jonathan Truscott, Desford Colliery

Charlotte's in heaven

In the Intermediate Slow Melody Final it was 15 year old Charlotte Heaven, who is taught be Fodens principal cornet Mark Wilkinson, that beat off some stiff competition courtesy of her fine performance of 'Softly Awakes My Heart'.

Intermediate Slow Melody Final:
Adjudicators: Major Peter Parkes and Paul Andrews

1.Charlotte Heaven (Oldham Band (Lees)) — Bb Cornet
2.Philip Tait (unattached) — Bb Cornet
3.Jamie Smith (Sellers International Youth) — Bb Cornet

Jodie retains

Meanwhile, Jodie Russell of Oldham Band (Lees) retained the Junior Slow Melody contest she won last year in a small field of just four competitors.

Junior Slow Melody Final:
Adjudicators: Paul Andrews and Helen Williams

1. Jodie Russell (Oldham Band (Lees)) — Bb Cornet
2. Eva Norwicki (Dobcross Youth) — Trombone
3. Rhiannon Symonds (Lydbrook) — Trombone
4. Bernice Coulson (Skelmersdale) — Tenor Horn

Cosy's comfort

In the quartet contest it was Cosy Brass, the quartet made up of players from Brass Band Willebroek that retained the title it won back in 2004, in convincing style. The defending champion, Scherzo Brass did not compete this year.

Senior Quartet:>
Adjudicators: Major Peter Parkes and Glyn Williams

1. Cosy Brass (Willebroek)
2. Blackburn & Darwen
3. Shirland Welfare Training

More Oldham success

The players from Oldham Band (Lees) continued to have a great day at the competition with their Youth quartet taking the first prize in the Junior Quartet Contest.

Junior Quartet:
Adjudicators: Paul Andrews and Michael Fowles

1. Oldham Band (Lees) Youth
2. Solent Concert Youth
3. Shirland Welfare Training

A review of the day's proceedings will appear on 4BR later in the week.