Vlaams Open Brassband Kampioenschap - Flemish Open Brass Band Championship

The set works are all published and can be ordered:

In alphabetical order:

Section A

3BA Concert Band (DE) | Brassband Buizingen (BE) | Brassband Rijnmond (NL) | Brassband Schoonhoven A (NL) | Brassband Willebroek (BE)

Section B

Brassband Bacchus (BE) | Brassband David Zwolle (NL) | Brassband Heman (NL) | Delta Brass Zeeland (NL) | Tomra Brass Band (NO) | Swedish National Youth Brass Band*

Section C

Brassband Panta Rhei (BE) | Brassband Schoonhoven B (NL) | Mons St Georges Brass Band (BE) | Young Brassband Willebroek (BE)

Section D

Brassband De Kempengalm Vlimmeren (BE) | Brass Band Düren (DE) | Brassband Retie (BE) | KMFL Brass Band Lembeek (BE) | Koperensemble Bravoer (BE) | Sint-Cecilia Leest (BE) | Torbay Brass Band (UK)

* to be confirmed

Deutsche Fassung folgt, voor Nederlands gebruik de taalswitch in de rechter bovenhoek

Jan Van der Roost, Blaise Héritier, Ian Porthouse

We are pleased to be able to present to you the VOBK adjudicators for the 2012 event.

The adjudication team will be chaired by Jan Van der Roost; we probably don’t have to introduce him to you.

From Switzerland we will have Blaise Héritier over in Mechelen to be part of the adjudication team. Blaise Héritier is a much-solicited guest conductor, expert and also president of the musical commission of the Association Suisse des Musiques (ASM).

From Great-Britain, Ian Porthouse will complete the team of adjudicators. Ian  Porthouse is cornet soloist, clinician, conductor and adjudicator.

Die Jury

Gerne stellen wir Ihnen bereits das Jurorenteam für den VOBK 2012 vor.

Vorsitzender der Jury ist wie bereits bekannt wiederum Jan Van der Roost; den Sie sicherlich bereits gut kennen.

Blaise Héritier wird aus der Schweiz zu uns nach Mechelen kommen um als zweiter Juror zu fungieren. Blaise Héritier ist vielgevragter Gastdirigent, Musikexperte und derzeit auch Vorsitzender der Musikkommission der Association Suisse des Musiques (ASM).

Aus Gross-Brittannien haben wir schliesslich Ian Porthouse eingeladen um die Jury zu vervollständigen. Ian Porthouse ist als Cornetsolist international bekannt, hält regelmässig Workshops, dirigiert und wird europaweit als Juror geschätzt.

Date and schedule

When

14-15 April 2012
Saturday: section B (afternoon) and A (evening)
Sunday: section D and C (during the day)

Where

City Theatre – Mechelen (between Antwerp and Brussels in Belgium, easily accessible – google maps)

Sections, prizes and programme

Section A is the highest category. Significant prizes will be awarded to every winner, second and third band in each section by an international and accomplished team of adjudicators.

Entering the championship costs € 200 (granting band musicians access to the section in which they are competing). Already a lot of bands expressed their interest to attend the 2012 championship, but applications – especially for the lower sections – are still very welcome at office@vobk.org.

Each band performs a 30 minute programme comprising:

1. a short set piece, different for each section
2. a contest piece of own choice, at the level of the section in which the brass band wishes to compete
3. an additional programme as time allows

History – background

The championship is organised under the leadership of chairman Michel Leveugle for the fourth time by Brass Band Hombeek (previous contests in 2005, 2008 and 2010).

The number of participating bands has gone up every time the championship was organized, from almost 20 in 2005 to 24 in 2010. Of course a lot of Belgian bands competed (Willebroek, Buizingen, Festival Brass Band, Noord-Limburgse Brass Band…), but also several bands from the Netherlands, Germany, France, UK and Switzerland participated.

The championship is organised in close cooperation with the city of Mechelen which ensures smooth logistics of the competition.

The contest is known for its professional organisation and very pleasant atmosphere.

It keenly supports the writing and performances of new music for brass band – in 2010 two of the four set pieces were newly written and in section A Nigel Clarkes ‘Earthrise’ and ‘Chorale Tangents’ by Kenneth Downie were premiered.

More information

see the contact page

Of course there was still a post missing on the own choice pieces that will be performed during the Flemish Open on Sunday. We gladly give you an overview:

Section C

• Brassband Borderbrass - Princethorpe Variations (Kenneth Downie)
• Brassband De Grensbewoners Smeermaas – The Saga of Haakon the Good (Philip Sparke)
• Brassband Gent – Cathedrales (Bert Appermont)
• Brassband Panta Rhei Gent – Trittico (James Curnow)
• Cologne Concert Brass (D) - The Belmont Variations (Arthur Bliss)
• Young Brassband Willebroek – Shine as the Light (Peter Graham)

Section D

• Brassband Burgipja – Dream Catchers (Paul Lovatt Cooper)
• Felison Brass (NL) – The Dark Side of the Moon (Paul Lovatt-Cooper)
• KF-Brassband De Kempengalm Vlimmeren – The Saga of Haakon The Good (Philip Sparke)
• KF-Brassband De Kempenzonen Tielen – Credo (Lorne Barry)

You know where to get your tickets

Exit_Brass!

Besides performances with their regular bands (Brassband Buizingen, Festival Brassband, Brassband Heist) Harmen Vanhoorne, Stan Nieuwenhuis, Tim De Maeseneer and Glenn Van Looy will be playing several concerts with Exit_Brass! during the Flemish Open weekend.

On 16 April they’ll as support act to the gala concert, on 17 and 18 April they’ll play a.o. during the award ceremonies.

More information on this young but virtuoso quartet through www.exitbrass.com.