A brand new work by Oliver Waespi will test the Championship Section bands that will compete at the 18th World Music Contest in Kerkrade in the Netherlands in 2017.

Outstanding

The highly respected Swiss composer was recently presented with a prestigious BUMA Brass Award by Harrie Reumkens, Artistic Manager of WMC Kerkrade, at a ceremony in the Dutch university town of Wageningen in recognition of the outstanding musical output.

And to his surprise, alongside the award came the invitation to compose a brand new work for the four yearly event which attracts well over 25,000 visitors to the town which straddles the German border.

Honour

"It did come as a shock,"Oliver exclusively told 4BR. "The award was a great honour in itself, but to be asked to compose for the event adds greater significance. I was delighted to accept and will start work on it early next year."

The commission was made possible by 'The Friends of the WMC Foundation' and will see Oliver write a work that will be performed by invited top section bands at the event in July 2017.

The 2013 Championship title was won by Manger Musikklag from Norway under the baton of Allan Withington.

Enjoyed

Oliver added: "I have always enjoyed writing for the brass band medium at all levels — from 'Audivi Media Nocte' at the 2011 European Championship to 'The Raid' this year for the Second Section of the Swiss National Championship which formed the third part of what I call my 'Alpine' works — including 'Traversada' and 'As if a voice were in them'.

I'm already just starting to think of ideas which I can work on, and after finishing a couple of existing commissions I will then start putting those ideas together."

The award was a great honour in itself, but to be asked to compose for the event adds greater significance. I was delighted to accept and will start work on it early next yearOliver Waespi

More information

For more information look on the Kerkrade website: www.wmc.nl