The European Brass Band Championships own-choice competition is arguably the most anticipated of the brass band calendar. As usual 2019's event was a total sell-out, tickets were like gold-dust and there was a real buzz around the place. The eventual result saw Cory Band win with 'Explorers on the moon' by the enigmatic Paul Raphael, and with a high placing in the set-test section too they went on to win the whole contest and indeed every other major competition throughout the rest of the year!