PRESS RELEASE MAY 2008

31^th EUROPEAN BRASS BAND CHAMPIONSHIPS 2008

IN STAVANGER, NORWAY

CORY BAND EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS!

ITALIAN WINNERS IN B-SECTION

CORY BAND, WALES, is winner of the 31^st European Brass Band Championships 2008 in Stavanger, Norway. With 194 points the band received the European title Saturday evening May 3^rd.

The Contest itself got off to a magnificent start with an the test piece, Håkon Berge's "Brass Blot", commissioned especially for the event. The piece was enjoyed by bands and players alike.

The sold out Stavanger Concert Hall with a large audience from all over Norway and Europe, created the unique 'European Atmosphere'

The own choice Championship section, for many the highlight of the weekend, provided drama and excitement with 11 high quality performances.

The Saturday contest also included the B-section. The bands entertained the good crowd with an exciting new commissioned test piece from Craig Farr; "Cornucopia" along with their own selection of music in a programme of 25 minutes. The winning band from Italy, Brass Band Frener-Reifer Pfeffersberg.

See the full result at:

http://www.ebba.eu.com/Results%20File%20European%202008.htm

EBBC WEB STREAM ON INTERNET

The EBBC contest was, for the first time ever, sent live through internet. The web stream was a result of collaboration between the NMF, World of Brass, Stavanger Aftenblad and the European Brass Band Association (EBBA).

Thousands of viewers from all over the world followed the web stream, with almost 23.000 page views during the event.

CONDUCTOR CHAMPION FROM GERMANY

Mathias Wehr from Germany won the prestigous 4th European Conductors Competiton in the finale Thursday, May 1^st, conducting Sola Brass Band. The other finalists were Armin Renggli, Switzerland and Mirga Grazinyté from Lithuania.

EBBA congratulate the winner and the finalists – and the 16 very qualified participants in the European Conductors Competiton.

EUROPEAN YOUTH BRASS BAND

The superb official opening ceremony on Friday 2^nd May, in the Atlantic Hall, hosted by City of Stavanger, included the opening and draw for the Friday night Championship section set piece contest and the B-section draw.

The ceremony included a concert by the European Youth Brass Band 2008, conducted by Reid Gilje. The band played with enthusiasm and skill for such a young band. The EYBB also playd in the conductors final gala concert, a concert in Sandnes, Saturday night's Gala Concert's Award Ceremony and the Farewell Concert.

THANKS TO STAVANGER AND THE NORWEGIAN ORGANISER

The organisation of the EBBC 2008 was in the hands of the Norwegian Band Federation (NMF) and with the event manager Øyvind Storheim through his event bureau Kulturoperatørene. The professional staff from NMF and Kulturoperatørene have worked extremely hard to prepare and organise this prestigous event. During the event they also have wonderful support from competent volunteers from the local band federation and the Siddis Brass competition.

EBBC 2008 Stavanger has also earned the greatest support from City of Stavanger, Rogaland County Council, State Ministry of Culture and European Capital of Culture Stavanger 2008.

This is the very first time European Brass Band Championships are conntected to a European Capital of Culture – which gave the EBBC a new status.

EBBC IN MONTREUX 2011

EBBA's general meeting Sunday morning May 4^th elected Montreux, Switzerland, and the Swiss Brass Band Association as the host for European Brass Band Championships in 2011. The contest will take place in the famous Stravinski Hall.

Already it is decided that EBBC 2009 will be held in Oostende, Belgium, and in 2010 in Linz, Austria.

The general meeting also elected the a new member of the executive committee:

Derek Atkinson, England, replacing Robert Morgan.

Joe Cassells, Northern Ireland, was elected as new member of the EBBA music commission. He was replaced as Auditor by Bernhard Matter of Switzerland.

European Brass Band Association

May 2008

Ulf Rosenberg

president