The remarkable 19-year-old cornet player Oriane Brückel successfully defended the Blue Riband Swiss National Solo Championship title held recently in Lucerne.

Superb performance

In addition, her superb performance of Bertrand Moren's 'The King of Hell' had earlier seen her claim the Junior National title for a third year in a row to equal a record held by only two other performers in the 48-year history of the event.

The overall senior title has been won by many of Swiss banding leading performers, including in recent years, Vincent Bearpark, Jeremy Coquoz, Lionel Fumeaux and Mathilde Roh.

Oriane has now won two Cadet, three Junior and two senior titles in her short career. The senior title saw her compete against other instrument title holders Claude Romailler (cornet), Patrick Aegerter (euphonium), Anne Barras (horn) and Lea Crettenand (trombone).

Title winners

Earlier Anna Barras, who also plays for Valaisia Brass Band won the Adult National title with her performance of 'Frokko Five' by Wim Bex.

The championships attracted 179 solo competitors and 10 quartets from all canton areas of the country for the two-day event, with a superb standard of performance on show in each of the categories.

The latest generation of young players battled for the Under 13 'Minimes' category title on the Saturday morning, where cornet player Léa Boulnoix from Brass Band Lyre de Conthey claimed the honours with a fine rendition of 'Capriccioso' by Eddy Debons.

14-year-old cornet player Simon Gabriel, a student from the Upper Engadine School of Music retained the Cadet National Solo Championship title with an outstanding performance of Carl Hohne's 'Slavische Fantasie'.

In the Percussion category, Laurin Caprez from Lucerne claimed the National honours with a score off 99 points out of 100.

The senior quartet honours went to Underline_brass_quartet TG from Thurgau with their performance of 'Legends' by Gilles Rocha, whilst the Junior accolade went to Pers' quarter"from the canton of Valais.

Results:

Senior:

1. Oriane Bruckel (cornet)
2. Simon Schnyder (trombone)
3. Sascha Gyger (Bass)

Adult:

1. Anne Barras (horn)
2. Alena Imseng (cornet)
3. Jonathan Thery (horn)

Cadet:

1. Simon Gabriel (cornet)
2. Eric Weitzel (cornet)
3. Baptiste Bobillier (trombone)

Junior:

1. Lea Boulnoix (cornet)
2. Corentin Detienne (trombone)
3. Laly Blanchut (cornet)

Image copyright: courtesy of Etienne Bornet