The Royal Ypriana Wind Band was founded in 1920, by the inhabitants of Ypres (or Ieper in Flemish) returning to their city after its total devastation during the Great War. The band has played a major role in the city's cultural and musical life ever since and was granted the title “Royal” in 1960.
Ypriana's current setting can be traced back to the early nineties, when Nico Logghe, a young and ambitious conductor, took up the baton of the youth orchestra. Nico's enthusiasm and encouragement of the young players led them to win first prize at the Welt Jugendmusikfestival in Zürich in 1999. Since then, Ypriana has grown from strength to strength, playing in the highest Belgian national division (Superieure) since 2004.
Ypriana is a remarkably versatile orchestra
In the concert hall, the band promotes European and Belgian composers and commissions work from talented young composers.
The orchestra regularly takes part in (international) competitions, such as Flicorno d'Oro in Italy in 2010 (92,5%), Music Festival of West Flanders in 2015 (Top 3) and the Concours Européen pour Harmonies in Luxemburg in 2017 (92,3%).
On the popular stage Ypriana has worked with a diversity of artists such as Luka Bloom, Yannis Markopoulos and Ozark Henry, exploring the borders of musical genres.
The band regularly parades the streets of Ieper and beyond to play on various occasions – such as the tri-annual Cat Parade (Kattenstoet).
In cooperation with the Last Post Association, Ypriana adds lustre to the annual Armistice remembrance ceremony under the Menin Gate in Ieper and is the house orchestra at the impressive “The Great War Remembered” concerts in the town's cathedral. In 2018 a delegation of buglers from Ypriana took part in the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
