Willebroek rule the World

WMC Kerkrade in Holland takes place every four years and commences with a weekend of brass band contests, including a top section battle for World rule, this time won by Belgium. Johan Jansen reports from the 18th edition, originally founded in 1949 after a high-impact concert in Kerkrade by Carlton Main Frickley.

Rolling on from its fourth place at the April/May European Championships, the ever- green and remarkable Belgian outfit, Brass Band Willebroek, led by its long-time conductor Frans Violet, departed Dutch soil with the Championship Section World title firmly in its grasp for the next four years and a first cash prize of 3,500 Euros.

Beating off fierce challenges from a clutch of the World’s top outfits, the final frame saw the National Band of New Zealand become runner-up, England’s Carlton Main Frickley take third place, Norway’s Manger Musikklag and defending champion fourth, Switzerland’s Treize Etoiles fifth and home-soil favourite, Schoonhoven, sixth…

Read extensive coverage from WMC, together with photos courtesy of Goldy Solutions, featured in July/August 2017’s BBW, by subscribing to BBW Digital. Alternatively, subscribe to the printed magazine delivered by post: £40 (UK); £68 (Europe); £81 (Rest of the World)