14 years after its last title at the Belgian championship, Festival Brass Band crowned itself champion again.
- Set test piece: The World Rejoicing - E. Gregson
- Own choice piece: A Gabrieli Fantasy - B. Appermont
Jury:
- Sheona White (UK)
- Joop Van Dijk (NL)
- Dr. Robert Childs (UK)
- Florent Didier (FR)
Festival Brass Band went to the Belgian championships with a clear goal. After two years of coming very close, the musicians and conductor were dreaming of a national title. To realise that dream, of course, they had to play first....
The day started early with the first performance of Edward Gregson's set test piece 'The World Rejoicing'. Immediately the bar was set where afterwards no band jumped over it. There was much to enjoy during the performances in the morning.
In the second part of the day, Festival Brass Band entered as 6th band with the own choice piece 'A Gabrieli Fantasy' by Belgian composer Bert Appermont. Reactions from the audience and people at home who followed the livestream were already promising. But who knows what a jury really listens to? What is a jury looking for?
The verdict came a few hours later. 'There was one band that continued to make music in both the soft passages and the loud passages, that band stood out and also won' dixit jury member Joop Van Dijk.
| Band | Result |
|---|---|
| Festival Brass Band | 97% |
| Brass Band Willebroek | 95,5% |
| Noordlimburgse Brass Band | 95,5% |
| Brass Band Heist | 93% |
| Brass Band Buizingen | 91% |
| Kortrijk Brass Band | 90,5% |
| Brass Band Zele | 90% |
| Brass Band Leieland | 90% |
| Brass Band Gent | 88,5% |
With a score of 97%, Festival Brass Band secured the national title, as well as the ticket to the European Brass Band Championships in Malmö, Sweden. In addition, our percussion section was rewarded with the prize for 'best percussion section in the set test piece' and we also took away the prize for best performance of the set test piece. On the choice work, we also achieved the highest score.