Triumphs for Belgian brass bands on Dutch Open Brass Band Championships
Last Saturday Theatre De Lawei in Drachten was the venue for the Dutch Open Brass Band Championships (DOBC). A record number of eighteen bands from four different countries came to the Netherlands. Every year more bands want to participate in these popular championships. The format with a 30-minute programme is very popular in the international brass band community.
The second section started at 10 am with eight participating bands. Adjudicators Bert Appermont from Belgium and Danny Oosterman from the Netherlands took place in the black box.
Mercator Brass Band from Belgium became champion. Gloria Deï were second and were awarded the prize for most innovative programme. Third was De Bazuin B from Oenkerk. Josephine Veenstra from De Lofklank from Ureterp won the soloist prize. She gave a beautiful musical performance on horn.
After the second section, the international jury team changed. Appermont and Oosterman were replaced by Armin Bachmann from Switzerland and Simone Rebello from the United Kingdom.
The first section had three participants. Brass band Amersfoort kept the other bands at a great distance; they became champions with 94 points. They also won the trophy for best program. Wouter Lommerde from brass band Amersfoort convinced the jury with a solo on trombone and received the soloist prize. Second was Oefening and Uitspanning from Wijk en Aalburg. Brass band Bamberg from Germany came in third.
The championship section started at 5.45pm. With seven participants, this section was well represented. Again it was the Belgians who took home the biggest prizes. Festival Brass Band from Itegem were crowned DOBC champion. Second was De Bazuin A from Oenkerk. This Frisian band also won the trophy for best program. The jury put Brassband Rijnmond on third place. But because the band from Rotterdam exceeded the time limit, they were given a deduction of 5 points, making them sixth. This made De Wâldsang from Buitenpost third. Brass band Rijnmond from Rotterdam did not go home empty handed: Gerda Tuinstra won the soloist prize with her solo on vibraphone.
This edition of the DOBC was a great success. There were many spectators, and in the evening the Lawei was a packed house. There has been a lot of international media attention prior to the championship, which has increased the appeal of this competition to foreign bands. As last year, Brasspass provided the live stream of the contest. The livestream was followed by a large and international audience. CU Brass was also present. They covered the event live via the website, app and social media.
Next year the Dutch Open Brass Band Championships will take place on Saturday 13th of June 2020.
Results DOBC 2019:
Second section:
1. Mercator Brass Band, Kruibeke (B) - Lode Violet 93 points
2. Gloria Dei, Gerkesklooster-Stroobos - Jaap Musschenga 92 points
3. De Bazuin B, Oenkerk - Sietse Hamersma 91points
4. De Lofklank, Ureterp - Gerk Huisma 90 points
5. Brassband David, Zwolle - Wilbert Zwier 87points
6. Backum Brass, Castricum - Vincent Verhage 86 points
7. Gereformeerde Brassband Groningen - Jan Werkman 84 points
8. Euphonia, Wolvega - Hendry van Loo 82points
Best soloist: Josephine Veenstra, althoorn – De Lofklank, Ureterp
Best programm: Gloria Dei, Gerkesklooster-Stroobos
First section:
1. Brassband Amersfoort - Vincent Verhage 94 points
2. Oefening en Uitspanning, Wijk en Aalburg - Anno Appelo 89 points
3. Brass Band Bamberg (D) - Frans Matysiak 88points
Best soloist: Wouter Lommerde, trombone - brassband Amersfoort
Best programme: Brassband Amersfoort
Championship section:
1. Festival Brass Band Itegem (B) - Steven Verhaert 95point
2. De Bazuin A, Oenkerk - Klaas van der Woude 94 points
3. De Wâldsang, Buitenpost - Rieks van der Velde 92 points
4. Soli Brass, Leeuwarden - Anne van den Berg 91 points
5. De Spijkerpakkenband, Opsterland - Erik Janssen 89 points
6. Brassband Rijnmond, Rotterdam - Erik van de Kolk 88 points
7. Kirkintilloch Kelvin Brass Band (SCT) - Charles Keenan 87points
Best soloist: Gerda Tuinstra, vibraphone - Brassband Rijnmond Rotterdam
Best programme: De Bazuin A, Oenkerk
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