|
2003 Norwegian Brass Band Championships
7th and 8th February 2003
Grieg Hall
Bergen
Second Division:
Friday 7th Feb: 12.00 - 17.10
Competing Bands:
Austrheim Lindås Musikklag
Conductor: - Christian Breistein
Norwegian Ranking: 29
National Record: 2002 – 8th; 2001 –
11th; 2000 – 12th;
Last Year: 8th
Christian Breistein and his band have a solid record here in the
past three years, but they haven’t really done enough to push
for the top prizes. 12th in 2000 was followed by 11th and then 8th,
so they are moving in the right direction, even if it is by small
steps.
They will be hoping this continues, and a possible top six place
could be in their grasp. Came 13th at SIDDIS in the 1st Division
in 20001 and then 7th last year, so they have the talent.
Brøttum Musikkforening
Conductor: Thorbjørn Lunde
Norwegian Ranking: 24
National Record: 2002 – 8th in 1st Division;
2001 – 3rd; 2000 – 9th in 1st Division;
Last Year: 8th in First Division
Brottum return back to the 2nd Division after just one year in
the First Division where they came 8th and were relegated. That
showed how difficult it is to make a mark at the higher level, and
especially for Brottum as they were also relegated in 2000 after
coming 9th at the higher level.
Thorbjørn Lunde directs once more and they didn’t
compete at SIDDIS last year after coming 2nd in the 2nd Division
there in 2001. Should do well, so don’t be surprised if they
are close to yet another promotion trip back up a section.
Flesland Musikklag
Conductor: Michael Antrobus
Norwegian Ranking: 25
National Record: 2002 – 5th; 2001 –
7th; 2000 – Joint 9th;
Last Year: 5th
A band that has an ever improving record here over the past three
years, although they will now be using their third new conductor
in as many outings. They were joint 9th in 2000 before T. Osa took
them up a couple of places to 7th in 2001 and then Egil Magnuson
upped that to 5th last year.
They also did well at SIDDIS with 1st place in the 2nd Division
in 20001 and 4th last year. Michael Antrobus heads them this year,
so a further improvement and a mention in the top three perhaps?
Hasle Brass
Conductor: Tarjei Gilbrant
Norwegian Ranking: 35
National Record: 2002 – 5th in 3rd Division;
2001 – 8th in 3rd Division; 2000 – 20th in 3rd Division;
Last Year: 5th in Third Division
Hasle were promoted to the 2nd Division this year following three
years in the 3rd Division in which they made dramatic improvement
since coming 20th in 2000. Tarjei Gilbrant has therefore done some
wonderful work to get them to 8th and then 5th last year, but the
step up to the 2nd Division may be a big one and they will be hoping
that they can hold their own at least.
They won SIDDIS in the 3rd Division in 2000 and came 5th last year.
Kopervik Musikkorps
Conductor: Selmer Simonsen
Norwegian Ranking: 20
National Record: 2002 – 6th; 2001 –
9th; 2000 – 9th;
Last Year: 6th
Another band which has been improving over the past three years
with them coming 9th in both 2000 (under Melvin White) and 2001
and then 6th last year under the direction of the irrepressible
Richard Evans. They haven’t got him this time around and have
settled for Selmer Simonsen instead, so they will be hoing he can
carry on where the English contingent left off.
They have also doe well at the SIDDIS contest with them coming
11th in the 1st Division in 2001 and then 4th under the baton of
Ray Farr last year.
Musikkorpset Gjallarhorn
Conductor: Alan Fernie
Norwegian Ranking: 23
National Record: 2002 – 3rd; 2001 –
5th; 2000 – 12th in 1st Division;
Last Year: 3rd
Another band on the up and one that on recent form here could well
be challenging for one of the top prizes come results time. They
came 12th in the First Division in 2000 and were relegated, but
since that time they came 5th in 20001 under R.A. Gilje and then
3rd last year under the direction of Scotsman Alan Fernie.
Ebbe Siverstson took the band to SIDDIS last year when they came
9th, an improvement of three places from the 12th of 2001.
Could very well be a band to feature in the prizes this time around.
Oltedal-Ålgård Musikkorps
Conductor: Russell Gray
Norwegian Ranking: 31
National Record: 2002 – 2nd in 3rd Division;
2001 – 14th in 2nd Division; 2000 – 2nd in 3rd Division;
Last Year: Runners up in Third Division
Oltedal-Ålgård Musikkorps have had a very successful
relationship with 4BR Conductor of the Year, Russell Gray, and the
MD at Fodens Richardson will once more be fronting a band that will
have high hopes of success here.
After promotion from the 3rd Division in 2000 they dropped back
down after 14th place here in 2001 before a huge improvement saw
them come runners up and get promoted. They also have done well
at the SIDDIS contest in the past two years as well with 3rd place
in 20001 and 2nd last year.
Oslo Brass Band
Conductor: Helge Haukås
Norwegian Ranking: 30
National Record: 2002 – 1st in 3rd Division;
2001 – DNE; 2000 – DNE;
Last Year: Winners of Third Division
The vastly experienced Helge Haukås (he conducted Eikanger
to the National title way back in 1981) takes Oslo here for the
second year, and by all accounts, and recent form they should be
favourites to take the title.
They won the SIDDIS contest in the 1st Division with some considerable
style last year (by two clear points from Askoy), so they certainly
have the talent to do well here. They won the 3rd Division title
with some ease last year and we think they will once again be the
band to beat here.
Skodje Ungdomskorps
Conductor: Henrik Dalhaug
Norwegian Ranking: 49
National Record: 2002 – 3rd in 3rd Division;
2001 – 5th in 3rd Division; 2000 – 15th;
Last Year: Third place in Third Division
Skodje were relegated to the 3rd Division after coming 15th here
in 2000, but since then they have regrouped somewhat and came 5th
under the Henrik Dalhaug in 2001 and then came 3rd last year under
the direction of Tormod Flaten. The Euphonium star isn’t at
the helm this time and the baton reverts back to Henrik, but they
will be keen to ensure that they can cut it at the higher level
and will be looking to at least hold their own in a stronger field.
No real form to go on at SIDDIS as they haven’t entered the
contest for the past two years.
Stangaland Brass
Conductor: Stian Svendsen
Norwegian Ranking: 26
National Record: 2002 – 4th; 2001 –
10th; 2000 – Joint 5th;
Last Year: 4th
Stian Svendsen takes the band for the second successive year and
they will be hoping for a repeat of last year at least, when they
came 4th. They had come joint 5th back in 2000 before a drop to
10th under S. Andsnes in 2001so last years 4th place was a fine
achievement.
The band also came 7th in the 2nd Division at SIDDIS in 2001 before
coming 10th in the 1st Division there last year. Ones to watch.
Tromsø Brass
Conductor: Robert Jensen
Norwegian Ranking: 54
National Record: 2002 – 8th; 2001 –
N/K; 2000 – 3rd;
Last Year: 8th
Tromsø Brass came 8th here last year under T. Bakkelund,
but as far as we can tell, they didn’t compete at the contest
in 2001. They came 3rd in the 2nd Division in 2000, so they have
been close to the top here. The band competed at SIDDIS last year
in the 1st Division and came 10th, but once more they didn’t
as far as we know compete there the year before.
A little bit of a mystery band then, but if they play to form they
could do well.
Trondheim Politis Brassband
Conductor: Tom Brevik
Norwegian Ranking: 28
National Record: 2002 – 11th in 1st Division;
2001 – 7th in 1st Division; 2000 – Joint 5th in 1st
Division;
Last Year: 11th in 1st Division
Trondheim were relegated to the 2nd Division following three years
in which they slipped from joint 5th in 2000 to 7th and then 11th
last year. They will be looking to bounce back then pretty sharply
and have taken the step of moving from previous MD Odd Steinar Morkved
to Tom Brevik, who knows what it takes to win at the highest level,
having won the Nationals back in 1980 with Manger.
They haven’t competed at SIDDIS for the past two years, so
we don’t know what their current form is like, but they should
be well prepared and with an experienced MD they should hold their
own.
Ørskog Brass
Conductor: Harald Eikaas
Norwegian Ranking: 40
National Record: 2002 – 7th; 2001 –
11th in 1st Division; 2000 – 2nd;
Last Year: 7th
After being promoted from the 2nd Division in 2000 following their
runners up spot in the 2nd Division, Ørskog Brass came 11th
under the direction of John Hudson and were relegated back down.
The following year they came 7th, again under John Hudson, so they
will be keen to improve further this year under Harald Eikaas.
No form to go on from SIDDIS though as they haven’t competed
there for the past two years, so we don’t have a lot to go
on as such.
Own Choice Selections:
A London Overture - Philip Sparke
Ballet for Band - Joseph Horovitz
Connotations - Edward Gregson
Connotations - Edward Gregson
Dances and Arias - Edward Gregson
Excelsior - Howard Snell
Firestorm - Stephen Bulla
The Plantagenets - Edward Gregson
The Plantagenets - Edward Gregson
The Present Age - Leslie Condon
The Present Age - Leslie Condon
Trittico for Brass Band - James Curnow
Triumphant Rhapsody - Gilbert Vinter
Adjudicators:
Karl Ole Midtbø and Jens T. Larsen
2002 Result:
Second Division
1. Vennesla Kristne Brass – 96pts
2. Hornorkesteret Stavanger – 94pts
3. Musikkorpset Gjallarhorn –93pts
4. Stangaland Brass –92pts
5. Flesland Musikklag –91pts
6. Kopervik Musikkorps - 89pts
7. Ørskog Brass –88pts
8. Austrheim/Lindås Musikklag –87pts
8. Tromsø Brass –87pts
10. Frei Hornmusikk –85pts
11. Tysnes Musikklag –84pts
12. Laksevåg Musikkforening – 83pts
13. Rosendal Musikklag –81pts
14. Bergen Brass Band –80pts
The Winners:
2002: Vennesia Kristne
2001: Sorum Musikklag
2000: Sola Brass
© 4BarsRest
 back
to top
| 
