EBBA Announces a European Youth Brass Band Contest for 2014
Published in Contest on 2013-10-05 by Empty Chairs
More news from European Brass Band Championship
The European Brass Band Association (EBBA) is delighted to confirm that details have now been agreed for the introduction of a European Youth Brass Band Contest as part of the 2014 European Brass Band Championship events which take place next year in Perth, Scotland.
The contest includes an inspirational rationale which looks to “provide a platform for Europe’s finest youth brass bands to perform a programme which is musically excellent and entertaining in a competitive environment.” The associated benefits also include the encouragement the contest offers for the “development of youth brass bands throughout the member countries of the European Brass band Association”, as well as the undisputable opportunities of “fostering enduring social links between the young people taking part and will help to create a better understanding of the cultural diversity throughout Europe”.
Offering a choice of two sections, the European Youth Brass Band Contest will take place on Sunday 4th May at Perth Concert Hall, Perth, Scotland, commencing with the Development Section at 10.00am, followed by the Premier Section. To best support the contest’s rationale, both sections can enjoy the flexibility of an own choice programme (up to 25 minutes for Premier Section and up to 20 minutes for Development Section), including a set work (‘Resurgam’ (Ball) for the Premier Section and ‘Little Suite for Brass’ (Arnold) for the Development Section), also including an own choice solo item (with a prize for the best soloist) and the inclusion of a piece of music which has a musical link to their country.
EBBA encourages all EBBA member countries to involve their youth band(s) to represent their country at this exciting performance opportunity. To support this enthusiasm, it is opening the contest to accept up to 2 representative bands from each member country and offering freedom in the process for the selection of the band (welcoming either existing youth bands, school bands, regional bands, national bands or made up of an amalgam of players selected from the country to form a band to play in the contest).
The Scottish Brass Band Association (SBBA) is delighted with EBBA’s positive response to its proposal and excited that it will be launched at the 2014 series. As a brass band association which continues to be internationally recognised for its extensive youth development work, it is especially befitting that SBBA should play host to the inaugural event as part of its presentation of the 2014 European Brass Band Championship series (which in turn forms part of the its ambitious nationwide event – The European Festival of Brass 2014 – a Scotland-wide celebration of brass music from 26th April – 11th May). SBBA is looking forward to welcoming the representative youth bands to Perth next year and is elated that EBBA have taken this extremely important step to inspire, recognise and nurture youth involvement. By incorporating the contest as part of this internationally recognised showcase of Europe’s finest brass band music, it is hoped that it will drive focus on the all-important youth element of the brass band genre – inspiring and supporting the young musicians who will form the future of Europe’s brass band communities.
Whilst details will be posted on the websites of EBBA (www.ebba.eu.com) and The European Festival of Brass 2014 (www.EuropeanFestivalofBrass2014.com) in due course, EBBA member countries wishing to find out more about this exciting new opportunity are urged to contact EBBA’s general secretary Carsten Hering Nielsen as soon as possible on general.ebba@gmail.com, to register their interest and obtain the full contest details and entry form.