the cooperation band makes history at World Music Contest

the cooperation band will be making history this month when it becomes the first-ever Scottish band to compete at the World Music Contest (WMC).

The band will be travelling out to Kerkrade in the Netherlands on Friday 10 July and returning to Scotland the following Monday after competing in the set piece and own choice elements of the contest over the weekend.

The world elite of wind and brass music will take to the stage and stadium in the city of Kerkrade over the course of four weekends, from 9 July to 2 August.

This 20th anniversary edition of WMC features an exceptionally impressive and international field of participants, welcoming musicians from no fewer than 28 different nationalities across five continents.

Ten of the world’s top brass bands – the cooperation band among them – will take part in the Concert Division Brass Bands this year, including defending world champion and 2025 European champion Brassband Willebroek.

In essence, WMC is a music festival based on con­tests for wind and fanfare bands, percussion ensembles, brass bands, marching and show bands, and conduc­tors. During the four­-week festival, WMC’s programme will also feature high ­quality orchestras and artists from the Netherlands and other countries at various locations in the city and region, showcasing a cross section of what wind music has to offer.

For further information about the event and the opportunity to purchase tickets, visit the WMC website.

• the cooperation band will be holding a preview concert in an open rehearsal prior to its participation in the WMC, on Wednesday 8 July at 7:30pm,  at the Sherbrooke Mosspark Parish Church, Glasgow G41 5AD.

The programme will feature Jan de Haan’s Mirage, the Championship Division set work for the closed-adjudication test-piece contest, alongside the band’s full own-choice concert programme which comprises:

· Skara Brae — Andrew Duncan

· Into the Darkness They Go, the Wise and the Lovely — Kelly-Marie Murphy

· Sergei the Puppet Master — Lucy Pankhurst

· Jesus in Tibet — Simon Dobson

“The opportunity to represent Scotland on the world stage is a source of immense pride for everyone associated with the band,” said band manager Alan Douglas.

“We are grateful for the encouragement and support we have received from across the brass band movement, our local communities and our valued partners, and we would be honoured to share this special occasion with you.”