On January 15, 2020, 4 enthusiastic brass players from the South Limburg region came together to discuss the idea of ??a brass band. Since this form of wind music was not yet offered in the South Limburg region, they thought the time was right to start an initiative. Contact was made with a number of friendly and well-known brass players and percussionists to test their interest. The balance turned out to be positive and a few days later, on January 29, 2020, 13 brass musicians met for a first rehearsal under the temporary leadership of Kenny Bloemen. The atmosphere was good and everyone was enthusiastic. After 5 rehearsals, COVID-19 threw a spanner in the works, and it was only at the end of August that we could rehearse together again. Jan De Maeseneer was meanwhile appointed as permanent conductor. The orchestra quickly grew to 20 musicians, but again 5 rehearsals later the operation was forced to be put on hold due to a second wave of the pandemic.
Ultimately, the orchestra was able to make a second start at the end of May 2021. Once again the association managed to attract a few more musicians, making a full line-up as good as a fact. From now on we officially went through life as a non-profit organization Brassband Zuid-Limburg.
A first milestone presented itself. On Sunday, September 12, 2021, the Brass Band played its first concert at the Boerenmarkt in Nieuwerkerken. In the blazing sun and in front of a crowded square, the outside world was introduced to the orchestra.
A few weeks later, on October 17 and November 21, we asked the opinion of a professional jury during the Vlamo evaluation concert in Tienen and the Vlamo orchestra competition in Leuven respectively. The favorable reports gave the conductor and musicians a boost to continue on the chosen path.
However, the enthusiasm was short-lived, because immediately after the concert in Leuven the pandemic struck again. For the 3rd time in its short existence, the orchestra had to take a mandatory rest in order to finally be able to start again from February 2, 2022. A symbolic date that hopefully marks the final starting signal for a long, musical and joyful future.
It is a challenge, to say the least, to set up a new association in these times. This is not only because of the known epidemiological circumstances, but also to get and keep the necessary committed musicians together. Brassband Zuid-Limburg has set itself the goal of promoting brass music by presenting high-quality and diverse music, so that both musicians and audiences can enjoy a pleasant musical experience.