One of European bandings leading ensembles has undergone a major change in musical direction with the news that Hannes Buchegger has decided to step down as Musical Director of Brass Band Oberösterreich in Austria.

Inspirational

The inspirational conductor decided to end his 10 year collaboration in charge following the band’s recent ground breaking tour to South Africa.

Collaboration

In an exclusive interview with 4BR, Band Manager Thomas Beiganz said: "From the end of this summer there will be a number of musical changes undertaken by Brass Band Oberösterreich.

In the future we will be increasing our collaboration with the Anton Bruckner Privatuniversität in Linz, which is one of the leading Austrian musical universities and which trains many of the country’s foremost young brass students."

Grateful

He added: "We are immensely grateful to Hannes Buchegger for all the wonderful times he has brought to the band, and he leaves us with great friendships and affection and with some of the finest musical memories."

Success

During his tenure the conductor led BBO from being a provincial brass ensemble to become one of the leading brass bands in Europe, gaining contest and concert accolades and immense critical acclaim along the way.

The band’s impact at the European Championships – first in the B Section and then in the Championship Division was stunning, culminating in them coming third when hosting the event in Linz in 2010.

In recent years the band has also become a remarkable concert ensemble, wowing audiences from Cape Town to Bergen with their unique musicality and featuring world class soloists such as Hans Gansch, Lito Fontana, Christian Hollensteiner and Harald Buchner.

We now look forward to new challenges under the direction of Professor Hans Gansch, especially with the European Brass Band Championship in Oslo in 2013Thomas Beiganz

Gansch takes over

Thomas revealed that the renowned principal cornet Hans Gansch will now take over the Musical Director role with immediate effect, and will lead the band in their forthcoming projects and to the European Brass Band Championships in Oslo next year.

A number of new players have already been welcomed into the band, including the appointment of a new principal cornet in Manfred Jäger, who studied trumpet at the University Mozarteum Salzburg under Hans Gansch, and who played in the band from 2002 to 2007.

Thanks

"We would like to thanks all the players who have left the band to seek new challenges," Thomas said.

"People such as Lito Fontana have been wonderful musicians for BBO and we wish them all the very best in the future and hope to be able to work with them again."

Look towards Oslo

He concluded: "We now look forward to new challenges under the direction of Professor Hans Gansch, especially with the European Brass Band Championship in Oslo in 2013. New players will come to the band, and we will continue to strive to produce performances of the very highest musicianship."