Soli Brass: 2021 Dutch National Champion
Congratulations to Soli Brass on becoming Championship Section Dutch National Champions in Utrecht last weekend. The Championship Section featured the eagerly-awaited world premiere of Edward Gregson's 'The World Rejoicing' (Variations on a Lutheran Chorale). The audience was not disappointed, with familiar quotes from previous works woven into a test that delivered technical and musical challenges. Soli Brass, under the direction of MD Anne van den Berg, met these challenges with a fabulous performance, winning them a sixth National title, the band’s first since 2005. Commenting on the win the delighted MD stated, "I'm overwhelmed. This is music that I feel in my heart. It gave me so much joy to work on it even though it asked me many musical questions as well as the band each time I opened the score at rehearsal. Edward Gregson has given everyone a work to celebrate and rejoice in."
Soli will not represent the nation at the European Championships in Birmingham (that will be taken by 2019 winner Schoonhoven) or in 2023. That will be decided by the result of the 2022 contest. However, the band’s victory was richly deserved, with the trio of adjudicators confirming that it was a unanimous decision to award Soli Brass the win. Second placed Brassband De Waldsang was just behind after the experienced Rieks van der Welde led them in a performance of well-defined musical clarity and execution (with an outstanding 'Best Soloist' tenor horn). The final podium place was taken Brass Band Limburg led by Renato Meli.
On a weekend when five new works received world premieres, there was a great deal to enjoy in the other divisions of competition. Congratulations are also deserved by Chr. Brassband Excelsior, Brassband De Lofklank, Brassband Immanuel and Chr. Muziekvereniging Blaast de Bazuin as the winners of the National titles in their respective sections. An in depth retrospective of the event will feature in the next issue of BBW and full results can be viewed below.
Results:
Championship Section:
Set Work: 'The World Rejoicing' (Variations on a Lutheran Chorale) — Edward Gregson
Adjudicators: Jan de Haan; David Thornton; Bertrand Moren
1. Soli Brass (Anne van den Berg) — 97
2. Brassband De Waldsang (Rieks van der Velde) — 95
3. Brass Band Limburg (Renato Meli) — 94
4. Altena Brass (Ward de Ketelaere) — 93
5. Amsterdam Brass (Paul van Gils) — 92
6. Brassband de Spijkerpakkenband (Ido-Gerard Kempenaar) — 90
7. De Bazuin Oenkerk (Jaap Musschenga) — 89
8. Brass Band Schoonhoven A (Benny Wiame) — 88
9. Provinciale Brassband Groningen (Richard Visser) — 86
10. Brassband Rijnmond (Chris Derikx) — 85
Best Soloist: Tenor horn (Brassband De Waldsang)
First Division:
Set Work: From San Marco Quarter (Joop van Dijk)
Adjudicators: Jan de Haan; David Thornton; Bertrand Moren
1. Chr. Brassband Excelsior (Rieks van der Velde) — 95
2. Brassband Amersfoort (Vincent Verhage) — 94
3. Brassband Pro Rege (Anne van den Berg) — 92
4. Kunst naar Kracht (Pieter Koster) — 90
5. Brassband Breukelen (Erik van de Kolk) — 87
3. Brassband Oefening en Uitspanning (Anno Appelo) — 86
Best Soloist: Percussion (Brassband Pro Rege)
Second Division:
Set Work: Signature: Fantasy in Two Movements (Hendrik de Boer)
Adjudicator: Patrik Randefalk; Kevin Houben; Frans-Aert Burghgraef
1. Brassband De Lofklank (Gerk Huisma) — 96
2. Brassband Excelsior Ferwert (Gijs Heusinkveld) — 95
3. Brassband Constantijn Huygens (Richard Visser) — 94
4. Brassband Gloria Dei (Piet van der Heide) — 93
5. Gereformeerde Brassband Groningen (Jan Werkman) — 92
6. Martini brassband (Rieks van der Velde) — 91
7. Looft den Heer (Gijs Heusinkveld) — 90
8. Brassband David (Wilbert Zwier) — 89
9. Brassband Schoonhoven B (Zoran Rosendahl) — 88
Best Soloist: Euphoniums (Brassband De Lofklank)
Third Division:
Set Work: The Final Frontier (Geert Jan Kroon)
Adjudicator: Patrik Randefalk; Kevin Houben; Frans-Aert Burghgraef
1. Brassband Immanuel (Jan Werkman) — 93
2. Greidebrass (Marco Middelberg) — 91
3. Backum Brass Castricum (Harmen Cnossen) — 90
4. Brassband Kunst en Vriendschap (Henk van Loon) — 89
Soloist Prize: Flugel horn (Greidebrass)
Fourth Division:
Set Work: Green (Tjeerd Nijhof)
Adjudicator: Patrik Randefalk; Kevin Houben; Frans-Aert Burghgraef
- Chr. Muziekvereniging Blaast de Bazuin (Piet Visser) — 91
- Christelijke Brassband Advendo Burum (Stefan de Groot) — 90
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