Following ‘one of the most keenly fought and closest contests in recent history’ RWCMD’s brass band-in-residence, the Cory band, lifted the European Championship title in Oslo, Norway last weekend.
With a stunning performance of their own choice piece, Perihelion – Closer to the Sun by Philip Sparke, the band secured a closely fought victory over fierce rivals Eikanger Bjorsvik Musikklag from Norway and ten other world-class bands from nine different countries.
College students Max Ireland, Kazuyuki Kouno, Georgina Evans, Ailsa Russell, Robert Nicholson and Steph Wilkins were part of the wining performance, along with several more College graduates and RWCMD tutors.
“Being part of winning the Europeans was an unreal experience,” said Max Ireland. “It’s something that I have followed for the last five years or so and have always wanted to play at. This was my first time competing at the Europeans and to win was something that I hadn’t really thought of! Although we were all absolutely ecstatic, I think we all breathed a sigh of relief as all of our hard work over the last month had really paid off.”
It is the fourth time the band has won the European title in the last decade, and the first time under its new MD, Philip Harper. Robert Childs, Director of Brass Band Studies at RWCMD, was MD with the band from 2000 until 2012 during which time they won three European and five British Open titles.
The band is looking forward to a concert tour of Australia this summer.
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