Solo Competition • Friday 2, 14:59:58
4BR Editor Iwan Fox talks to Kenny Crookston and Chris Thomas about the outcome of the 6th European Soloist Competition that took place at Perth Concert Hall on Thursday night
Solo Competition • Thursday 1, 22:19:31
4BR talks to the three finalists of the 6th European Soloist Competition
Solo Competition • Thursday 1, 22:03:24
And the winner of the solo competition is.......Vidar Nordli. Congratulations!
The first major award of the 2014 European Festival of Brass has been decided at Perth Concert Hall, as trombonist Vidar Nordli (centre) has been crowned the 6th European Soloist Champion.
First Prize
The Norwegian, who will be joining Eikanger Bjorsvik in June after deciding to take a year off from his army music career, claimed the 3,000 Euro first prize with his performance of the Derek Bourgeois 'Trombone Concerto'.
Scottish tuba player Ross Knight claimed second place and the 2,000 Euro prize after his performance of Peter Meechan's 'Shine', with euphonium player Philippe Schwartz, representing Luxembourg, taking third and 1,000 Euro for his performance of Kenneth Downie's, 'Euphonium Concerto'.
Result:
1. Vidar Nordli (Norway) - Trombone
2. Ross Knight (Scotland) - Tuba
3. Philippe Schwartz (Luxembourg) - Euphonium
Solo Competition • Thursday 1, 21:45:42
A lollipop of an encore from the EYBB with Leroy Anderson's Fiddle Faddle. Back to the serious stuff next with the results of the solo competition.
Solo Competition • Thursday 1, 21:33:57
A dramatic account of Peter Graham's War of the Worlds now. The last piece before we hear the results of the solo competition we suspect.
Solo Competition • Thursday 1, 21:29:03
A complete contrast now with the achingly beautiful Sleep by Eric Whitacre.
Solo Competition • Thursday 1, 21:23:23
The EYBB is doing a great job here delivering a programme of real musical merit played with sincerity and a real sense of atmosphere. Terrific stuff!
Solo Competition • Thursday 1, 21:14:30
There's a very clear Scottish theme going on in the European Youth Brass Band's programme. How fabulous it is to hear Thomas Wilson's Sinfonietta.....a neglected and greatly underrated piece.
Solo Competition • Thursday 1, 21:07:50
There's a wee Scotch snap about Alan Fernie's engaging Airs and Dances with Russell Gray's kilt and traditional attire adding a touch of Scottish sartorial style to the piece.
Solo Competition • Thursday 1, 21:04:28
The European Youth Brass Band is giving us a grimly powerful account of James Macmillan's Jebel. Music of elemental energy played with real authority.
Solo Competition • Thursday 1, 20:44:43
The audience is busy scribbling on their voting slips for the audience vote. We are going for Ross Knight as our winner. There's a short break now before we hear from the European Youth Brass Band and Russell Gray.
Solo Competition • Thursday 1, 20:35:55
We are into the Prokofiev like final movement of the Bourgeois Trombone Concerto and Vidar Nordli is clearly a player of the highest calibre but this has been such a huge test of his virtuosity, whilst judging the performances on three such differing pieces is going to be no easy task for judges Simone Rebello, Alan Morrison, Frode Amundsen and Kaspar Thaarup.
Solo Competition • Thursday 1, 20:25:45
Derek Bourgeois' Trombone Concerto is testing Kirkintilloch Band as much as it is testing the soloist here who is working hard to project what is a hugely demanding work. He has a fabulously full trombone sound although there's a little more dynamic range needed on occasions.
Solo Competition • Thursday 1, 20:15:09
A fine effort from Philippe Schwartz perhaps just lacking a little in emotional warmth and expression. Vidar Nordli of Norway is on stage now playing the Derek Bourgeois Trombone Concerto.....a tour de force of a piece in comparison to the two that have gone before.
Solo Competition • Thursday 1, 20:03:52
Kenneth Downie's radiantly melodic Euphonium Concerto is proving to be a fine vehicle for Philippe Schwartz. There is so much scope for both technical fireworks and song like lyricism within its three contrasting movements and the soloist is really giving it his all here.
Solo Competition • Thursday 1, 19:56:26
Ross Knight has turned in a stirling effort on Shine. Philippe Schwartz is up next playing Kenneth Downie's Euphonium Concerto. An altogether different proposition to Peter Meechan's piece.
Solo Competition • Thursday 1, 19:49:20
What wonderfully controlled playing from Ross Knight in the lyrical central panel of Shine. He's really making his tuba sing here.
Solo Competition • Thursday 1, 19:46:24
Shine is quintessential Peter Meechan. Full of driving rock rhythms and and a seriously virtuosic test of Ross Knight's tuba technique. He's making a pretty impressive job of it so far!!
Solo Competition • Thursday 1, 19:42:47
Ross Knight on tuba is the first of the soloists and he will playing 'Shine' by Peter Meechan.
Solo Competition • Thursday 1, 19:39:48
Kirkintilloch are on stage and we are all set for the final of the solo competition. The three finalists are Ross Knight of Scotland on tuba, Philippe Schwartz of Luxembourg on euphonium and Vidar Nordli of Norway on trombone.
Solo Competition • Thursday 1, 13:45:28
The three players who will compete in the final of the 6th European Soloist Competition in Perth Concert Hall tonight have been announced.
Ross Knight - Tuba (Scotland), Philippe Schwartz - Euphonium (Luxembourg) and Vidar Nordli - Trombone (Norway)
Their performances will be with the Kirkintilloch Band and the contest will be adjudicated by Frode Amundsen, Simone Rebello and Alan Morrison.
The event starts at 7.30pm and will include a performance by the European Youth Brass Band under the baton of MD, Russell Gray.
Tickets are still available for the event.
Solo Competition • Tuesday 29, 12:59:57
Thursday 1st May
20.00: Perth Concert Hall
Finals and awards ceremony of 6th European Solo Competition for Brass and Percussion, with performances from the 3 finalists with the Kirkintilloch Band with additional music provided by the 2014 European Youth Brass Band.
