When we started looking for a new flugelhorn for Brassband Hombeek, it was the beginning of a long search. We tried dozens of instruments from all possible brands. Although many instruments have good to very good qualities, it wasn’t until we discovered the Van Laar flugelhorns that we knew we were looking in the right direction. We finally decided to choose the OIRAM flugelhorn.
Musical director Arthur Vanderhoeft states: “The Van Laar OIRAM offers the right tone quality to work well in the brass band sound. The instrument blends well with the cornet section, but also allows our player to fit in with the darker tone colour of the tenor horns, a must in the contemporary brass band. Besides that the instrument has very good intonation and is very free blowing. And the craftmanship that it is made with is impeccable. It is definitely one of the best flugelhorns I have ever heard in a brass band.”
Flugelhorn soloist Tess Verschueren states: “This instrument allows me to meet the highest artistic standards required by our musical director.”
Brassband Hombeek conducted by Arthur Vanderhoeft and Tess Verschueren on flugel can be heard on CD in their winning performance of the test piece of the 3rd section at the 2nd World Brass Band Championships in Kerkrade 2009 on WWM 500.158
