Successful opening of the World Music Contest
The 20th World Music Contest kicked off with a spectacular opening parade and a special musical projection on Kerkrade's town hall.
18,000 visitors
17 international music ensembles, all also taking part in WMC, marched through the streets of Kerkrade on Thursday afternoon. Along the route and in the city centre, more than 18,000 visitors witnessed this colourful and musical procession.
Official opening
Just after ten o'clock, mayor Petra Dassen-Housen and WMC director Bart van der Roost opened WMC from a packed pavilion tent. After a symbolic press of the button, American showband the Blue Devils performed the hymn specially composed for WMC, while historic WMC footage was projected onto the town hall.
"It was a fantastic opening, we are very pleased with how this afternoon and evening went. It started with the parade, which brought together a wonderful mix of everything WMC stands for. We saw a great deal of excitement and happy faces among both participants and visitors," says artistic director Björn Bus.
The coming four weekends will see Kerkrade fully in the spirit of international brass music.