Brass Band Fribourg has secured its place at the 2013 European Brass Band Championship in Oslo by winning the Swiss National title in Montreux on the weekend.

Under the direction of conductor Frédéric Théodoloz, the twin performances of the set work, ‘Rush Hour’ by Etienne Crausaz and own choice selection of ‘Spiriti’ by Thomas Doss gave them the narrowest of winning margins over second placed Brass Band Bürgermusik Luzern directed by Michael Bach.

Runner-up

They had to be content with their third runner-up finish at the contest in the last four years, whilst 2010 former champion Brass Band Treize Etoiles conducted by James Gourlay was four points further back in third. Both they and Luzern choose ‘From Ancient Times’ as their own choice selections.

Luzern lead

Luzern led the contest after the set work discipline, gaining the narrowest of leads over Treize Etoiles from judges Reid Gilje, David Horsfield and Jan van der Roost, with Fribourg in third.

However, their performance of ‘Spiriti’ certainly found favour with Dr Robert Childs, Frank Renton and Benny Wiame as they secured a two point margin over Luzern with Treize Etoiles beaten into fourth by Ensemble de Cuivres Jurassien’s rendition of ‘When World’s Collide’ by Nigel Clarke.

Crucial margin

It proved to be a crucial margin for Fribourg, as it enabled the band to claim the title by just 0.66 of a margin.

Fribourg’s percussion section and soprano star Dominque Morel claimed the individual awards on offer as Fribourg secured their fourth National title and first since 2007.

Meanwhile, reigning champion Ensemble de Cuivres Valaisan could only manage sixth place in defence of the magnificent Excellence Trophy under Jean-Francois Biobillier, beaten by Ensemble de Cuivres Jurassien A in fourth, with Ensemble de Cuivres Melodia in fifth.

First Section:

In the First Section, victory went to Brass Band Rickenbach under the baton of Corsin Tuor who claimed their second National title after coming runner-up in the past two years.

Their performance of the set work, ‘Salome’ narrowly beat off the challenge of rivals Ensemble de Cuivres Euphonia directed by Michael Bach, with the newly promoted Ensemble de Cuivres AMBITUS a point further back under Francois Roh.

Reigning champion Regional Brass Band Bern could only manage a lowly joint 13th place in defence of their title, whilst the ‘Best Principal Cornet’ award went to Christoph Hess of Brass Band Emmental.

Second Section:

Brass Band Feldmusik Escholzmatt directed by Jonathan Kowszun re-claimed the Second Section National title for the first time since 2009, with their solo euphonium player Hansjörg Bucher playing his part in full by winning the ‘Best Euphonium’ prize.

Their performance of the set work, ‘Cross Patonce’ gave them a single point victory over reigning champion Liberty Brass Band Junior conducted by Christoph Luchsinger, with Armin Bachmann leading Brass Band Konkordia Büsserach into third.

Third Section:

After coming close to claiming their first National title in the past two years, Brass Band Abinchova finally secured victory in the Third Section under the baton of Gian Walker with a fine performance of the set work, ‘Clouds’ by Bertrand Moren.

It enabled the band to pip the newly formed Brass Band 43 conducted by Jacques Rossier by a single point, with Brass Band Solothun in third directed by Martin Butikofer.

Fourth Section:

After two successive runner-up finishes on the Fourth Section, Brass Band Harmonie Neuenkirch B conducted by Christoph Bangerter finally claimed their first National title with a clear cut victory on the set work, ‘Fanfare Diversions’ by John Golland.

The band’s principal cornet player Dominque Zemp took the ‘Best Principal Cornet’ award for his fine personal contribution.

Former champion Entlebucher Jugend Brass Band conducted by Mario Schubiger came second, with Musikgesellschaft Viktoria Turtmann directed by Joseph Rotzer in third.

It proved to be a crucial margin for Fribourg, as it enabled the band to claim the title by just 0.66 of a margin4BR

Results:
Championship Section:
Set Work: Rush Hour (Etienne Crausaz)
& Own Choice

Adjudicators:
Reid Gilje, David Horsfield, Jan van der Roost (Set Work)
Dr Robert Childs, Frank Renton, Benny Wiame (Own Choice)

Set Work + Own Choice = Total

1. Brass Band Fribourg (Frédéric Théodoloz): 94/96 = 190
2. Brass Band Bürgermusik Luzern (Michael Bach): 95.33/94 = 189.33
3. Brass Band Treize Etoiles (James Gourlay): 95/90 = 185
4. Ensemble de Cuivres Jurassien A (Blaise Héritier): 89.33/92 = 181.33
5. Ensemble de Cuivres Mélodia (Stéphane Duboux): 93/87 = 180
6. Ensemble de Cuivres Valaisan (Jean-François Bobillier): 91.66/88 = 179.66
7. Brass Band Berner Oberland (Corsin Tuor): 89.66/86 = 175.66
8. Valaisia Brass Band (Arsène Duc): 91.33/84 = 175.33
9. Constellation Brass Band (Ivan Lagger): 90/82 = 172
10. Musikgesellschaft Risch-Rotkreuz (Rino Chiappori): 86.66/85 = 171.66
11. Oberaargauer Brass Band (Armin Bachmann): 87.66/83 = 170.66

Best Percussion in Set Work: Brass Band Fribourg
Best Soloist in Own Choice: Dominque Morel (soprano) — Brass Band Fribourg

First Section:
Set Work: Salome (Gareth Wood)
Adjudicators: Dr Robert Childs, Frank Renton, Benny Wiame

1. Brass Band MG Rickenbach (Corsin Tuor) = 94
2. Ensemble de Cuivres Euphonia (Michael Bach) = 93
3. Ensemble de Cuivres AMBITUS (Francois Roh) = 92
4. Brass Band Imperial Lenzburg (Rafael Camartin) = 91
5. Brass Band Sursilvana (Roman Caprez) = 90
6. Oberwalliser Brass Band (David Lochmatter) = 89
7= Brass Band Eglisau (Andreas Buri) = 87
7= Brass Band Emmental (Heinz Heiniger) = 87
9= Brass Band MG Reiden (Reto Naf) = 86
9= Liberty Brass Band Ostschweiz (Andreas Koller) = 86
11= Brass Band Kirchenmusik Flühli (Herve Grelat) = 85
11= Brass Band Treize Etoiles B (Geo-Pierre Moren) = 85
13= Brass Band Breitenbach (Enrico Calzaferri) = 84
13= Regional Brass Band Bern (Dani Haus) = 84
15= Brass Band Harmonie Neuenkirch (Christoph Bangerter) = 83
15= Universal Brass Band (Sabine Egli) = 83
17= Brass Band Schötz (Peter Stadelmann) = 82
17= Brass Band Seetal (Pirmin Hodel) = 82

Best Principal Cornet: Christoph Hess (Brass Band Emmental)

Second Section:
Set Work: Cross Patonce (Goff Richards)
Adjudicators: Reid Gilje, David Horsfield, Jan van der Roost

1. Brass Band Feldmusik Escholzmatt (Jonathan Kowszun) = 94
2. Liberty Brass Band Junior (Christoph Luchsinger) = 93
3. Brass Band Konkordia Büsserach (Armin Bachmann) = 92
4. Brass Band Berner Oberland Junior (Jam Muller) = 90
5. Brass Band Cazis (Michael Zoppas) = 89.66
6. BML Talents (Patrick Ottiger) = 89.33
7. Brass Band Harmonie Rickenbach (Lukas Scherrer) = 87.66
8= Brass Band Junior Valaisan (Julien Roh) = 86.66
8= Brass Band l’Avenir Lignières (Vincent Baroni) = 86.66
10. Brass Band Fribourg B (Marc Oberson) = 85.66
11. MG Konkordia Aedermannsdorf (Bernhard Wuthrich) = 85
12. Musikverein Brass Band Henggart (Christian Bachmann) = 84
13= Brass Band Rapperswil-Wierezwil (Sascha Hinni) = 83
13= Brass Band Rhodan (Philipp Werlen) = 83
13= Ensemble de Cuivres Mélodia Junior (Vincent Maurer) = 83
16. Ensemble de Cuivres Jurassien B (Florian Lab) = 82.66

Best Euphonium: Hansjörg Bucher (Brass Band Feldmusik Escholzmatt)

Third Section:
Set Work: Clouds (Bertrand Moren)
Adjudicators: Daniel Bichsel, Remo Capra, Christophe Jeanbourquin

1. Brass Band Abinchova (Gian Walker) = 98
2. Brass Band 43 (Jacques Rossier) = 97
3. Brass Band Solothurn(Martin Butikofer) = 95.33
4. Brass Band Zürich (Werner Kubli) = 95
5. Jugend Brass Band Michelsamt (Corsin Tuor) = 94.66
6. Musikgesellschaft Jenaz (Patrick Rothenberger) = 93
7. Musikverein Brass Band Buckten (Roland Schaub) = 92.33
8. Brass Band Zurzibiet (Markus Hauenstein) = 91
9. Musikgesellschaft Risch-Rotkreuz B (Matthias Kieffer) = 90
10. Brass Band l’Avenir Lignières (Vincent Baroni) = 89
11. Brass Band Imperial Lenzburg (Lorenz Stockli) = 88
12. Brass Band Gürbetal (Urs Stahli) = 87
13. Oberwalliser Brass Band Junior (David Lochmatter) = 86
14. Musikgesellschaft Winznau (Walthert Reimer) = 85
15. MG Brass Band Münsigen (Daniela Ivanova) = 84

Best Soloist: Principal cornet of Brass Band 43

Fourth Section:
Set Work: Fanfare Diversion (John Golland)
Adjudicators: Reid Gilje, David Horsfield, Jan van der Roost

1. Brass Band Harmonie Neuenkirch B (Christoph Bangerter) = 90.33
2. Entlebucher Jugend Brass Band (Mario Schubiger) = 88.67
3. Musikgesellschaft Viktoria Turtmann (Joseph Rotzer) = 86.67
4. Thunerseebrass (Peter Michel) = 83.33

Best Principal Cornet: Dominique Zemp (Brass Band Harmonie Neuenkirch B)