Winner: Brass Band Treize Etoiles — The Lost Circle (British Open)
2. Eikanger Bjorsvik Musikklag — Jesus in Tibet (Norwegian National Championships)
3. Brighouse & Rastrick — Z 1920: The Mark of Zorro (Brass in Concert)
An overwhelming winner this year as the stunning performance of Brass Band Treize Etoiles led by Frederic Theodoloz in claiming the British Open title at Symphony Hall is the '4BR Contest Performance of the Year'.
Those who were fortunate enough to hear it live were left in no doubt to its title winning credentials on the day — the judges calling it "a privilege to listen to" and a "monumental, memorable contest performance".
The panel agreed with it gaining 9 first choice nominations and four others.
The stunning contest premiere of Simon Dobson's 'Jesus in Tibet' performed by Eikanger Bjorsvik under Florent Didier at the Norwegian Championships in February is the runner-up, gaining 4 first choice nominations and five others.
Third place with 1 first choice nomination and 8 others goes to Brighouse & Rastrick's rambunctious display of masked virtuosity and style at Brass in Concert under David King on, 'Z 1920: The Mark of Zorro'.
Panel:
The Awards Panel consisted of: Iwan Fox (4BR Editor); Malcolm Wood (4BR); Chris Thomas (4BR & BBW); Gordon Simpson (brass band statistician); Anne Crookston (conductor/adjudicator); Sarah Groarke-Booth (conductor/adjudicator); Alexander Zwann (conductor/journalist); Jess Tredrea (conductor/musician); Tim Mutum (brass band historian); Tom Davoren (conductor/composer); Michael Franz (Editor Brass Band News Switzerland); Henk Van Loon (Editor CU Brass); Stein Skorpholm (broadcaster/musician); Camila Soderstrom Tveit (musician/adjudicator); Philippa Edwards AOM (conductor/performing arts producer)
those who were fortunate enough to hear it live were left in no doubt to its title winning credentials on the day — the judges calling it "a privilege to listen to" and a "monumental, memorable contest performance"4BR
Past Winners:
2023: Foden's — Sand and Stars (British Open Championship)
2022: Tredegar — So Spoke Albion (European Championship)
2021: Foden's — Heroes (National Championship of Great Britain)
2020: Manger Musikklag — Midnight's Butterflies (Norwegian National Championship)
2019: Cory — Titan's Progress (National Championship of Great Britain)
2018: Manger Musikklag (Siddis Entertainment Championship)
2017: Eikanger Bjorsvik — Fraternity (European Championship)
2016: Cory — The Triumph of Time (British Open Championship)
2015: Cory — Spiriti (National Championship of Great Britain)
2014: Brass Band Bugermusik Luzern — Trance (Swiss National Championship)
2013: Tredegar — Arabian Nights: Fantasy on Rimsky Korsakov's Scheherazade for Brass Band (British Open Championship)
2012: Foden's — Daphnis et Chloe (National Championship of Great Britain)
2011: Cory — Red Priest (British Open Championship)
2010: Fairey (Geneva) — Eden (English National Championship)
2009: Fountain City Brass Band — Dreams (Scottish Open Championship)
2008: Eikanger Bjorsvik — Riffs & Interludes (Norwegian Championship)
2007: Brass Band Oberosterreich — Titan's Progress (European Championship)
2006: Black Dyke — Vienna Nights (British Open Championship)
2005: Black Dyke — Journey to the Centre of the Earth (European Championship)
2004: Black Dyke — Montage (British Open Championship)
2003: Buy As You View Cory — Revelation (European Championship)
2002: Yorkshire Building Society — Concerto Grosso (European Championship)
2001: Foden's — Les Preludes (British Open Championship)
