The Frysk Fanfare Orchestra

The Frysk Fanfare Orchestra (FFO) comprises some 60 players. Most of them hail from all over the province and are also playing in one or more local bands. They vary in age between 14 and 40, and their musical skill ranges from good amateur to, in some cases, conservatory graduate.The FFO’s main aim is to promote old and new original fanfare band music in the broadest possible sense.

Over the years, the FFO has given many concerts, in Friesland as well as (much) farther afield. Important  composers who have made new compositions  especially for the FFO are: Bernard van Beurden, Marco Pütz,  Frans Vermeerssen, Alexander Comitas alis Ed de Boer, Cornelis de Bondt, Hardy Mertens and Leon Vliex. The FFO has taken part in many festivals and competitions, invariably winning a first prize, often with distinction. Highlights in the orchestra’s history are its winning of first prize at the 1985 World Music Contest, first prize at an international contest at Rastede (Germany)in 1988, the highest distinction at a competition celebrating of the 40th anniversary of the World Music Contest Foundation in 1991, and winning the champion’s title in the Fanfare Band concert division of the Kerkrade World Music Contest in 1989 and 1993. In 1995 and 2003 the FFO won first prize in the Open Dutch Championships in the Concert Division, fanfare band section at Kerkrade. In 1999 the band won its second championship there. The FFO has an impressive number of CD releases to its name and has made many recordings for radio and television programs. In 1991 the FFO has been awarded with a cultural prize from the province of Friesland: “De Zilveren Anjer”. 

The FFO also made several concert tours abroad: Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, England (international WASBE conference Manchester 1989), Portugal and America. The FFO played at the International festival Sociedade Euterpe Alhendrense in Alhandra Portugal in September 2003. In 2004 the FFO had a concert tour in combination with a participation at the international orchestra festival Emajöe Suvi in Tartu Estonia, and in 2005 the FFO was in Singapore for the international WASBE conference. Participation at international festivals is of great importance for the FFO in order to interest foreign composers for the fanfare orchestra as a serious orchestra form.