The competitions
If you joinus for the EBBC 2025 in Stavanger, you will have the opportunity to listen totop brass bands from all over Europe. They will be competing in 4 differentsections, including to sections for youth bands. The bands are all qualifiedthrough national competitions or nominated by their national brass bandfederation. The EBBC 2025 will also host the Conductors competition.
On Sundaythe 11th of May, you can experience The European Youth Brass Band Contest. This contest provides a platform for Europe’s finest youth brass bands to perform a programme of musical excellence which is also entertaining in acompetitive environment. In doing so, this will encourage the development of youth brass bands throughout the member countries of the European Brass BandAssociation, fostering enduring social links between the young people taking part and will help to create a better understanding of the cultural diversity throughout Europe. They will be competing in the Premier section and the Development section.
Championship Section
The Championship consists of the winning band from the previous year and the champion band and/or nominated band from each European country. The competition consists of a set test piece, this year written by the Norwegian composer Fredrick Schelderup. This will be preformed by all bands on Friday 9thof May. The bands will also play an own choice on Saturday the 10thof May.
Challenge Section
The Challenge Section features a line up of brass bands consisting on a level just below the Championship Section. Bands in the Challenge Section will play a new test piece, composed by the Norwegian composer Ingebjørg Vilhelmsen, plus an own choice program in a single performance. The total playing time shall not be longer than 25 minutes. This section is on Saturday 10th of May before the Championship Section own choice.
Premier Section
The Premier Section features senior youth bands. They play a programme not longer than 25minutes, including a set test piece, this year by the Norwegian composer Kjetil Djønne. The competition is on the 11th of May. The bands can also feature a soloist, as there is a prize for best soloist.
Development section
This section is for younger youth bands. They will play a programme not longer than20 minutes, including at set test by the Norwegian composer Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen. The bands can also feature a soloist, as there is a prize for best soloist.
About the venues
Stavanger Concert Hall
Stavanger Concert Hall consists of two great halls, Fartein Valen and Zetlitz. Fartein Valen will be our hall for the championships, and this grand hall has 1500 seats. The hall is a very popular concert venue for both brass bands and symphonic orchestras and is used for example in the prestigious Siddis Brass entertainment contest which takes place every November. The roof in the hall is adjustable, giving the desired acoustics for whoever plays there. For the competition, the roof will be set to give optimal acoustics for brass bands.
Kuppelhallen
Kuppelhallen will be the venue for the semi-final and the final of the conductor competition. The hall has 1 000 seats and produces great sound with an intimate atmosphere. When Stavanger was host for the Europeans in 2008, Kuppelhallen was the hall where the entire competition found place, as Stavanger Concert House was still on the drawing board.
Tou Scene
Tou Scene will be the location for the Opening Ceremony on Friday morning. Tou is one of Norway’s largest independent cultural institutions and is located in Stavanger city centre. The atmosphere of the building is industrial and rough, as it was once one of Norway’s old breweries. Tou scene hosts over 400 different arts – and cultural events during the year.
Ledaal
Ledaal was once build as a holiday home for the well-known Kielland family in the late 18th century. Later the building was turned into a museum, and eventually became the king’s residence in Stavanger. It is not possible to rent the building, you must get an invite from the mayor of Stavanger. Ledaal will be the venue for the formal reception Thursday afternoon.
About the composers
In 2025 we will have four new set-pieces, and NMF and EBBA has agreed on the composers.
Championship section - Fredrick Schjelderup
The set piece for the Champion Section will be written by the young and talented composer Fredrick Schjelderup from Bergen, Norway. Fredrick was born in 1990 and has a bachelor’s degree in compositions from the Grieg Academy in Bergen. He started his composing career in 2008 and is now one of the most used Norwegian composers and delivers compositions to many of the top bands in Europe.
Stavanger is the oil capitol of Norway, and the title of the EBBC set test piece, “Transitions in Energy'', is a term used in the oil industry. NMF was recently granted 165 000 NOK from the Norwegian Composers Foundation (Det norske komponistfond) to support the writing of the piece.
Challenge section - Ingebjørg Vilhelmsen
The set piece for the Challenge Section will be written by another young aspiring composer. Ingebjørg Vilhelmsen was born in 1993 and has a master’s degree in musicology from the University of Oslo, as well as extra credits in composition from the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo, and Goldsmiths, University of London. In 2022 she won the award for break-through of the year within classical/modern music in Norway. Ingebjørg has written commissioned works to many large brass band events, such as an own choice piece in the 2023 Norwegian National Championships and set pieces for international competitions.
EYBBC – Premier Section – Kjetil Djønne
The set piece for the Youth Premier Section will be written by Kjetil Djønne. Born in 1996, he is also a young but accomplished composer. He has a master’s degree in conducting from the University in Stavanger, as well as a bachelor’s degree in compositions from the Grieg Academy in Bergen. In 2021 he won the award for break-through of the year within classical/modern music in Norway. Kjetil is a sought-after composer in both Norway and abroad and has written music for several top bands in Europe. The Youth Premier Section in EBBC has a very high musical level and Kjetil will contribute to maintain the standard.
EYBBC – Development Section – Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen
The set piece for the Youth Development Section will be written by the experienced composer Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen. He has written the set piece for the Champion Section in EBBC twice, in 1996 (Seid) and in 2003 (Aubade – Dawn Songs of the Fabulous Birds). His piece, “Dirty dancing”, has been chosen as the set test piece for the European Championship for Wind Orchestras (ECWO) to be held in Oslo in May 2024. Pieces by Torstein has been selected as the set piece for the Norwegian National Championships in 1990, 1999, 2005, 2014 and 2018. Torstein has been awarded several awards for his compositions for a large range of different ensembles, and we are pleased to bring his level of professionalism and experience into writing the set piece for the Youth Development Section.
The participating bands
Curious about what bands are participating in the EBBC 2025? Us too! As soon as all the bands have qualified for the competition, they can be seen here.
The bands own choice music
The bands own choice music will be made available here as soon as the final list is composed.
Ticket sales
Tickets will not be available for sale before end of January. Before release the participating bands will be allowed to pre-purchase a select number of tickets. When the tickets are available for sale, they will be sold through the concert venue home page. A link to the ticket sale page will be available here as well.
The adjudicators
In January, you will find the adjudicators and information about them here.
Where to practice in Stavanger
Wonder where to practice with the band in Stavanger? We got you covered! We have composed a list of available venues along with contact information and location. You can find it here.