The 35th Swiss National Brass Band Championship takes place on the weekend of the 28th/29th November at the Music and Convention Center in Montreux.
61 bands
This year 61 bands will compete over the two days, with an evening Gala Concert featuring the Compagnia Rossini, a choir from the canton of Graubünden, the reigning Swiss Champions, Brass Band Treize Etoiles, and Black Dyke's euphonium player David Thornton.
Tribute
As a tribute to the late Gilbert Vinter, bands in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Sections will perform his music.
There is a highly encouraging number of bands taking part this year at the Stravinski Concert Hall with 6 bands in the 4th Section, 12 in the 3rd Section, 16 in the 2nd Section, 17 in the 1st Section and 10 in the Championship Section.
The 3rd Section bands will perform Vinter's 'Vizcaya' in the Stravinski Concert Hall, followed by the 1st Section bands playing 'Spectrum'.
4th Section bands wil perform Bertrand Moren’s, 'Anniversary Music', followed by the 2nd Section bands playing 'Entertainments'.
The Championship Section contest commences with the test piece 'Sketches from Nowhere' by the Austrian composer Thomas Doss, a piece especially commissioned in partnership with the Dutch and Norwegian Associations4BR
Adjudicators
This year's adjudicators are: Richard Evans (GB), David Hirst (GB), Johan de Meij (NL), Maurice Hamers (NL), Philippe Bach (CH), Eddy Debons (CH), David LeClair (CH), Jean-François Michel (CH)
and Bertrand Moren (CH).
Championship bands
The Championship Section contest commences on the Sunday with the set test piece 'Sketches from Nowhere' by the Austrian composer Thomas Doss, a piece especially commissioned in partnership with the Dutch and Norwegian Associations.
The second half of the contest follows on later in the day, where the following own choice selections will be heard: Cambridge Variations; Concerto Grosso;...dove Descending; From Ancient Times; Revelation; Rococo Variations; The Promised Land; Vienna Nights.
Championship Section:
Brass Band Berner Oberland
Brass Band Bürgermusik Luzern
Brass Band Fribourg
Brass Band 13 Etoiles
Ensemble de Cuivres Jurassien
Ensemble de Cuivres Mélodia
Ensemble de Cuivres Valaisan
Musikgesellschaft Risch-Rotkreuz
Oberaargauer Brass Band
Valaisia Brass Band
1st Section:
AEW Brass Band Fricktal
Alp & Brass
Brass Band Breitenbach
Brass Band Emmental
Brass Band Harmonie Neuenkirch
Brass Band Imperial Lenzburg
Brass Band Kirchenmusik Flühli
Brass Band MG Reiden
Brass Band MG Rickenbach
Brass Band Schötz
Brass Band Sursilvana
Brass Band Treize Etoiles
Ensemble de Cuivres Euphonia
Liberty Brass Band Ostschweiz
Musikgesellschaft Brass Band Eglisau
Oberwalliser Brass Band A-Band
Regional Brass Band Bern
2nd Section:
BML Talents
Brass Band Berner Oberland Junior
Brass Band Cazis
Brass Band Feldmusik Escholzmatt
Brass Band Fribourg B
Brass Band Harmonie Rickenbach
Brass Band Junior Valaisan
Brass Band Konkordia Büsserach
Brass Band Posaunenchor Flaach
Brass Band Rapperswil-Wierezwil
Brass Band Rhodan
Brass Band Solothurn
Ensemble de Cuivres AMBITUS
Liberty Brass Band Junior
Oberaargauer Brass Band B
Société de Musique l'Avenir Lignières
3rd Section:
Brass Band Abinchova
Brass Band Gürbetal
Brass Band Imperial Lenzburg B
Ensemble de Cuivres Jurassien B
Ensemble de Cuivres Mélodia Junior
Juband Thierstein Laufental
Jugend Brass Band Michelsamt
Musikgesellschaft Flühli
Musikgesellschaft Jenaz
Musikgesellschaft Schongau
Musikverein Buckten
Oberwalliser Brass Band Junior
4th Section:
Brass Band Rhodan
Brass Band Zürich
Entlebucher Jugend Brass Band
Hinterländer Jugend Brass Band
Société de Musique l'Avenir Lignières B
Vereinigte Brass Band MGN + BBSM
