The winner of the 2011 European Brass Band Championships Conductor's Competition, Erik van der Kolk has received an invitation to conduct at the massed band concert at the Sage Gateshead next May. He will also receive conducting tuition at Durham University for one week studying with Ray Farr who is Conductor in Residence at Durham University.

The previous European Conductor's Competition winner in 2009 was Mathias Wehr who also received the same award.