Posted by Steve Marcus on March 04, 2003 at 14:38:51:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Stavanger Brass Band posted by Disappointed on March 03, 2003 at 21:03:25:
There are open competitions (any band from anywhere may enter) and closed competitions (only bands from that country/region/vicinity may enter) throughout the brass band world.
The annual NABBA event is an open competition. Since there is no other major brass band competition in North America, there is no event that is restricted to North American bands.
Most North American brass bands have very short histories compared to the top bands of the UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, etc. As such, it may seem unfair for a European band of championship stature to enter the NABBA Competition. Perhaps Stavanger (and Grimethorpe, for that matter), could have entered NABBA's Exhibition Section, which is a non-competing but adjudicated presentation.
"Disappointed" is, IMHO, correct. By having world-class brass bands such as Stavanger compete in NABBA, the bar is being raised—quickly. North American bands will, in turn, be welcomed at competitions elsewhere as their level of proficiency ascends.