The celebrated Swedish conductor Andreas Hanson will lead Bjorsvik Brass at the forthcoming Siddis Championship in Stavanger, with the self-proclaimed 'geriatric' performers looking to try and to win the premier Norwegian entertainment title for the first time.

It will also mark the debut for the partnership at the event, with both telling 4BR that they are looking forward to locking horns with younger Elite Division rivals

Thrill

"It's a genuine thrill to get to conduct this band,"Andreas told 4BR after leading the band through another late night rehearsal. "There is so much experience in one room. Golden oldies are playing 'golden oldies'."

Due to the Bjorsvik players finding their work/personal/banding life balances changing as they grew older, they now fit in rehearsals at times when younger players are heading to the bright lights of Nordic night life.

Eikanger geriatrics

Euphonium star Tormod Flaten told 4BR: "We call ourselves the Eikanger geriatrics as we all now have busy family lives and professional work schedules to put first, so the only time we can all get together is late on a Sunday night at someone else's bandroom.

We still have the contest bug though as most of us played with Eikanger in the past, so when it's Siddis time, the years roll back and its showtime. Those youngsters better look out!"

Circus horses

Soprano player Frode Rydland agreed: "Some of us have less hair nowadays, but we have an old saying in Norway: 'When the circus horse smells sawdust, it gets excited'. We are the old circus horses!"

The players are thoroughly enjoying themselves under their Swedish conductor, especially as they are playing music they enjoy, and which they believe still cannot be beaten.

Andreas Hanson is a brilliant conductor and understands our musical mission with Bjorsvik. Musical enjoyment comes first, so it's great to be able to play pieces that not many bands play anymoreTormod Flaten

Brilliant musician

Tormod Flaten added: "Andreas Hanson is a brilliant conductor and understands our musical mission with Bjorsvik. Musical enjoyment comes first, so it's great to be able to play pieces that not many bands play anymore."

And just to prove the point Tormod revealed the band's Siddis programme. "We will be playing 'Le Carnival Romain' and Piazzola's 'La Muerte del Angel', with our great solo trombone player Grethe Tonheim, who is making her debut, performing 'The Moon's a Harsh Mistress'.

It was originally made famous by Norwegian jazz singer Radka Toneff and has been specially arranged for Grethe by Reid Gilje."

Last breath

He concluded: "And if we haven't run out of breath and our old lungs can still manage it, we will finish off with the last movement of 'Pines of Rome'!"