The Eastern Iowa Brass Band is pleased to announce that it will host the Stavanger Brass Band’s visit to Iowa on April, 17, 2014 for a joint concert. EIBB hosted Stavanger Brass Band on their first visit to Iowa, eleven years ago. The joint concert during that visit was a sell-out performance. This year’s program is an event not to be missed.
The Stavanger Brass Band has planned to attend the North American Brass Band Association (NABBA) competition scheduled for April 12, 2014, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The NABBA competition is the only national competition in North America. The last time they performed in the competition, held in Little Rock, Arkansas, Stavanger won the championship. While in the United States, the band will perform concerts in several mid-western states in a one week tour.
Stavanger Brass Band was founded in 1981 and has been one of the leading Norwegian bands since. The band has won the Norwegian national title no less than eight times since its inception and has been awarded several other contest titles. The band hosts an entertainment contest named Siddis Brass in November every year, which attracts more than 50 bands. Siddis Brass is an important arena for new repertoires and developing entertainment concepts for brass bands internationally. Stavanger Brass Band has been the winner of the championship section in this competition the two last years.
Stavanger Brass Band has actively commissioned new music from Norwegian composers of different genres, ranging from contemporary, jazz and orchestral to organ music. For many years the band has been a driving force within the innovative trends in Norwegian banding. This reputation has paved the way for invitations to play at prestigious events and festivals in Norway and internationally. Stavanger Brass Band has been in the forefront among Norwegian bands when it comes to touring activities. Since 2000, the band has toured England several times, as well as Scotland, USA, Netherlands, Japan, Latvia and Lithuania. Now, Stavanger Brass Band is thrilled to return to the United States, having been 11 years since the first visit.
Brass banding has been popular in Europe for well over a hundred years, beginning in England in the mid 1800s. These early bands were supported by the companies at which the bandsmen worked. It wasn’t long before rivalries developed, and many annual competitions were born. Brass bands came to America long ago. The Salvation Army, a notable supporter of brass bands, used this form of musical group to provided music for their religious services.
The Eastern Iowa Brass Band is Iowa's only British-style brass band. The 35-member band performs from a repertoire which features original works for brass band, as well as arrangements of well known orchestral and wind band literature. In addition, featured soloists are frequently used in concert programs which also include marches, medleys, hymn tune arrangements, folk songs, American patriotic offerings, Broadway showtunes, and novelty features. The majority of the band’s concert schedule takes place during the summer months for community celebrations, civic events, and countless special festivals. They have performed in a variety of settings, from ornate concert halls to outdoor parks.
