The 34th Swiss Nationals took place in Montreux on a busy weekend of European banding.
Impressive line up
An impressive line up of bands battled it out in the Stravinski Auditorium for the honour of representing Switzerland at the 2009 European Brass Band Championships in Ostend.
Added spice
There was a touch of added spice to the Championship (Excellence) Section where four leading British conductors, including the trio of new conducting talent at Grimethorpe Colliery Band, battled it out for the top prize of 3,000 Swiss Francs.
Adjudicator David Read told 4BR that both he and his fellow judges were very impressed, not just by the eventual winners, but by the overall standard of the bands at the top level4BR
Too strong
In the end it was Brass Band Treize Etoiles under James Gourlay that triumphed over the set work and own choice disciplines, with their performances of the test piece, ‘Titan’s Progress’ and their own selection of ‘St. Magnus’ proving to be too strong for the rest of the high class field.
Adjudicator David Read told 4BR that both he and his fellow judges were very impressed, not just by the eventual winners, but by the overall standard of the bands at the top level.
Command
Treize Etoiles took command of the contest by winning the set work section and coming third on the own choice element, whilst the consistency of Ensemble de Cuivres Valaisan directed by Jean-François Bobillier saw them come third in both sections to pip Brass Band Bürgermusik Luzern into third place.
Conducted by Allan Withington, they finished a lowly 7th on the set work but stormed back to win the own choice section with a thrilling performance of ‘Masquerade’. Fourth place was taken by Brass Band Fribourg under Dr Robert Childs, who impressed many with their strong performances, especially on their own choice selection of ‘Vienna Nights’.
Euro qualification
For Trieze Etoile the victory ensured that they retained their National title, the 12th time they have won the event, and booked their place at the European Championships in Ostend next year.
Results:
Excellence Division:
(Set work/Own Choice = Total)
Titan’s Progress (Hermann Pallhuber)
1. Brass Band Treize Etoiles, James Gourlay, 96/94 = 190
2. Ensemble de Cuivres Valaisan, Jean-François Bobillier, 94/92 = 186
3. Brass Band Bürgermusik Luzern, Allan Withington, 90/96 = 186
4. Brass Band Fribourg A, Dr. Robert Childs, 95/90 = 185
5. Brass Band Berner Oberland, Phillip McCann, 93/88 = 181
6. Oberaargauer Brass Band A, Armin Renggli, 92/86 = 178
7. Ensemble de Cuivres Jurassien A, Blaise Héritier, 88/89 = 177
8. VALAISIA Brass Band, Arsène Duc, 91/85 = 176
9. Ensemble de Cuivres Mélodia, Yvan Lagger, 89/87 = 176
Adjudicators:
Set Work: Hannes Buchegger, David Read, Rolf Schumacher
Own Choice: Ray Farr, Jean-Claude Kolly, Steve Sykes
Best Instrumentalist: Solo cornet of Brass Band Fribourg A
First Division:
Dances & Arias (Edward Gregson)
1. Ensemble de Cuivres Euphonia, Michael Bach — 96
2. Universal Brass Band Wil, Susanne Rechsteiner — 95
3. Brass Band MG Rickenbach, Corsin Tuor — 94
4. Liberty Brass Band Ostschweiz, Andreas Koller — 93
5. Brass Band Fricktal, Roland Fröscher — 92
6. Brass Band Kirchenmusik Flühli, Hervé Grélat — 91
7. Brass Band Schötz, Armin Renggli — 90
8= Brass Band Harmonie Neuenkirch, Christoph Bangerter — 89
8= Brass Band Treize Etoiles B, Geo-Pierre Moren — 89
10= Brass Band Sursilvana, Roman Caprez — 88
10= Regional Brass Band Bern, Daniel Bichsel — 88
12= Oberwalliser Brass Band A, David Lochmatter — 87
12= Brass Band Imperial Lenzburg A, Christian Siegmann — 87
14. Alp & Brass, Christophe Jeanbourquin — 86
15. Brass Band Emmental, Heinz Heiniger — 85
16. Musikgesellschaft Brass Band Eglisau, Andreas Buri — 84
17. Brass Band Matzendorf, Thomas Trachsel — 83
Adjudicators:
Ray Farr, Jean-Claude Kolly, Steve Sykes
Best Instrumentalist: Solo euphonium of Ensemble de Cuivres Euphonia
Second Division:
Picadilly (Stephan Hodel)
1. Brass Band Feldmusik Escholzmatt, Jon Kowszun — 96
2. BML Talents, Patrick Ottiger — 95
3. Liberty Brass Band Junior, Christoph Luchsinger — 94
4. Brass Band Cazis, Andrea Nold — 93
5. Brass Band Junior Valaisan, Julien Roh — 92
6. Ensemble de Cuivres AMBITUS, Jean-François Bobillier — 91
7. Brass Band Posaunenchor Flaach, Christian Bachmann — 90
8. Brass Band L'Avenir Lignières A, Vincent Baroni — 89
9. Brass Band Harmonie Rickenbach, Marco Schneider — 88
10. Brass Band Rhodan, Christian Pfammatter — 87
11. Brass Band Solothurn, Hans Burkhalter — 86
12. Oberaargauer Brass Band B, Roger Stöckli — 86
13. Brass Band Fribourg B, Pascal Schafer — 85
14. Musik Frohsinn Oberburg, Jan Müller — 84
15= Brass Band Berner Oberland Junior, Gian Stecher — 83
15= Musikverein Brass Band Henggart, Lorenz Stöckli — 83
17= Brass Band MG Egolzwil, Stefan Frei — 82
17= Brass Band Musikgesellschaft Root, Pirmin Hodel — 82
Adjudicators: Hannes Buchegger, David Read, Rolf Schumacher
Best Basses: Brass Band Junior Valaisan
Third Division:
Legenda Rumantscha (Oliver Waespi)
1. Juband Thierstein Laufental, Martin Schaad — 97
2. Jugend Brass Band Michelsamt, Corsin Tuor — 96
3. Oberwalliser Brass Band Junior, David Lochmatter — 95
4. Musikgesellschaft Sörenberg, Sigi Bieri — 93
5. Musikgesellschaft Haslen, Thomas Schildknecht — 92
6. Brass Band Imperial Lenzburg B, Christoph Bollige — 91
7. Brass Band Abinchova, Gian Walker — 90
8. Ensemble de Cuivres Jurassien B, Florian Lab — 89
9. Ensemble de Cuivres Mélodia Junior, Yvan Lagger — 88
10. ABM Brass Freiamt, Roger Stöckli — 87
11. Brass Band Gürbetal, Urs Stähli — 85
12. mgrr Junior Band, Matthias Kieffer — 84
13. BB Grischun Central, Roland Aregger — 83
14. Brass Band Frohsinn Laupersdorf, Heinz Sinniger — 82
Adjudicators: Remo Capra, Pascal Eicher, Thomas Rüedi
Best cornets: Musikgesellschaft Sörenberg
Fourth Division:
Petite Suite De Ballet (Eric Ball)
1. Brass Band L'Avenir Lignières B, Vincent Baroni — 94
2. Entlebucher Jugend Brass Band Rafael Camartin — 93
3. Brass Band Maur Werner Kubli — 92
4. Brass Band Rhodan B Christian Pfammatter — 80
Best Instrumentalist: Solo Euphonium of Brass Band L'Avenir Lignières B
