The Amiens Declaration
Dear Brass and Woodwind Music Friends from Across Europe,
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To stay at the forefront of new developments in education, social engagement, repertoire, and instrumental innovation, international cooperation and the mutual promotion of interests are essential. Our goal is to encourage various national and European organizations to join this movement and embrace the ideas set out in the Amiens Declaration. By verifying and updating your information, you signal your interest and readiness to participate, even if not actively at first.
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We also invite you to update the calendar of events, which will allow us to centralize information of general interest. This will help attract research to the CISM and support long-term planning of meetings focused on the themes outlined in the Declaration.
Before the 2023 European Championship for Wind Orchestras in Amiens, a meeting was held with board members of several European music organizations. During this meeting, they decided to launch the initiative for a new European platform for brass and woodwind music. Please find more details attached in the Amiens Declaration.
Letʻs try to make the European future for wind bands together
Ten outstanding wind orchestras from across Europe will come together in Stuttgart to compete in one of the most prestigious contests for symphonic wind music. The ECWO stands for musical excellence, artistic diversity, and international exchange—and once again promises a weekend full of emotion, top-level performances, and inspiring soundscapes. Visitors will have the rare opportunity to experience Europe’s finest wind orchestras live over the course of a single weekend.
The ECWO will take place as part of BRAWO 2026 from November 21 to 22, 2026, making it an integral part of one of Europe’s most significant wind music events.
“The draw marks the moment when the competition becomes truly tangible for the orchestras. Now the decisive phase of preparation begins,” explains ECWO President Jan Matthys. “We are absolutely delighted to welcome ten top ensembles from across Europe to Stuttgart. They represent the quality and diversity of the European wind orchestra scene and will offer audiences an unforgettable musical experience.”
Paul Lehrieder, President of the BDMV, which is organizing the competition on site, is also looking ahead to the event with great anticipation: “The ECWO is an outstanding example of the unifying power of music in Europe. It is a great honor for us to host this competition in Stuttgart as part of BRAWO and to bring together musicians from all over Europe.”
About the ECWO:
The ECWO (European Championship for Wind Orchestras) is an international, non-profit organization that organizes the European Championship of Wind Orchestras. It promotes artistic excellence, cultural exchange, and the values of wind music in Europe, providing top ensembles with a platform to compete at the highest level.
About the BDMV:
The Bundesvereinigung Deutscher Musikverbände (BDMV) is Germany’s largest umbrella organization for wind orchestras and is responsible for hosting the ECWO, with support from its local partner, the Blasmusikverband Baden-Württemberg (BVBW).
The competition spans two days and offers audiences a dense program at the highest level. The first six orchestras will perform on Saturday, followed by four more ensembles on Sunday. Each orchestra is assigned a clearly defined time slot, including both stage time and the necessary changeover periods.
The ECWO is supported by Adams Musical Instruments, which will provide all percussion equipment, and by SV SparkassenVersicherung.
Schedule Overview:
Saturday
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Orchestre d’Harmonie des Jeunes de Strasbourg (France)
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Rødovre Concert Band / The Danish Concert Band (Denmark)
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Christiania Blåseensemble (Norway)
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Sinfonisches Blasorchester Tirol (Austria)
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Uppsala Blåsarsymfoniker (Sweden)
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Musikkforeningen Nidarholm (Norway, defending champion)
Sunday
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Pihalni orkester Zarja Šoštanj (Slovenia)
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Royal Wind Band Schelle (Belgium)
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Landesblasorchester Baden-Württemberg (Germany)
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Associazione Bandistica Increscendo APS (Italy)
The ceremonial highlight will be the award ceremony on Sunday from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
With the running order now confirmed, the competition is fast approaching. The participating orchestras are entering the intensive final phase of their preparation—with the goal of captivating both jury and audience alike.
Further information about the ECWO (www.ecwo.eu), as well as detailed introductions of the participating orchestras, will follow shortly.
Swiss Leadership Strengthens
the Future of CISM
The International Confederation of Music Societies (CISM) wishes to express its deep appreciation for the outstanding contribution of the Schweizer Blasmusikverband (Swiss Wind Music Association) to the development and strengthening of the international wind band community.
Although Switzerland is not a member of the European Union, it holds an exceptionally important position within CISM. Through its long-standing tradition, organizational excellence, and systematic approach to music education and band development, Switzerland represents one of the most influential member countries within the Confederation. The Swiss model — combining high-quality musical training, strong community engagement, and effective national coordination — serves as an example for many countries across Europe.
Founded in 1862, the Schweizer Blasmusikverband today represents more than 1,800 bands and tens of thousands of musicians, making it one of Europe’s strongest national wind music organizations. The association actively promotes education, competitions, youth development, and professional training for conductors and musicians.
In recent years, the SBV has played a decisive role in revitalizing and stabilizing the work of CISM. Through leadership support, the assistance of its office and professional staff, and significant financial contributions — including the commissioning of medals and, most notably, a recent donation — the Swiss association has helped ensure stability and renewed momentum for the Confederation.
Thanks to this strong and constructive cooperation, CISM’s activities have expanded toward Northern Europe, and during the current year the Confederation expects to welcome new member organizations from Eastern Europe. This growth confirms that international collaboration is essential for the future of wind band music.
The Schweizer Blasmusikverband stands among the most active national federations, demonstrating a genuine and long-term commitment to the advancement of the wind band sector. Special recognition is also due for its excellent presentation at last year’s Stuttgart fair, where outstanding concerts and program presentations significantly enhanced the visibility and reputation of wind band music in the broader European cultural space.
CISM emphasizes with great respect that such dedication, professionalism, and vision make meaningful progress possible for the entire international wind band community.
XI NATIONAL COMPOSITION PRIZE "MUSICA NELLA CITTÀ"
The Fondazione Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino and ANBIMA APS, in their mission to promote music, within the framework of an increasingly greater enhancement of specificity in musical education, as well as supporting the production of contemporary repertoire for Wind Band, on the occasion of the 88th Maggio Musicale Fiorentino 2026, announce the eleventh edition of the National Composition Prize "Musica nella città".
Call for Applications:
Host the European Championship
for Bohemian-Moravian Wind Music
Since its inception in 2000 and thanks to an initiative by Freek Mestrini—the European Championship for Bohemian-Moravian Wind Music has been a celebrated platform to promote and preserve this rich musical tradition. Since 2004, the competition has taken place under the auspices of the International Confederation of Music Societies (CISM).
We are now inviting applications for the hosting of the next European Championship for Bohemian-Moravian Wind Music 2026, last one in 2025 was within the Deutsches Musikfest 2025 in Ulm/Neu-Ulm, Germany.
VLAMO International Composition Contest
VLAMO's international composition contest alternately searches for new and original fanfare and wind band repertoire for lower divisions.
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This year, we are looking for new fanfare band repertoire for lower divisions. Composers from all over the world are invited to compete in this contest.
The prize-winning compositions receive 2000 euro.
Participate and contribute to the musical future of our cultural heritage!
Submit your score by December 1, 2025 at the latest.
Donaueschingen 2.0 Composition Competition
To mark the 100th anniversary of the Donaueschingen Wind Music Concert, the Baden-Württemberg Wind Orchestra (LBO) is launching a composition competition.
The aim of this initiative is to revive the creation of original concert music for wind instruments on the German music scene.
2025 in Numbers
11
National Associations
64
Events Organised
10
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