Flying the flag for Scotland, our musicians playing in the Euro festival

Safe travels and good luck to our Scottish representatives who are heading over to Linz, Austria, to take part in the 2026 European Brass Band Festival.

From this Saturday until Sunday 26 April, Linz will become the centre of the European brass band scene as musicians, educators and audiences from across the continent gather for an international festival celebrating youth, excellence and musical diversity.

The programme brings together the European Youth Brass Band, leading ensembles, emerging soloists and music professionals for nine days of competitions, concerts, educational activities and public events at renowned venues including the Brucknerhaus Linz, Linz Main Square and locations throughout Upper Austria.

Representing the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland in the European Youth Brass Band are (above) cornetists Ryan Borthwich (Skelmanthorpe Band) and Beth Hutchison (Whitburn Band) and EEb bass player Owen Campbell (the cooperation band).

Joshua Parkhill, one of Scotland’s finest young trombonists, will be taking part in the European Soloist Competition.

And then towards the end of next week, the European Brass Band Championships will be taking place which will see Whitburn Band competing alongside 14 other bands in the set test piece and own-choice contests.

The festival opens with the arrival and assembly of the European Youth Brass Band and continues with the European Soloist Competition which will showcase outstanding young soloists in the Brucknerhaus.

A strong concert programme runs alongside the competitions, featuring collaborations with regional youth ensembles, district wind bands and international guest bands.

Public highlights include open-air concerts and a marching parade on Linz’s Main Square, the festive Brass Mile, and a major Gala Concert followed by the awards ceremony.

European Brass Band Championships

A composers’ talk led by Oliver Waespi in dialogue with Thomas Doss and Andreas Ziegelbäck – the composers of the set-test pieces for the Championship and Challenge sections – will kick off the second half of the week that is dedicated to the European Championships.

Thirty bands will participate in the 47th edition of the championships with Championship, Challenge, Development and Premier sections presented at the Brucknerhaus.

The festival concludes with a Farewell Concert featuring the European Youth Brass Band and the Austrian National Youth Brass Band, marking the close of a week that combines artistic excellence, international cooperation, and a vibrant celebration of brass music.

For the full programme, please see here.

Ahead of its travels to Linz, Whitburn Band – under the musical direction of Professor Nicholas Childs – will be holding an Open Rehearsal at Deans Community High School in Livingston next Monday evening from 8.30pm.