Festival Brass Band HISTORY OF THE BAND The Belgian "Festival Brass Band" is an ensemble of very talented brass players in the original formation of 28 musicians. The Band was founded in the year 2000 by a few highly-motivated and passionate brass players. Festival Brass Band's musicians are mostly music teachers, students (current and ex-) from various conservatories in Belgium, and top amateur players from wind bands, fanfares and other brass ensembles. The quality and talents of a big symphonic orchestra are brought together in our 28 band members. Since Festival Brass Band was founded it has been able to work with renowned nusical directors: Juri Briat (2000-2005), Frank Vantroyen (2006) and Manu Mellaerts (2006-2012). The band is now under the interim direction of one of the best conductors on the wind band scene: Dirk De Caluwé. After winning the Belgian Nationals in 2008, with MD Manu Mellaerts, Festival Brass Band took to the stage at the European Brass Band Championships as the Belgian representative. Their own-choice piece, "The Promised Land", written by Kenneth Downie, is a typical brass band contest piece with many references to the modern-classical style as in a Debussy or a Mahler. The organizers included the live-recording on the annual CD "European Brass Band Championships 2009". Festival Brass Band is one of Belgium's top-4 brass ensembles. The band competes in the Champions Section of brass band contests, the highest class. After winning the Belgian Brass Band Contest in 2008, the band was also Vice-Champion in 2010 and 2012. Aside from taking part in contests, the main activity of Festival Brass Band is performing concerts. BIOGRAPHY OF THE CONDUCTOR Dirk De CaluweDirk De Caluwe (Lokeren - Belgium, 1956).Dirk De Caluwe trained in flute, music theory and conducting at the Royal Conservatories of Ghent, Antwerp and Brussels, before completing his studies by attending various postgraduate courses both in Belgium and abroad. Since 1978 he has been principal piccolo flute in the Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra, where he has worked with prestigious directors such as Sir Neville Mariner, Lorin Maazel, Riccardo Chailly, Gerd Albrecht, Rudolf Barshai, Yoel Levi, Tadaki Otaka, Giancarlo Guerrero and Martin Brabbins. Early in his career he began to divide his time between his work as a soloist and orchestra musician, and conducting. He has conducted classic repertoire, as well as opera and contemporary music concerts. He has directed bands and orchestras such as the Flemish Radio Orchestra, the Brussels Philharmonic, the Brussels Festival Orchestra, the Prague Philharmonic, and even the London Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. He has left an undeniable mark on the music world. Indeed, he has directed the premiers of two important Flemish musicals: Tintin and Daens. He is also a popular guest conductor and has directed many of the best wind orchestras in Belgium and abroad. From 1987 to 2007 he was the director of the Royal Wind Band Ste Cecilia Zele, which continues to be one of the most renowned orchestras in Belgium. He continues to work very closely with the most highly-regarded Belgian composers such as Jan Van der Roost, Jan Hadermann, Dirk Brosse and Bert Appermont, who have entrusted him with their latest compositions. Since 1992 he has taught wind band music and conducting at the Royal Conservatory of Antwerp, where he is also artistic director of the orchestra. Today he is the musical director of the Royal Wind Band Schelle, of the Limburg Symphony Youth Orchestra, and principal guest conductor of Festival Brass Band. As well as performing, lecturing and conducting, Dirk De Caluwé is also a consultant, jury member and maestro of the Flemish Wind Band Association (Vlamo). As a musician he has worked on a total of 80 CD and DVD recordings for Naxos Label, Discover, Beriato, De Haske, World Wind Music, Topkapi / Universal, Sony and Studio100. |
