The Swedish National Championships took place in Arken, Varnamo on the weekend, where there was a fine competitive standard in all sections.

In the Elite Division it was Gota Brass Band conducted by Christian Schmiedescamp that maintained its impressive stranglehold on the title — winning for a seventh consecutive contesting year.

The last time they were defeated at the event was back in 2016. They will now represent the nation at the European Championships in Stavanger in 2025.

High class

Their victory came with a brace of high-class renditions of the set work, 'Radioactive Discoveries' by Norwegian composer Ingebjorg Vilhelmsen, backed by an evocative account of 'Spirit' by Thomas Doss.

The band's outstanding euphonium player Johannes Forsberg took the 'Best Instrumentalist' prize with the trombones taking the 'Best Section' award.

Very proud

Reflecting on their victory they said on their Facebook page: "The weekend of the Swedish Nationals is now over for this year, and we're very proud to be named champions!

Our solo euphonium Johannes Forsberg was awarded the best instrumentalist prize, and our amazing trombone section of Robert Karlsson, Oscar Jareteg and Daniel Vistam was the 'Best Section' winner. Well done guys, we're incredibly proud!

Our brilliant conductor Christian Schmiedescamp was also awarded the prize for the best set work, He is an inspiration to us all! Thank you to all other bands for your amazing performances, and to the organizers for yet another brilliantly run event."

Windcrorp runner up again

Windcorp Brass Band certainly pushed the winner hard to the finishing line with their effective rendition of 'Destination Moon' as their own-choice work under Alexander Hanson. It wasn't quite enough however as they finished runner-up for a fifth consecutive year.

Third place was claimed by former champion Solna Brass who performed 'Dynasty' as their own-choice selection led by English conductor Lewis Wilkinson, ahead of Betlehemskyrkans Musikkar and Lund Brass Band.

First Division:

In the First Division there was a first victory for Sodertorns Brass led by Russell Gray with their performances of 'Headland Fantasy' by Ingebjorg Vilhelmsen, which was recently used at the Dutch National Championships, and their own-choice of 'Lions of Legends'.

It proved good enough to pip Asenhoga Brass Band by a point as Patrick Randefalk led them in well directed accounts of the set-work and own-choice of 'Kaliedoscope', with defending champion Immanuel Brass Stockholm also choosing the Philip Sparke work in coming third.

Second and Third Division:

Elsewhere, Habo Brassband went one better than 2023 in claiming the Second Division title led by Ulrika Holm ahead of Skane Youth Brass Band and VM-Brasset Vaxjo, with their performances of Ingebjorg Vilhelmsen's 'Pegasus' and own-choice selections of 'Aspects of Praise', 'Jesus Christ Superstar', 'Serenade' and 'Heroes of our Time'. They also took a clean sweep of the indovdual awards.

The friendly atmosphere at the event was further enhanced by the visit of Welsh Champions Cory as they provided the entertainment in the Gala Concert, whilst Philip Harper and members of the band also took on some of the adjudication duties.

Our brilliant conductor Christian Schmiedescamp was also awarded the prize for the best set work, He is an inspiration to us all!Gota Brass Band

Results:
Elite Division:

Set Work: Radioactive Discoveries (Ingebjorg Vilhelmsen)
Adjudicators:
Set Work: Philip Harper, Hannah Plumridge, Tom Hutchinson
Own Choice: Rune Hannisdal, Hannah Plumridge, Tom Hutchinson

1. Gota Brass Band (Christian Schmiedescamp): 87.0/92.0 = 89.5
2. Windcorp Brass Band (Alexander Hanson): 85.0/91.0 = 88.0
3. Solna Brass (Lewis Wilkinson): 79.0/89.0 = 84.0
4. Betlehemskyrkans Musikkar (David Glanneskog): 76.0/86.0 = 82.0
5. Lunds Brassband (Jorgen Flink): 77.0/87.0 = 82.0

Best Instrumentalist: Johannes Forsberg (euphonium) — Gota Brass Band
Best Section: Trombones (Gota Brass Band)

First Division:

Set Work: Headland Fantasy (Ingebjorg Vilhelmsen)
Adjudicators: Rune Hannisdal, Philip Harper

1. Sodertorns Brassband (Russell Gray): 89
2. Asenhoga Brass Band (Patrik Randefalk): 88
3. Immanuel Brass Stockholm (Andreas Lundin): 86
4. Malmo Brass Band (Jan Winborg): 85
5. Torsby Brass (Berit Palmquist): 84
6. Smyrna Brass (Anders Hellman): 82

Best Section: Horns (Sodertorns Brassband)
Instrumentalist Prize: Ellen Gottfridsson (cornet) — Asenhoga Brass Band
Honours Prize for the Set Work: Russell Gray (Sodertorns Brassband)

Second Division:

Pegasus (Ingebjorg Vilhelmsen)
Adjudicators: Tom Hutchinson, Hannah Plumridge

1. Habo Brassband (Ulrika Holm): 85
2. Skane Youth Brass Band (Martin Sjoborg): 79
3. VM-Brasset Vaxjo (Leif Pettersson): 75

Best Section: Percussion (Habo Brassband)
Instrumentalist Prize: Tobias Frinndal (euphonium) — Habo Brassband
Honours Prize for the Set Work: Ulrika Holm (Habo Brassband)