Schoonhoven 'triumph' at Dutch Nationals

2016 Dutch National Championships

A superb rendition of Peter Graham's The Triumph of Time by Brassband Schoonhoven led by Ian Porthouse saw them lift the National title for the fifth time. The victory also saw Schoonhoven restored to the top of Dutch banding after a two year hiatus and gave a huge boost of confidence ahead of their forthcoming trip to perform at the Brass in Concert Championship. They will now represent the nation at the European Championships in Ostend in 2017.

"This is a very good band with a very good conductor!" adjudicator Reid Gilje wrote in his remarks, whilst Russell Gray simply stated; "I am going to stop writing for a while." Luc Vertommen added; "Top class. Bravo director — most intelligent and emotional reading!! The very best for me." Peter Graham, who had made the trip to the event for the first time in 20 years, also heaped praise on their performance, adding that he felt it was 'quite outstanding'.

The band’s chairman Leon Monteny commented, "We have waited a long time to enjoy victory again. Ian Porthouse did an amazing job, working us so hard in the past ten days. That paid off with a memorable performance. We have really enjoyed working with him and we now look forward to our trip to the UK for the Brass in Concert Championship and to Ostend next year."

In a contest that impressed the judges with its overall quality, De Bazuin Oenkerk pushed Schoonhoven closest with a lyrical and high-risk performance under Klaas van der Woude, whilst a solidly portrayed account from Brassband de Waldsang under Rieks van der Velde ended third.

Before the announcement of the results, Russell Gray told the audience that “all the bands acquitted themselves admirably," however that there had been complete agreement over what he called, "a very clear winner."

There was a return to the winning form for De Spijkerpakkenband in the First Division as they claimed victory under Erik Janssen. They gave a compelling performance of Etienne Crausaz's eclectically structured 'Sinfonietta No 3', aided by their 'Best Horn & Flugel Section' to secure a clear two point margin of victory from Chr. Brassband Excelsior with Oefening en Uitspanning in third. There was also a quality hallmark about the Second Division, as Constantijn Huygens reclaimed the title with an excellent performance off the number 1 draw of The Raid by Oliver Waespi.

The Friday afternoon and evening contests were also excellent events which resulted in a double triumph for conductor Jan Werkman. First he led Immanuel to victory off the number 1 draw in the Fourth Section on Dan Price's An English Pastorale before a little later directing Gereformeerde Brassband Groningen to success in the Third Section on Visions by Dan Price.

Full Results:

Championship Section:
Set-Work: The Triumph of Time (Peter Graham)
Adjudicators: Russell Gray, Reid Gilje, Luc Vertommen

1. Brassband Schoonhoven A (Ian Porthouse): 98
2. Brassband De Bazuin Oenkerk (Klaas van der Woude): 97
3. Brassband de Waldsang (Rieks van der Velde): 95
4. Soli Brass (Anne van den Berg): 94
5. Provinciale Brassband Groningen (Richard Visser): 93
6. Amsterdam Brass (Pierre Volders): 92
7. ProClass Brass Band Limburg (Renato Meli): 90
8. Altena Brass (Anno Appelo): 89
9. Brassband Rijnmond (Erik van de Kolk): 88

Best Trombone Section: Brassband Schoonhoven

First Division:
Set-Work: Sinfonietta No 3 (Etienne Crausaz)
Adjudicators: Russell Gray, Reid Gilje, Luc Vertommen

1. De Spijkerpakkenband (Erik Janssen): 94
2. Chr. Brassband Excelsior (Rieks van der Velde): 92
3. Oefening en Uitspanning (Anno Appelo): 91
4. Kunst naar Kracht (Erik Kluin): 89
5. Pro Rege (Anne van den Berg): 88
6. Brassband Breukelen (Syde van der Ploeg): 87

Best Horn/Flugel Section: De Spijkerpakkenband

Second Division:
Set-Work: The Raid (Oliver Waespi)
Adjudicators: Mareika Gray, David Thornton, Danny Oosterman

1. Constantijn Huygens (Richard Visser): 95
2. Gloria Dei (Jaap Musschenga): 93
3. De Lofklank (Gerk Huisma): 92
4. Brassband Amersfoort (Vincent Verhage): 91
5. De Bazuin B Oenkerk (Sietse Hamersma): 90
6. Brass Band Schoonhoven B (Robbert Vos): 89
7. Martini Brassband (Rieks van der Velde): 88
8. Excelsior Ferwert (Herman Sibma): 87

Best Section: Tubas (Gloria Dei)

Third Section:
Set-Work: Visions (Dan Price)
Adjudicators: Mareika Gray, David Thornton, Danny Oosterman

1. Gereformeerde Brassband Groningen (Jan Werkman): 93
2. Blaast de Bazuin (Aline Werkman-Schipper): 92
3. Greidebrass (Marco Middelberg): 90
4. Looft den Heer (Gijs Heusinkveld): 89
5. Apollo (Piet Visser): 88
6. De Nije Bazun (Piet van der Heide): 86
7. Backum Brass (Vincent Verhage): 85
8. Kunst en Vriendschap (Henk van Loon): 84

Best Section: Euphoniums and Baritones of Blaast de Bazuin

Fourth Division:
Set Work: An English Pastorale (Dean Jones)
Adjudicators: Mareika Gray, David Thornton, Danny Oosterman

1. Immanuel (Jan Werkman): 88
2. Euphonia (Paulus de Jong): 87
3. Blaast de Bazuin (Paulus de Jong): 86
4. Felison Brass (Patricia Geertse): 85
5. Brassband Opsterland (Martine Reijinga): 83
6. Chr. muziekvereniging Concordia (Gouke Gerben Wielenga): 81

Best Cornet: Felison Brass

For more brass band news from around the globe, subscribe to BBW Digital. Only £30 a year for 10 editions full of news, interviews, features, reviews and more! Subscribe today!