The only time Soli Brass has been able to compete with a European top was in 2006, when Frans-Aert Burghgraef finished eighth in Belfast. For conductor Anne van den Berg, this will be her baptism of musical fire at the highest European level. He will soon be able to tick participation in EBK off his wish list. “In 2012 I performed with Brassband Heman in B-section. But this is a completely different cake. The European Championship is the highest achievement in the brass band scene. It’s really special to experience this. It’s not for everyone.”

Open minded
The same goes for the musicians. It will be a completely new experience for this young band. Of the current line-up, only three members have active memories of the adventure in 2006. “That’s good in itself,” says Van den Berg. “The advantage is that we can work on it with an open mind. The preparations went well. We’ve done a lot of extra rehearsals and tryout concerts. We try to prepare as best we can at the start.”

Simple
Holland usually plays a modest role on the European stage. The Schoonhoven brass band achieved a podium finish in 2012. Erik Janssen then led the band to a spectacular third place during a home game at De Doelen in Rotterdam. Van den Berg thinks the top spot is too ambitious for Soli Brass, ranked 113th in the world. “As a Dutch band, you shouldn’t have too many illusions. When you see what’s happening on an international level, we can only dream about it. This field has become much broader and more professional in recent years. Not only in traditional countries like England or Norway, but also in other countries. I was recently on a jury in Switzerland. The level there is very high. Bands like Treize Etoiles are great. In addition, Switzerland has enormous potential to be exploited. The same goes for Belgium and France, but Germany is also on the rise. The world of brass bands is also getting more professional there.”

Base
According to Van den Berg, the Netherlands lacks good infrastructure as a foundation to really be able to compete with the top Europeans. The cultural cuts, including the consequent closing of music schools, have placed the sector at a huge disadvantage compared to other countries. “If you just close music schools, you will naturally shrink. Cultural education in the Netherlands has only collapsed for many years in a row. We are now suffering from it. It’s going to get even more difficult for bands at the championship level. Also in the northern provinces.”

Mandatory work
The title fight will be held at the Malmö Live Concertus. Fourteen bands will compete in the Championship Section. Mandatory work in the upper division is aurora by Joel Thor Engstrom. Van den Berg: “It’s a good part to train. It’s not a big show of very difficult solo parts. There are more difficult jobs. But the structure of the work is very interesting. Compositionally it is very well put together. It has many layers through which you can make yourself heard as a band. I am happy to analyze it, but I doubt if it will be played later.”

Enrichment
Soli Brass will depart for Sweden by bus on Thursday. Practice is scheduled for the evening. On Friday all candidates play mandatory work and on Saturday elective work (which may not be announced due to blind judging). Van den Berg: “Our commitment is to play as beautifully as possible and try to sell our skins as expensively as possible. We see this as enrichment of ourselves and as a very beautiful experience. By creating high expectations in preparation, you run the risk of being disappointed. We will reach the highest, but we will see what comes out. What to be, so be.

Part EBBC Championship contestants
• 3BA Concert Band Germany
• British Black Dyke Band
• Swiss Treize Etoiles Brass Band
• Cory Band Harper Wales
• Eikanger-Bjørsvik Musikklag Norway
• Belgian Brass Band Festival
• Swedish Göta Brass Band
• Hauts-de-France Brass Band France
• Italian Italian Brass Band
• Danish Lyngby-Taarbaek Brass Band
• Austrian Brass Band RET
• Dutch Leeuwarden Brass Soli
• Tredegar Wales
• Scotland’s Whitburn Band

Jury
The jury for mandatory work in the Championship Section consists of Allan Withington (Norway), Phillipe Bach (Switzerland) and Ivan Meylemans (Belgium). The elective presentation will be judged by Michael Bach (Switzerland), Bert van Thienen (Belgium) and Sheona White (Scotland).

Pictured: Brass band Soli Brass will represent the Netherlands at the European Championships in Sweden this weekend.

Text: Frank Vergoossen – Photo: Warber Media/Dutch Brass Band Championships