European Competitors 2018  

The European Brass Band Association is pleased to announce the line up of bands for the 41st European Brass Band Championships which will be held in Utrecht, Netherlands.  

A total of 17 bands, in both the Championship Section and Challenge Section, will enter the stage in TivoliVredenburg for what promises to be a fantastic contest. With Brass Band Fröschl Hall from Austria making its debut in the Championship Section and reigning champion Eikanger-Bjørsvik Musikklag in a line-up that also includes Cory and current British Open Champion Valaisia Brass Band, it promises to be an exciting EBBC. Home band De Wâldsang will make its 20th appearance at the EBBC and will be joined by Fairey, Whitburn, Stavanger (qualified as the second Norwegian band), Hauts-de-France, 3BA, Willebroek and Concord, so the audience will again be spoiled by the finest bands in world.  

The Challenge Section will see five bands taking part. Italian Brass Band will defend its title and will compete along with bands from Germany, Sweden, Lithuania and Northern Ireland.  
EBBA President Ulf Rosenberg commented: “It’s great to see that the brass band movement in Europe is still developing with new bands coming in the Challenge Section. Furthermore, we are proud to have such a strong line-up in the Championship Section and are looking forward to all the performances of both the set-test and own choice pieces.”  

The 5th European Youth Brass Band Contest (EYBBC) will see four bands in the Development Section and five in the Premier Section. The Premier Section will definitely have a new winner, as reigning champion Young Brass Band Willebroek has decided not to compete in Utrecht. The EYBBC will see three bands entering for the first time. Tasta Skolekorps from Norway, Catch Bassin Brass Band from Austria and Seindorf Beaumaris Youth Brass Band from Wales will make their debuts in the contest, on Sunday 6 May in TivoliVredenburg.  
 
Competing Bands:  

Championship Section  
3BA Concert Band - Thomas Ludescher - Germany  
Brass Band Fröschl Hall - Corsin Tuor - Austria  
Brass Band Willebroek - Frans Violet - Belgium  
Concord Brass Band Jesper - Juul Windahl - Danmark  
Cory - Philip Harper - Wales  
De Wâldsang - Rieks van der Velde - Netherlands  
Eikanger Bjørsvik Musikklag (def. champion) - Ingar H. Bergby - Norway  
Fairy Band - Gary Cutt - England  
Hauts-de-France Brass Band - Luc Vertommen - France  
Stavanger Brass Band - Allan Withington - Norway  
Valaisia Brass Band - Arséne Duc - Switzerland  
Whitburn Band - Prof. Nicholas Childs - Scotland  

Challenge Section  
Badische Brass Band - Dominik M. Koch - Germany  
Göta Brass - Michael Thomsen - Sweden  
Italian Brass Band (def. champion) - Filippo Cangiamila - Italy  
Laganvale (Metal Technology) Band - Stephen Crooks - Northern Ireland  
Sunday Brass - Tadas Sileika - Lithuania  
 
European Youth Brass Band Contest  
Development Section  
Brass Band Aukštyn - Piet Visser - Lithuania  
Elland Silver Youth Band (def. Champion) - Samantha Harrison - England  
Tasta Skolekorps - Morten Øvrebekk - Norway  
Wardle Academy Youth Band - Lee Rigg - England  

Premier Section  
Brass Band Berner Oberland Junior - Jan Müller - Switzerland  
Catch Bassin Brass Band - Andreas Lackner - Austria  
Danish Youth Brass Band - Stig Mærsk - Denmark  
Seindorf Beaumaris Youth Brass Band - Gwyn M. Evans - Wales  
Youth Brass 2000 - Chris Jeans - England  
 
 
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