Following impressive result in Europe, the Co now take on the World

After Europe, the world... following their commendable overall fifth place finish at the European Championships in Stavanger earlier this month, the cooperation band have announced that they will now compete at the WMC (World Music Contest) World Championships in Kerkrade in the Netherlands in 2026.

The band will enter Championship Division category – in which the current champions are Brass Band Willebroek who also won the current European title – in July next year.

The set work for the event (which must be included in an overall programme) is Mirage by Jan de Haan, which will be made available to competitors from September.

A spokesman for the cooperation band commented: "We are honoured to be the first Scottish band to participate in the Championship Division of this outstanding event.

“It follows our recent success in Europe and reinforces our desire to be a competitive force at the major championship events."

For the 2026 WMC competition – which is held every four years – bands will be given full artistic freedom in their programme after including the set work.

The WMC, which celebrates its 75th anniversary next year, is a wind music festival based on contests for wind and fanfare bands, percussion ensembles, brass bands, marching and show bands, and conductors.

Winners at Kerkrade can officially call themselves the world champions for the four years until the next contest.