by Tina Kvamme Suddenly it’s all over. Several months of hard work is all supposed to end in one intense weekend. Even though we were really pleased with both of our performances, we had to settle for a 7th place. Our neighbours approx 20 kilometers away (Eikanger) may not be super happy for their 4th place either. That’s what you get when you aim for the top, everything else will be a little disappointing. And, yes, personally I got my hopes up again, reading all the wonderful comments about us on 4barsrest.com and britishbandsman.com. I guess I will never learn. It is a very special moment when the results come out. All the hard work, all the energy, expectations, nervousness and tension we build up during the weekend culminates in the very second you learn the results. It is easy to get emotional, whether the results are good or bad.

See the results of the European Brass Band Championships 2012 1. Black Dyke Band Test piece 98 Own choice piece 97

The draw for todays Championship section Own Choice pieces is just publiced: 1. Cory Band 2. Black Dyke Band 3. Manger Musikklag 4. Brass-Band Nord Pas-de-Calais 5. Noord Limburgse Brass Band

Please notice that we will start at 9.15h Saterday morning, not at 9.30h. So be in time, so can hear the first band playing! The draw will be early in the morning, 7.45h.

Today, friday the 4th of May, all 11 bands of the Championship section has played the test piece. They played Vita Aeterna Variations of Alexander Comitas. The audience was enthousiast about the piece: 'It's good listening, but also a good testing piece'.

At the 3th of May there was the European Composere Competition. Four young composers made a new brass band work. The four compositions were played by Brass Band Rijnmond and Provinciale Brass Band Groningen, both conducted by Anno Appelo.

The production team is in De Doelen, the bands are on their way... The EBBC2012 is beginning! We're looking forward to a great event with beautiful brass music and good musicians! You can follow us on Twitter: @EBBC2012 or use #ebbc2012 in your tweet. On Facebook you can find us at www.facebook.com/EuropeanBrassBandChampionships We also have a app for mobile devices. Download it at m.twoppy.com/ebbc2012. Have a great weekend!

Garry Cutt has withdrawn from the judging panel at the European Brass Band Championships in Rotterdam to avoid a potential conflict of interest. He will be replaced in the Own-choice Section by Edward Gregson, who last adjudicated the competition in Lucerne, Switzerland, in 1988.

Om het EBBC tot een succes te maken, zijn we op zoek naar vrijwilligers die de organisatie tijdens het festival willen ondersteunen. Als dank krijg je een passe-partout voor het hele festival. Interesse? Mail naar info@prolink.co.nl.

De Engelse trompetsolist Philip Cobb is de special gast tijdens de European Brass band Championships die van 3 tot en met 6 mei 2012 in de Rotterdamse Doelen gehouden.