Twenty two marching bands featuring musicians from across Ireland, Europe and the USA will perform in Limerick for the 45th International Band Championship which takes place in Limerick on Sunday, 15th March 2015 at 12 noon.
More than 1,000 musicians have been confirmed to take part in the event, one of the world’s largest and most prestigious international band competitions.
The International Band Championship brings almost 50,000 spectators on to the city streets every year as part of Limerick’s St Patrick’s Festival.
Commenting on the popularity of the International Band Championship, Mayor of Limerick, Cllr Kevin Sheahan said: “The International Band Championship continues to be a firm favourite for both spectators and participants, with this year’s number of band entries higher than recent years. The huge number of participants as well as the large turnout by members of the public shows that the event continues to go from strength to strength.”
German band Musikappel Garmisch, along with three North American bands and a number of UK bands have confirmed they will participate in the 2015 International Band Championship.
These include:
- University of Southern Missippi, USA, who will bring 160 musicians to compete in what promises to be a thrilling event
- Charlotte High School, USA
- Chicago Police Band, USA
- Friendship Band , Northern Ireland
- Romford Drum & Trumpet Corp, England
- Mayobridge Band, Northern Ireland
Hundreds of musicians will compete for the title of ‘Overall Parade Champion’ held by last year’s winners, The Orchestra of the Estonian Defence Forces.
The Redemptorist Centre of Music Concert Band from Limerick will be back to defend their title of Best Local Band, as will winners of Best Youth Band, the Maghery Fife & Drum Band from Donegal.
Bands from across Ireland including Dublin, Cork and Kerry will join six of Limerick’s finest marching bands taking part in the championship.
The Limerick bands taking part include:
- CBS Pipe & Drum Band
- St. Mary's Fife & Drum Band
- The Redemptorist Centre of Music Concert Band
- The Boherbuoy Brass and Reed Band
- Newcastle West & District Pipe Band
- Sammy Benson's Limerick City Brass & Reed
The Parade will be led by the Irish Army Band, the Band of the First Southern Brigade and will start at the Crescent on O’Connell Avenue at 12 noon on Sunday, 15th March and end in Arthur’s Quay with a free concert for the public in Arthur’s Quay Park.
Performances will be judged by an international panel including:
- Dr. Andrea DeRenzis Strauss, PHD, Director of Bands, Associate Professor of Music, and Assistant Director of Instrumental Activities at Shorter College in Rome, Georgia
- Dr. D. Bradley Snow, Assistant Teaching Professor, Director of Bands, DMA, University of Southern Mississippi, USA
- Dr. Andrea DeRenzis Strauss, PHD, Emeritus Professor of Music and Conductor of Bands at Clarion University of Pennsylvania
And from Ireland:
- Dr. Evelyn Grant - RTÉ Lyric FM
- Niall Carroll - RTÉ Lyric FM
The winners will also be announced in Arthur’s Quay after the display.
Prizes will be awarded for the overall champions, best uniforms, best musical performance, best Irish band, most entertaining performance, best local band, best international band and the special judges’ award.
“Limerick is immensely proud of this annual event and looks forward to welcoming hundreds of musicians and their families from all over the world as part of our St. Patrick’s Day celebrations,” commented Mayor Sheahan.
The International Band Championship will be followed by the Limerick St Patrick’s Day Parade on Tuesday, March 17th at 12 noon. Irelandʼs internationally acclaimed aerial dance theatre company, Fidget Feet will lead the 2015 parade as Grand Marshals.
The 2015 Limerick St Patrick’s Festival is run on behalf of Limerick City and County Council by Grooveyard Productions and is generously sponsored by Analog Devices, The Crescent Shopping Centre and the Maldron Hotel.
More details on the 2015 Limerick St. Patrick’s Festival including the International Band Championship can be found on www.limerick.ie/stpatricksfestival.