History
The WMC's roots go back to 1949. Two wind bands from the mining town of Kerkrade invited an English mineworkers brass band from Yorkshire for a concert. The Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band came, and Kerkrade had its ‘world' music contest.
The concert was so successful, that it was decided to hold an international festival in Kerkrade for amateur orchestras and bands, linked to a series of concerts given by professionals. The international fraternisation that was very evident after the Second World War and the international make-up of the professional population in the Limburg mining areas, together with the advanced level of amateur music making, proved to be the right breeding ground for this unique initiative.
In the course of time, the WMC has become synonymous with a spectacular music festival of the highest quality. The WMC is the most important international festival for the wind and brass band music sector. At the 15th WMC 2005, no less than 272 bands from more than 30 countries and more than 19,000 musicians took part.
The contests for amateur bands are accompanied by a unique concert cycle in which professional bands and ensembles highlight the many cross-over possibilities of music for wind and brass bands. A large-scale outdoor festival with music and other activities is a feature of the entire town centre of Kerkrade for more than three weeks. In this period, Kerkrade welcomes more than half a million guests from all corners of the globe. Once every four years, Kerkrade is the beating heart of the musical world.