Creative risk-taking!

European Brass Band Association President, Ulf Rosenberg, responds to criticism led by conductor, Philip Harper, about test-piece selection by major contest promoters and explains his organisation’s strategy of commissioning talent from European host countries to expand the pool of repertoire and compositional talent

The uniquely international concept of the European Brass Band Championships brings the event to a different city and country each year. The European Brass Band Association (EBBA) is very proud that this concept has led, in recent years, to the event being hosted in ‘new’ places such as Northern Ireland, Austria, Germany and France, and for the opportunity this provides to introduce major new works from composers outside what might be viewed as the brass band mainstream.

For many years, the established policy and aim of the EBBA has been to provide a new set test-piece for the bands competing in the both sections of the annual European Brass Band Championships (EBBC) to perform, with the chosen composers being native to the country hosting the event.

Read more…

Read Ulf Rosenberg’s article in full by subscribing to BBW Digital. Alternatively, subscribe to the printed magazine delivered by post: £40 (UK); £68 (Europe); £81 (Rest of the World)