The 2008 title of Victorian Champion of Champions has been won by Matthew van Emmerik. This is the second time Matthew has won the championship.
Adjudicators
He was given the nod from adjudicators Paul Gunning from the Central band of The Royal Australian Air Force and Glenn McGowan, former principal cornet of leading Melbourne bands.
The adjudicators noted that the person they thought that should be representing Victoria at the Ern Keller was a person that was at the level of performing on an international stage, in brass festivals and large scale recital programmes — it was this criteria that eventually put Matthew over the line.
Ability
Matt played two movements from James Curnow's Symphonic Variants for Euphonium which tests the perfomer in all levels of musical and technical ability.
Off to 'the Keller'
It will be the third time that Matthew will be attending the Ern Keller International soloist of the year competition.
New Venue
This years competition moved from the Kew Band room and was held at Fairbank Grammar in Brighton thanks to the efforts of Jamie Lawson and Phillipa Edwards.
More results
Other Open individual winners were:
Soprano: David Bowden
Cornet: Christina Bowden
Flugel: Jennifer Magoulas
Horn: Charles Young
Baritone: Jessica Crabbe
Euphonium: Matt van Emmerik
Trombone: Merv Preusker
Bass Trombone: Neil Bassett
Eb Tuba: Matthew Pankhurst
Bb Tuba: Gerard Banner
Slow Melody: Merv Preusker
Duet: Charles Young and Marianna Barker
Quartet: Diamond Valley Brass
Juvenile Brass Champion of Champions:
Isaac Martin, Shepparton Brass Band
Junior Brass Champion of Champions:
Lauren Whitehead, Wondonga Brass
Juvenile Aggregate:
Boroondara Harmony Brass
Junior Aggregate:
Shepparton High School
Solitaire Open and Grand Aggregate:
Kew Band Melbourne
More detail can be obtained from www.vbl.org.au
