One day after the last rehearsal on Belgian soil, Brass Band Willebroek headed for Kerkrade to compete at the World Music Contest, a competition for fanfare, wind, brass and marching bands that is held every 4 years.
Saturday the 8th of July all the 10 bands had to play the new set test piece ‘Tracing Time’ by Oliver Waespi, a true challenge for both band and soloists. Brass Band Willebroek and their conductor Frans Violet gave a powerful performance that was well appreciated by the audience in the Rodahal. After a few drinks at the bar, the band headed back to their beds.
Sunday the 9th of July every band had to give their all to convince the adjudicators with their chosen programme. Brass Band Willebroek opened with ‘Sång Till Norden' written by principal cornet Lode Violet, who immediately after this played a solo piece by Stan Nieuwenhuis, ‘Fortune’s Fool’. As ‘calm before the storm’ the piece ‘Aristotle’s Air’ by Christopher Bond was played and eventually Willebroek concluded their programme with Simon Dobson’s ‘The Turing Test’. The musicians and conductor were really happy with their performance of this incredible piece that they also performed at the Belgian Nationals and Europeans.
And: third time’s the charm! A few moments after the last note was played, the official announcement of the results took place outside of the hall. To add a little more suspense to the proclamation, the organization decided to announce the results in order of appearance that day (off the record: Willebroek performed last). After hearing that some bands scored high results on test or chosen pieces, the nerves raised very high. Eventually Brass Band Willebroek got 97/100 for their set test piece performance and when they also got 98/100 for their chosen programme, things got really crazy at the square next to the Rodahal. Brass Band Willebroek and conductor Frans Violet can call themselves World Champions of the Championship Division for four years, a title they never achieved before. With a score of 97,5% they also became winner of the day.
Brass Band Willebroek is very proud of this result and wants to congratulate their friends of the National Band of New-Zealand and Carlton Main Freckly Colliery Band on becoming second and third!
Results
Championship Section:
Set Work: Tracing Time (Oliver Waespi) Adjudicators: Set Work: Edward Gregson, Rob Goorhuis, Michael Bach Chosen Programme: Edward Gregson, Jan de Haan, Karl Ole Midtbo Set Work/Chosen Programme = Total
1. Brass Band Willebroek (Frans Violet): 97.00/98.00 = 97.50
2. National Band of New Zealand (Nigel Weeks): 96.00/94.00 = 95.00*
3. Carlton Main Frickley Colliery (Erik Janssen): 95.00/95.00 = 95.00
4. Manger Musikklag (Allan Withington): 91.00/97.00 = 94.00
5. Brass Band Treize Etoiles (James Gourlay): 94.00/93.00 = 93.50
6. Brass Band Schoonhoven (Ivan Mylemans): 93.00/90.00 = 91.50
7. Brass Band Heist (Bert van Thienen): 90.00/91.00 = 90.50
8. Brass Band Buizingen (Luc Vertommen): 87.00/92.00 = 89.50
9. Amsterdam Brass (Pierre Volders): 88.00/86.00 = 87.00
10. Brass Band de Waldsang (Rieks van der Velde): 85.00/88.00 = 86.50
*Set Work mark takes precedence