The European Brass Band Association was formally established on this day, 30 years ago.
Sunday 30 April 1995, the day after the European Brass Band Champhionship in Luxembourg, the representatives from the most established brass band countries in Europe gathered to form the new association. The first General Meeting was held, and they drew up the organisation’s foundation.
The founding fathers underwriting the statutes were James Abbott (Scotland), Arne Amland (Norway), Jappie Dijkstra (Netherlands), Alan Gibbs (Wales), Fred Harles (Luxembourg), Herbert Møller (Denmark), Bo Winborg (Sweden), Robert Schotte (Belgium), Robert Morgan (England) and the first President Markus S. Bach (Switzerland). Others involved from the beginning were Tom Brevik (Norway) and Hansjörg Stalder (Switzerland). They all deserve to be acknowledged for their contribution and pioneering spirit.
Many will know that the first European Brass Band Championship was held in London in 1978. The contest was established and ran by Boosey & Hawkes Band Festivals Ltd. In 1980 a European Advisory Council was formed, to engage with stakeholders and the different national contests and to bring in the voices and experts from other brass band countries in Europe.
This group evolved to what became known as European Brass Band Association taking over the responsibility for the championships. EBBA has since the beginning performed an expansive policy to develop the EBBC to become a week-long festival and not only one-day-stint. An important objective has been to hold the event in different countries, and until now 14 different countries hosted the EBBC. By bringing the contest to several countries the event can work as a locomotive pulling the movement forward, and a flagship to be proud of and to showcase the movement.
An important trademark has been the set-test pieces commissioned by the host country every year, and through these pieces one can see how the contest repertoire has evolved musically. Since 1994 the B-section, later rebranded as the Challenge Section, has provided a contest platform on European level for the developing countries. Since 1998 EBBA has also organised side events alongside the EBBC with European contests for soloists, conductors and composers. The European Youth Brass Band, first presented in 2000, has since 2003 become an important element for the organisation and the EBBC week. In 2014 the European Youth Brass Band Contest was introduced as a wonderful feature finishing off the week, in addition to Gala Concerts and diverse outdoor programs, meetings, seminars etc. etc.
The recording with the CD and DVD in previous years, now web streaming, has also been a part of the event’s success and wider distribution.
When the EBBC is held in a different country every year, it is a big challenge to maintain and further develop the high standards and the quality of the event. EBBA’s important duty is to pass on knowledge from year to year to the hosting organisations of the EBBC. The whole EBBA team strives to maintain and develop the high levels achieved through many years of EBBC experience.
As a movement we always focus on musical pieces, performances, bands, composers, conductors and players, for extremely good reasons. The musical art should always be in the center. However, today on the 30 years anniversary I would like to celebrate all the competent EBBA elected volunteer officers through the years. Please support me by thanking them for allocating countless hours, their dedicated persistence and loyalty to the movement.
Thanks to all members of the EBBA team for keeping the tradition alive, continuing to develop and improving quality in all aspects of the event. We are here to provide the best possible platform for the bands, players, band organisers, audiences, sponsors, traders and all stakeholders. All this “just” to deserve the EBBC to be acknowledged as the most prestigious band contest in the world.
Ulf Rosenberg
President since 2007
European Brass Band Championships