The first major title of the 2013 European Brass Band Championships was decided on Thursday evening in Oslo, when Kalle Kuusava of Finland won the 6th European Conductors Contest.
Adam Cook of the United Kingdom was runner up, with Dominik Koch of Germany in third.
Energetic win
Kalle claimed the first prize of 3,000 Euros after he impressed the international panel of adjudicators with his direction of Robert Simpson's 'Energy'.
He got through to the final after first battling his way through three preliminary rounds that saw also him conduct the Staff Band of the Norwegian Armed Forces and the Norwegian Radio Orchestra as well as the Oslo Brass Band.
Precise direction
Although the audience for the final was sparse in number, they were certainly impressed by his precise direction of Oslo, on what is regarded as one of most difficult conductor's pieces in the brass band repertoire. They also voted to award him the 'Audience Prize'.
Confident Cook
Meanwhile, the Oslo band members were impressed by Northern Ireland's Adam Cook, representing the UK.
The Becontree Brass MD, showed a great deal of confidence in leading them through a finely structured performance of Edward Gregson's, 'Dances & Arias' to claim the 2,000 second place award, as well win the 'Band Award' for his fine efforts.
Adam was delighted at his achievement, which he felt would have a great impact upon his future development as a conductor.
"I'm thrilled to have come runner up, as the quality of the competitors not just in the final was incredible," he said. "I'm so glad that I took the opportunity to come here, and I really do think the experience will benefit both me and the bands I conduct in future."
Dom delight
German representative Dominik Koch also won many admirers for his flamboyant conducting style during the week, and especially during his engaging direction of Wilfred Hetaon's, 'Contest Music' which saw him claim the 1,000 Euro third prize.
He too hopes to work with more brass bands in future.
"I am taught by Maurice Hamers, and he has helped me a great deal with understanding brass band repertoire. Now I hope to be able to use this experience to work with more bands both in Europe and the UK if I have the opportunity."
Opera work
The winner has worked for the last four years as an operatic accompanist at the magnificent Oslo Opera House, and revealed that until this week, he had never conducted a brass band in his life.
"I saw the advertisement for the competition and thought I would give it a go," Kalle told 4BR.
"I want to become an orchestral or symphonic conductor in time, but I have now been bitten by the brass band bug, and would love to conduct a top band in the UK."
Fan
Kalle has also become a fan of the repertoire too — and especially of Robert Simpson's work, which he found very demanding.
"It looked quite easy when I first looked at the score, but what a difficult piece it turned out to be! It was so difficult to get the right pace and flow, and I was very grateful to the band who really helped me so much. I would love to conduct more of Simpson's works after this."
I want to become an orchestral or symphonic conductor in time, but I have now been bitten by the brass band bug, and would love to conduct a top band in the UKKalle Kuusava
Results:
Adjudicators: Peter Szilvay, Dr Robert Childs, Ivan Meylemans, Hans Urbanek, Fried Dobbelstein
1. Kalle Kuusava (Finland)
2. Adam Cook (United Kingdom)
3. Dominik Koch (Germany)
Audience Award: Kalle Kuusava
Band Award: Adam Cook
Further details to follow, but please go to: goo.gl/vhL1e
