The recent appointment of the remarkable 29 year old Lithuanian conductor Mirga Grazinyte-Tyla as the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra's 12th chief conductor may have passed a lot of people by in the brass banding world.

Stavanger 2008

However, with the European Championships taking place in Lille in a few weeks time, it's worth remembering that she first came to conducting prominence at the event in Stavanger in 2008.

There she reached the final of the 4th Conductors Competition, winning through to direct Sola Brass in a performance of Gilbert Vinter's 'Salute to Youth'.

Despite not winning, she was complimented by the adjudication panel of Jan van der Roost, David King, Ray Farr and Sveinung Sand for her approach which was also noted by 4BR on the night.

Huge vibrancy

4BR wrote: "Despite her size, the young lady who is studying choral and orchestral conducting at Bologna University in Italy displayed a huge vibrancy and presence in front of the band, which her sense of theatre (especially when she threw her head back in musical ecstasy at every available Vinter inspired musical climax) brought quite a few wry smiles to the faces of the jury.

Even with a tired band to work with, her enthusiasm won through (despite the rather slow final tempo chosen in the third movement) and for many she was the pick of a talented bunch to take the title."

Dudamel Fellow

Grazinyte-Tyla is currently assistant conductor at the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, where she was a Dudamel Fellow, and in July becomes its associate conductor. She also holds the post of music director of the Salzburg Landestheatre in the city where she first came to international attention when she won the Salzburg festival young conductors award in 2012.

The respected music critic James Chute of the San Diego Union Tribune described her as having, '...a rare combination of excitement, focus, precision and intellect. Add to that her podium presence and the fluidity of her approach, and you have a rare talent."

Thrilling audiences

CBSO Chief executive Stephen Maddock said on her appointment: "There was an instant chemistry between Mirga and our musicians, and the excitement in Symphony Hall at her concerts both on stage and in the audience was palpable...Mirga is thrilling audiences wherever she goes: we can't wait to start making music with her."

'...a rare combination of excitement, focus, precision and intellect. Add to that her podium presence and the fluidity of her approach, and you have a rare talentmusic critic James Chute of the San Diego Union Tribune

Inspire

Despite not mentioning her foray into the brass banding world in the interviews she gave following her Birmingham appointment, perhaps EBBA can persuade her to make a special return to the event at some time in the future to inspire the next generation of young brass band conductors...

2008 Conductor Competition

http://www.4barsrest.com/articles/2008/art846a.asp#.VvZ8uuKLS_6

Image from The Guardian newspaper