Bands qualified for EBBC 2023

The European Brass Band Association is pleased to announce the line-up of bands for the 44th European Brass Band Championships in association with World of Brass, in Malmö.

A total of 32 bands will participate in this year’s championships, which are being held in Sweden for the first time. The line-up shows that we are truly back after the pandemic!

Championship section

The EBBC 2023 Championship section is running at capacity, with 14 bands.
Defending champions Cory Band will be joined by Tredegar Band from Wales. Black Dyke Band will represent England, and from Scotland, the Whitburn Band will take the stage in Malmö Live. The Scandinavian countries will be represented by Göta Brass Band from Sweden, Lyngby-Taarbaek Brass Band from Denmark, and Eikanger-Bjørsvik Musikklag.

The Italian Brass Band is back in the EBBC after the pandemic. They were last seen in Montreux in 2019. The R.E.T. Brass Band will represent Austria for the first time in the championship section. With a line-up that also includes top bands such as 3BA Concert Band (Germany), Brass Band Treize Etoiles (Switzerland), Festival Brass Band (Belgium), Hauts-de-France Brass Band (France) and Soli Brass (Netherlands) it promises to be an exciting, high-quality championship section.

Challenge section

For the second time, we find Malaga Brass Band from Spain in the Challenge Section. They will be joined by Aukštyn LT from Lithuania, Brass Band Überetsch from Italy, and Laganvale Metal Technology Band from Northern Ireland.

European Youth Brass Band Competition

Since it was established in Perth in 2014, the European Youth Brass Band Contest has been a proven and well-loved part of the European event. This year’s youth competitions have a record number of 14 competing bands. Defending champion in the Development Section, Wardle Academy Youth Band (England), will compete against Aukštyn (Lithuania), Elland Silver Youth Brass Band (England), Jugend Brassband Südtirol (Italy), PotzBlech (Germany), Smørås Skolemusikk (Norway) and the South Wales Youth Band (Wales).

Seven bands are participating in the Premier Section on Sunday 7 May in Malmö Live.

Defending champion Catch Basin Brass Band (Austria) will compete against Brass Band Sklepučini (Lithuania), Liberty Brass Band Junior (Switzerland), N.P. B.B. Brass Band of the Conservatoire ‘N. Piccinni’ of Bari (Italy), the Swedish Youth Brass Band (Sweden), The National Youth Brass Band of Denmark (Denmark), and Youth Brass 2000 (England).

EBBA President, Ulf Rosenberg, comments: “It’s great to see the movement in Europe still developing and returning in high numbers after the pandemic. We are looking forward to all the performances, set tests and own-choice pieces, at the 44th EBBC in Malmö.”

Rosenberg continues: “It is also impressive that Italy, a relatively “new” brass band country, this year will have bands in all the different sections. And that Lithuania, who will host the European event next year in Palanga, is represented by three bands. Gathering in Malmö for friendly and peaceful musical rivalry, in challenging times, is more important for Europe than ever”.

EBBC Championship Section

EBBC Challenge Section

EYBBC Development Section

EYBBC Premier Section