There were several excellent performances for a worldwide audience to enjoy at the recent German National Championships held at the University of Regensburg in Bavaria.

The live broadcast event saw 13 bands take part (including one from Belgium) in the five different categories at the 1500 seat Audimax venue, with recently crowned World Champion, Brass Band Willebroek providing the Gala Concert entertainment.

However, it was defending champion 3BA Concert Band led by Swiss conductor Corsin Tuor that led the way.

Good as it gets

They topped the domestic honours with their outstanding performances of the set work, 'Journey into Singularity' by Mathias Wehr, and their own-choice test-piece selection of 'Other Lives' by Oliver Waespi.

Although they were the only Championship Division entrant, jury member Dr Robert Childs stated that their performances were "as good as it gets". They will now represent the nation at the 2023 European Championships in Malmo.

Following their victory the band stated that they were, "very happy about our great rating and that we can carry the title of German Champion for the next two years. It was a great event and we thank our great conductor Corsin Tuor and out solo trombonist Benedikt Geirhos on winning the solo prize."

They also added that like others at the contest they were, "so happy to see so many bands and brass band enthusiasts from all over Germany again."

Division progress

There was also further confirmation of the progress being made at the other competitive levels, with Brass Band Regensburg securing the First Division honours (although guest participant Young Brass Band Willebroek topped the contest) narrowly ahead of Brass Band A7 and Nordbayerische Brass Band.

Young Brass Band Willebroek were led by Lode Violet, with his brother, Jonas on euphonium claiming the 'Best Euphonium' prize for his contributions on the set-work, 'Cap Hoorn' by Mario Burki and their own-choice of 'Bipolarity' by Stijn Aertgeerts.

Brass Band Regensburg showed their ambition under MD Thomas Freiss with their own-choice of 'The Torchbearer' by Peter Graham. Brass Band A7 performed 'Thyellene' by Kevin Houben with Nordbayerische Brass Band playing 'Diversions on a Bass Theme' by George Lloyd.

Commanding

The Second Division honours were commandingly claimed by Brass Band B10 led by Frank Vantroyen, with a brace of excellent renditions of the set-work, 'Life Ablaze' by Steven Ponsford, and 'Red Mountains' by Marc Jeanbourquin.

Second place went to Golden X Band Regensburg, the sibling band to their senior counterparts, led by Dave Lea showed their progress especially on the own-choice selection of 'Variations on Laudate Dominun', with Brass Band Westfalen in third playing 'Blackout' by Thomas Doss.

Well delivered

In the Third Division, Evolution Brass Regensburg secured the title from Brass Band Nord. Led by MD Thomas Freiss they gave well delivered accounts of the set-work, 'Excalibur' by Colin Dance and their own-choice work, 'Lake of the Moon' by Kevin Houben, as did their rivals.

Although there was only the one entrant in the Youth Section, Jugend Brass Band PotzBlech gave mature performances of 'Children of our Time' by Mathias Wehr and their own-choice programme work under Hans Jacob to deservedly claim the title.

Very high standard

The adjudication panel of Jacob de Hann, Dr Robert Childs and Dr Ray Farr also enjoyed their jury experience all stating publicly that they had enjoyed the "fine performances", with Jacob stating that "the level of the bands very high" and that "German bands are on the rise".

Dr Childs added that he had been "absolutely amazed by the progress Germany has made in such a short time. The performance level in all divisions was so high and the Championship Division won by 3BA Brass Band was as good as it gets."

Although they were the only Championship Division entrant, jury member Dr Robert Childs stated that their performances were "as good as it gets" 4BR

Results:
Championship Division:

Adjudicators: Dr Robert Childs, Dr Ray Farr, Jacob de Haan
Set Work: Journey into Singularity (M. Wehr) plus Own Choice

1. 3BA Concert Band (Corsin Tuor): 187.3

Best Solo Trombone: Benedikt Geirhos (3BA Concert Band)

First Division:

Adjudicators: Dr Robert Childs, Dr Ray Farr, Jacob de Haan
Set Work: Cap Hoorn (M. Burki) plus Own Choice

1. Brass Band Regensberg (Thomas Freiss): 184.3
2. Brass Band A7 (Thomas Wolf): 184.0
3. Nordbayerische Brass Band (Mathias Wehr): 182.7
4. Brass Band Bamberg (Franz Matysiak): 176.7

*Young Brass Band Willebroek (Lode Violet): 190.0

Best Euphonium: Jonas Violet (Young Brass Band Willebroek)

Second Division:

Adjudicators: Dr Robert Childs, Dr Ray Farr, Jacob de Haan
Set Work: Life Ablaze (S. Ponsford) plus Own Choice

1. Brass Band B10 (Frank Vantroyen): 185.3
2. Golden X Band Regensberg (Dave Lea): 173.0
3. Brass Band Westfalen (Tobias Schutte): 172.3
4. Brass Band Munchen (Bernd von Hosslin): 167.0

Best Solo Cornet: Brass Band B10

Third Division:

Adjudicators: Dr Robert Childs, Dr Ray Farr, Jacob de Haan
Set Work: Excalibur (K. Houben) plus Own Choice

1. Evolution Brass Regensberg (Thomas Freiss): 171.7
2. Brass Band Nord (Jonathan Eberstein): 168.7

Best Solo Cornet: Brass Band Nord

Youth Division:

Adjudicators: Dr Robert Childs, Dr Ray Farr, Jacob de Haan
Set Work: Children of our Time (M. Wehr) plus Own Choice

1. Jugend Brass Band PotzBlech (Hans Jacob): 182.7

Youngest Musician: Jugend Brass Band PotzBlech
Best Euphonium: Jugend Brass Band PotzBlech