Belgian National Championships 2023
The Belgian National Championships took place last weekend at the Cultural Centre Zwaneberg in Heist-op-den-Berg. The 43rd event saw the adjudication team, made up of Isabelle Ruf-Weber, Joop van Dijk and Steven Mead, award a well deserved first place to Brassband Willebroek. Performing under the direction of MD Frans Violet Willebroek achieved near perfect scores in both the set work 'Sinfonietta No. 2: Quatre Impressions' by French composer Pierre-Antoine Savoyat and own choice elements of the contest. As Championship Division winners the band will also now have the opportunity to represent Belgium at the 2024 European Championship in Palanga, Lithuania.
Commenting on the victory on social media, a spokesperson for Willebroek stated, “A few days later, still recovering from our performances... We would like to congratulate our principal euphonium Kevin Van Giel on the soloist award! Congratulations to all bands and stage winners Festival Brass Band & Brass Band Heist! Thank you VLAMO for another flawless organisation of the Belgian Brass Band Championships. We are already looking forward to the next edition with another fantastic set test piece!”
Results:
Championship Division:
Adjudicators: Isabelle Ruf-Weber; Joop van Dijk; Steven Mead
Set Work/Own Choice = Aggregate Total
1. Brassband Willebroek (Frans Violet): 98/99 = 98.5
2. Festival Brassband (Steven Verhaert): 96/96 = 96.0
3. Brassband Heist (Bert van Thienen): 94/91 = 92.5
4. Brassband Gent (Erik van der Kolk): 89/94 = 91.5
5. Brassband Buizingen (Tijl Verhaeghe): 92/90 = 91.0
6. Brassband Zele (Bart Van Der Strieckt): 90/89 = 89.5
7. Brassband Leieland (Allan Withington): 87/92 = 89.5
8. Kortrijk Brassband (Ward de Ketelaere): 88/88 = 88.0
Best Percussion: Brassband Heist
Best Soloist (Own-Choice): Kevin Van Giel (Brassband Willebroek)
First Division:
Adjudicators: Isabelle Ruf-Weber; Joop van Dijk; Steven Mead
Set Work/Own Choice = Total
1. Kon. BB de Grensbewoners Smeermaas (Danny Aerden): 93/93 = 186
2. Mercator Brass Band (Johan De Win): 89/94 = 183
3. Brassband Bacchus (Bart Van Neyghem): 90/89 = 179 *
4. Brassband Scaldis (Lorenz Havermans): 88/91 = 179
5. Braz'Art (Geert Verschaere): 86/88 = 174
*Set Work mark takes precedence
Second Division:
Adjudicators: Isabelle Ruf-Weber; Joop van Dijk; Steven Mead
Set Work/Own Choice = Total
1. Brassband Panta Rhei (Tim De Maeseneer): 89/85 = 174
Open Division:
Adjudicators: Isabelle Ruf-Weber; Joop van Dijk; Steven Mead
Own Choice
1. Brassband Zuid-Limburg (Jan De Maeseneer): 85
2. Academic Brass Band (Luc Van Gorp): 83
.gif)
