Palanga Competitors Confirmed
The European Brass Band Association has confirmed the line-up of bands for the 43rd European Brass Band Championship, in association with World of Brass, which will be held in the newly build Concert Hall in Palanga on the Baltic Riviera, Lithuania.
A total of 16 bands will take the stage in Palanga for what promises to be an historic event, as it is the first time that the event is taking place in the Baltic area. Reigning European Champion Cory Band conducted by Philip Harper will be joined from Wales by Tredegar Town Band, the current Welsh Champion. There are four different bands taking part compared to 2019. Brass Band Schoonhoven from The Netherlands is back after a gap of four years. Hauts-de-France, Foden’s and Tredegar Town are the other bands which did not participate in Montreux. The line- up will be completed by Brass Band Willebroek (Belgium), Eikanger-Bjørsvik Musikklag (Norway), 3BA (Germany), Concord Brass Band (Denmark) and Brass Band Oberösterreich, the Austrian champions.
Defending champion in the Challenge Section is Brass Band Regensburg from Germany. The line-up also includes LT Brass from Lithuania, the current Italian Champion Brass Band Wipptal and from Northern-Ireland Downshire Brass.
EBBA President, Ulf Rosenberg stated: “It is fantastic to welcome the participating bands in the 43rd ‘European Brass Band Championship, in association with World of Brass, in the beautiful city of Palanga. We are looking forward to all the performances, set test and own choice pieces, at this historic event. The brass band movement is still developing witness the participation of three bands from Lithuania in the EBBC this year”
Since it was established in 2014 at Perth, Scotland, the European Youth Brass Band Contest became an established part of the European festival. This year’s edition will see again nine participants at Sunday 3 May in Palanga. Defending champion in the Development Section, Wardle Academy Youth Band (England), will compete against Brass Band Sklepučini (Lithuania), Smørås Skolemusikk (Norway) and Seindorf Ieuenctid Beaumaris (Wales). There will be a new champion in the Premier Section since Catch Basin Brass Band from Austria will not be defending its title. With Youth Brass 2000 (England), JBB Blechklang (Germany), Liberty Brass Band Junior (Switzerland), Evolution Brass Regensburg (Germany) and Brass Band Aukstyn (Lithuania) participating, it will be a very strong competition.
Championship Section:
3BA Concert Band - Corsin Tuor - Germany
Brass Band Oberösterreich - Günther Reisegger - Austria
Brass Band Schoonhoven - Paul Holland - The Netherlands
Brass Band Willebroek - Frans Violet - Belgium
Concord Brass Band - Stig Mærsk - Denmark
Cory Band* (2019 Winners) - Philip Harper - Wales
Eikanger-Bjørsvik Musikklag -Ingar H. Bergby - Norway
Foden's Band - Russell Gray - England
Göta Brass Band - Michael Thomsen - Sweden
Hauts-de-France Brass Band - Luc Vertommen - France
Tredegar Town Band - Ian Porthouse - Wales
Valaisia Brass Band - Arsène Duc - Switzerland
Challenge Section:
Brass Band Regensburg* - Stefan Popp - Germany
Brass Band Wipptal - Patrick Gruber - Italy
Brass LT - Bjørn Breistein - Lithuania
Downshire Brass - Michael Alcorn - Northern-Ireland
European Youth Brass Band Contest – Development Section:
Brass Band Sklepučini - Erik Janssen - Lithuania
Seindorf Ieuenctid Beaumaris - Hefin Evans - Wales
Smørås Skolemusikk - Magnus Brandseth - Norway
Wardle Academy Youth Band* - Lee Rigg – England
European Youth Brass Band Contest - Premier Section:
Brass Band Aukstyn - Piet Visser - Lithuania
Evolution Brass Regensburg - Thomas Lorenz - Germany
Jugend Brass Band Blechklang - Patricio Cosentino - Germany
Liberty Brass Band Junior - Stefan Roth - Switzerland
Youth Brass 2000 - Chris Jeans - England
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