Willebroek are Belgian Champions 

Congratulations to Brass Band Willebroek and Musical Director Frans Violet on becoming the National Champion Band of Belgium. The Cultural Centre Zwaneberg in Heist-op-den-Berg was the venue for Willebroek's victory in the 39th Belgian National Brass Band Championships.

It was a superb weekend, with nineteen bands, in 4 divisions, vying for the National Champion titles. Following a packed schedule on Saturday with the lower section events, the Championship division began at 10am on Sunday with eight performances of the set test, 'Metamorphosis' by Jan de Hann, before own choice offerings in the afternoon. It was Willebroek's performances that found overall favour with the judging panel of Nigel Boddice, Mareika Gray and Torgny Hanson, although they were run extremely close by Noordlimburgse, with Festival Brass Band just one point behind in third place. Brass Band Willebroek will now represent Belgium at the European Championships in Utrecht. 

Result: 

Championship Section: 
Test Piece: Metamorphosis (Jan de Haan) 
Adjudicators: Nigel Boddice, Mareika Gray, Torgny Hanson  
Set Work + Own Choice = Total 
1. Brass Band Willebroek (Frans Violet): (97 + 95) = 96.00* 
2. Noordlimburgse Brassband (Erik van de Kolk): (96 + 96) = 96.00 
3. Festival Brass Band Steven Verhaert): (93 + 97) = 95.00 
4. Brass Band Buizingen (Luc Vertommen): (92 + 94) = 93.00 
5. Brass Band Heist (Bert van Thienen): (89 + 92) = 90.50 
6. Kortrijk Brass Band (Ward de Ketelaere): (88 + 89) = 88.50 
7. Brass Band Leieland (Sam Werbrouck): (86 + 90) = 88.00 
8. Brass Band Zele (Bart van der Strieckt): (87 + 88) = 87.50 
*Set Work takes precedent  
Percussion Prize: Brass Band Willebroek 
 
 
First Division: 
Test Piece: Blackout (Thomas Doss) 
Adjudicators: Nigel Boddice, Mareika Gray, Torgny Hanson  
Set Work + Own Choice = Total 
1. Brass Band Bacchus (Bart van Neyghem): (87 + 89) = 88.00 
2. Brass Band Scaldis (Raf van Looveren): (88 + 87) = 87.50 
3. Brass Band Panta Rhei (Tim De Maeseneer): (85 + 85) = 85.00 
4. Brass Band De Grensbewoners Smeermass (Danny Aerden): (83 + 86) = 84.50 
5. Braz' Art (Geert Verschaeve): (85 + 83) = 84.00 
6. Brass Band Ghent (Lieven Dobbelaere): (84 + 84) = 84.00 
 
 
Second Division: 
Test Piece: Partita for Band (Postcards from Home) (Philip Wilby) 
Adjudicators: Nigel Boddice, Mareika Gray, Torgny Hanson  
Set Work + Own Choice = Total 
1. Brass Band Euterpe (Roland van Buggenhout): (81 + 81) = 81.00 
 
 
Third Division: 
Test Piece: Partita for Band (Postcards from Home) (Philip Wilby) 
Adjudicators: Nigel Boddice, Mareika Gray, Torgny Hanson  
Set Work + Own Choice = Total 
1. Young Brass Band Willebroek (Lode Violet): (92 + 93) = 92.50 
2. Mercator Brass Band (Johan De Win): (87 + 86) = 86.50 
3. Dender Brass (Joeri van Hove): (84 + 82)= 83.00  
4. United Brass (Frank Vantroyen): (82 + 83) = 82.50 
 
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