Winner: The World Rejoicing (Edward Gregson) — British Open/Belgian National Championship
2. Saints Triumphant (Prof Philip Wilby) — European Championship
3. Contest Music (Wilfred Heaton) — Championship Section Area Championships/World Music Contest
Still a year of catch-up in many ways, but also one in which some great test-piece choices showed that bands are at their best when challenged by top class music.
Edward Gregson's latest major work has been well worth waiting for — as it once again made a huge impression of conductors, players and audiences alike as it was finally performed at the British Open and the again at the Belgian National Championships.
It gained 8 first preference choices from our panel, whilst there was also a great deal of admiration for Prof Philip Wilby's 'Saints Triumphant' (5 first choice preferences) that made a huge impression at the European Championships. It will surely be heard time and again in 2023 and beyond.
The iconic status of 'Contest Music' remains too, gaining 3 first choice preference votes for the judges, whilst Ludovic Neurohr's 'Nu' used at the Swiss Championships was also a favourite of one.
Other works to be noted by the panel were 'Redbad: King of the Frisians', 'Albinus Variations', 'Hyperlink', 'Sinfonietta' and 'Argos'.
Panel:
The Awards Panel consisted of:
Iwan Fox (editor 4BR); Michael Bach (conductor/adjudicator); Kerry Baldwin (player/regional development executive ABRSM); Sarah Groarke Booth (conductor/adjudicator); Anne Crookston (conductor/adjudicator); David Gallaher (conductor/adjudicator); David Hirst (player/conductor/adjudicator); Owen Melhuish (New Zealand BBA); Tim Mutum (writer/brass band recording and history specialist); Gordon Simpson (statistician Brass Band World magazine); Stein Skorpholm (Norwegian broadcaster/presenter); Chris Thomas (chief contributor BBW magazine/4BR contributor); Camilla Soderstrom Tveit (player/adjudicator); Luc Vertommen (conductor/adjudicator/arranger); Andrew Wainwright (composer/arranger/designer); Malcolm Wood (4BR chief contributor); Alexander Zwann (chief contributor CU Brass).
Past Winners:
2021: The World Rejoicing: Variations on a Lutheran Chorale (Edward Gregson)
2020: Neverland (Christopher Bond)
2019: Dear Cassandra… (Ludovic Neurohr)
2018: Concerto Grosso (Derek Bourgeois)
2017: Fraternity (Thierry Deleruyelle)
2016: Fraternity (Thierry Deleruyelle)
2015: The God Particle (Rolf Rudin)
2014: Vita Aeterna Variations (Ed de Boer writing as Alexander Comitas)
2013: Of Distant Memories (Music in an Olden Style) (Edward Gregson)
2012: Goldberg 2012 (Svein Henrik Giske)
2011: Breath of Souls (Paul Lovatt-Cooper)
2010: Saint Saens Variations (Philip Sparke)
2009: Titan's Progress (Hermann Pallhuber)
2008: The Dark Side of the Moon (Paul Lovatt-Cooper)
2007: Music for Battle Creek (Philip Sparke)
2006: Vienna Nights (Philip Wilby)
2005: Eden (Dr. John Pickard)
2004: St. Magnus (Kenneth Downie)
2003: Festival Music (Eric Ball)
2002: Masquerade (Philip Wilby)
2001: Albion (Jan Van der Roost)
