“Erik Janssen became Musical Director of Brass Band Schoonhoven in 1991, and from that moment, the level of playing started to rise. A remarkable series of performances at the Dutch National Championships began in 1995, when Erik Janssen led the band to their first victory in the second division. The year thereafter, the band was allowed to compete in the first division, and surprised the Dutch banding movement by claiming the title. In 1997, the band became champion again and was invited to play in the Championship section. During her debut at the highest level in 1998, the band became 3 rd , and one year later, the band became vice-champion of The Netherlands.
In 2007, Erik Janssen was reappointed as Musical Director and led the band through the most succesful period in her existence, and one of the most remarkable periods in Dutch banding history. From 2010 to 2013, the band was crowned Dutch champion for four years in a row. Moreover, the band claimed the Eurobrass title in 2011, 2012, and 2013, thereby winning all major brass band contests held in The Netherlands within that period. Internationally, the band became 3 rd at the All England Masters in 2010. During four consecutive appearances at the European Championships, Erik Janssen led the band to a unique series of top-six finishes. In 2012, the band managed to win the own choice selection and became 3 rd overall at the European Championships in a fully packed, orangely coloured “Doelen” hall in Rotterdam. Under the baton of Erik Janssen, Brass Band Schoonhoven received great national and international appreciation, and received an invitation to play at the Brass in Concert Entertainment Festival in 2014. Erik and the band created an “African Symphony”, a musical experience based on the band’s humanitarian tours through South Africa. The performance was received with great enthusiasm by the audience, and the band won the entertainment price.
Erik Janssen has not only been an inspiring conductor for the band. He also showed to be a team builder, who knows how to extract the best out of the individual musicians. This resulted in a number of top performances at the highest level in a relaxed but focused atmosphere.”
Chairman Brass Band Schoonhoven