De Waldsang takes Dutch Championship
Congratulations to De Waldsang and MD Rieks van der Velde who won the Championship Division of the recent Dutch national Championships held in Utrech last weekend. It was the band's 16th victory since the event started in 1981, although their first since 2017. The band will now represent the nation at the 2026 European Championships in Linz, Austria.
Commenting on the win, Rieks stated, "The score told me exactly what was needed, and the players did that for me. I really enjoyed the piece and its challenges. It is nice to win, but more so for the players as they always work so hard for me." The adjudicators, Dr Robert Childs, Bert Appermont and Frans-Aert Burghgraef agreed that the performance really did capture the detail on the score. Crowd favourites Brass Band Schoonhoven were perhaps victims of the generous acoustic, with judges stating that some bands suffered loss of detail by playing too loud and managed third place just behind the defending champions Brassband Rijnmond.
A full review of the event will appear in the next edition of BBW magazine, whilst the results from all sections can be viewed below.
Photo Credit: Warber Media
Result:
Championship Division:
Test Piece: The Lost Circle (Jan Van der Roost)
Adjudicators: Dr Robert Childs, Bert Appermont, Frans-Aert Burghgraef
1. De Waldsang (Rieks van der Velde): 95
2. Brassband Rijnmond (Luc Vertommen): 94
3. Brass Band Schoonhoven (Paul Holland): 92
4. Soli Brass (Anne van den Berg): 91
5. Provinciale Brassband Groningen (Gerk Huisma): 90
6. De Bazuin Oenkerk (Jaap Musschenga): 87
7. De Spijkerpakkenband (Paulus de Jong): 86
8. Brass Band Limburg (Renato Meli): 85
9. Altena Brass (Ward De Ketelaere): 84
Best Soloist: Tuba section of Brassband Rijnmond
First Division:
Test Piece: St James's — A New Beginning (Philip Harper)
Adjudicators: Dr Robert Childs, Bert Appermont, Frans-Aert Burghgraef
1. Excelsior (Rieks van der Velde): 94
2. Kunst naar Kracht (Pieter Koster): 93
3. Pro Rege (Anne van den Berg): 92
4. Brassband Amersfoort (Vincent Verhage): 91
5. Gloria Dei (Gerk Huisma): 88
6. Oefening en Uitspanning (Yves Wuyts): 87
7. Brassband Breukelen (Erik Kluin): 85
Best Soloist: Euphonium of Excelsior
Second Division:
Test Piece: Variations on 'Was Lebet' (Andrew Wainwright)
Adjudicators: Margaret Antrobus, Mark Wilkinson, Klaas van der Woude
1. Gereformeerde Brassband Groningen (Jan Werkman): 92
2. Brass Band Schoonhoven B (Joop Nijholt): 91
3. Excelsior (Marco Middelberg): 90
4. De Bazuin Oenkerk B (Martin Oostra): 89
5. Looft Den Heer (Gijs Heusinkveld): 88
6. Euphonia (Gerben Pol): 87
7. Martini Brassband (Rieks van der Velde): 86
8. Backum Brass (Dirk Vincken): 85
9. De Lofklank (Koen van der Molen): 84
Best Soloist: Euphonium of Gereformeerde Brassband Groningen
Third Division:
Test Piece: Headland Fantasy (Ingebjorg Vilhelmsen)
Adjudicators: Margaret Antrobus, Mark Wilkinson, Klaas van der Woude
1. Immanuel (Jan Werkman): 93
2. Heman (Geert Jan Kroon): 91
3. Kunst en Vriendschap (Henk van Loon): 90
4. De Nije Bazun (Jaap Wils): 89
5. Apollo (Piet Visser): 88
6. Harp en Luit (Anno Appelo): 87
7. Hosannah (Jeroen Oosterwijk): 86
Best Soloist: Percussion section (De Nije Bazun)
Fourth Division:
Test Piece: Fanfares, Songs and Dances (Philip Sparke)
Adjudicators: Margaret Antrobus, Mark Wilkinson, Klaas van der Woude
1. Koperensemble De Waldsang (Bienze Ijlstra): 92
2. UDI (Marco Middelberg): 91
3. Blaast de Bazuin (Piet Visser): 90
4. Euregio Brass Band (Ronny Buurink): 89
5. Soli Deo Gloria (Martijn Oostra): 88
6. Ere Zij God (Jochem Hoekstra): 87
7. Brassband Westersweach (Reimer Jan Rondaan): 86
8. Alkmaar Brass (Alexander Zwann): 85
9. Concordia (Gouke Wielenga): 84
10. Excelsior (Gouke Wielenga): 83
Best Soloist: Principal cornet (Euregio Brass Band)
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