2010 Norwegian Brass Band Championships
5th & 6th February
Grieg Hall
Bergen

For the first time in eight years, Manger Musikklag has been crowned the Champion Band of Norway, following their victory at Bergen’s Grieghallen on the weekend.

Celebrations

Conducted by Peter Sebastian Szilvay they took the title by the narrowest 0.5 of a point margin from favourites and reigning champion Eikanger Bjorsvik — the announcement of the result greeted with scenes of wild celebration from Manger players and supporters in the packed hall.

The band’s last championship success came in 2002, whilst for the first time since 1990 a home grown conductor directed a band to win the mighty Norwegian National Trophy and the prestigious King’s Cup.

The new champion also picked up a winner’s cheque for Kr 50,000 and an invite to represent Norway at the European Championships in Montreux in 2011. It is their 8th National success since the contest started in 1979.

Consistent

Although many listeners had Eikanger under Black Dyke’s MD Nicholas Childs, as a short priced favourite to make it a hat trick of wins, they were denied by the band that proved to be the most consistent over the two legs of the contest in the opinion of adjudicators, John Wallace, Maurice Hamers and Torodd Wigum.

"They really got under the skin of the music," John Wallace told 4BR. "It was wonderful playing."

In fact the international panel, for the first time in the open, placed Manger’s performance of the set work, 'Sketches from Nowhere', 2nd on the Friday, and 1st on the Saturday with their rendition of ‘...Dove Descending’, played with the assistance of the mighty Grieghallen portable organ.

The band's last championship success came in 2002, whilst for the first time since 1990 a home grown conductor directed a band to win the mighty Norwegian National Trophy and the prestigious King's Cup4BR

Crucial

Over the two disciplines that consistency was just enough to pip Eikanger, who led from the Friday by a 3 point margin over the eventual winners, only to find their performance of ‘Titan’s Progress’ worthy only of 6th place the following day – 4 crucial points adrift. It was enough to end their dominance and wreck their chances of that historic hat trick of victories at the contest.

The reaction of the hall at the announcement of the results rather confirmed people’s surprise when Ila Brass were announced in 3rd place, just 0.25 points ahead of 4th placed Krohnengen, with Oslofjord in 5th and Stavanger in 6th.

Outstanding Sandefjord

There were equally frenzied celebrations at the announcement of the 1st Division results too, where Sandefjord Brass Symposium produced an outstanding performance of ‘Eden’ to take the title and return to the Elite Division of Norwegian banding.

The victory was masterminded by Rothwell’s MD Dave Roberts, who although making his conducting debut at the contest, is no stranger to Norwegian banding, having been a music student in the country almost 20 years ago.

"I have to congratulate the band," he told 4BR. "They put so much work into this performance that it was a real pleasure to conduct them. This victory means so much to them."

Stunning

The manner of Sandefjord’s impressive victory was confirmed by adjudicator Gavin David Lee. “It was a stunning performance,” he told 4BR.

In a high class contest, Sandefjord’s performance gave them the title and the Kr21,000 first prize by one point from Tomra Brass with Alexander Brass in third.

Second time in three years

In the 2nd Division there was a second title in three years for Orskog Brass conducted by Karl Ole Mitbo. Their performance of Peter Graham’s ‘Essence of Time’ as the last competitor in the 13 band field was enough to give them the title and the Kr 14,000 first prize ahead of Musikkorpset Gjallarhorn with Brottum Brass in third.

Fodens star

Orskog’s victory was helped in no small measure by the playing of Foden’s soprano star Alan Wycherley, who thoroughly enjoyed his trip across the North Sea to play with the band. “I’ve had a great time with a great bunch of people,” he told 4BR.

Repeat Bjorsvik win

Although they couldn’t repeat their 8 point winning margin from last year, there was no denying the clear cut nature of the victory of Bjorsvik Brass in the 3rd Division. Made up of former players of the Eikanger Band, and directed with real relish by Russell Gray, they produced a quite remarkable performance of Philip Sparke’s ‘Partita’ to take their second successive National title.

Runner up was another band of former Elite performers in Manger Old Stars, who just missed out on making it a ‘National Double’ with their former band on the weekend, whilst 3rd place was taken by Lindas Brass.

First National win

As always here there was plenty to enjoy in the 4th Division where a record 23 bands took.

In the end it was Fla Musikkorp who claimed their first ever National title under the direction of Odd Steinar Morkved, after producing a stirring performance of Peter Graham’s ‘Dimensions’. It proved to be a clear winner in the opinion of judges Elisabeth Fossan and Arnfinn Dalhaug, who placed them 2 points clear of runner up Tysnes Musikklag, with Grenland Brass a point further back in third.

Open class

Earlier on the Friday the Norwegians showed their desire to expand the scope of the National contest even further when they held their first ‘Open Class’ at the Championships.

Two bands made up primarily of parents of young players taking part with other bands on the weekend took to the stage in a relaxed atmosphere (one parent even played in both bands and one band contained a saxophone player).

There were plenty of smiles and a fun and games, but the intention was clear – Norway wishes to give more and more people the opportunity to participate at these ever more impressive championships.

Retrospectives

Retrospectives, galleries and audio interviews of the Norwegian Championships will appear on 4BR in the next few days.

Results:

Elite Division:

Results:
(Set Work/Own Choice) = Average

1. Manger Musikklag (Peter Szilvay) (95/95) = 95
2. Eikanger-Bjørsvik Musikklag (Nicholas Childs) (98/91) = 94.5
3. Ila Brass Band (Thomas Rimul) (94/92.5) = 93.25
4. Krohnengen (Gary Peterson) (93/93) = 93
5. Oslofjord Brass (Simon Dobson)(92/92) = 92
6. Stavanger (Allan Withington) (90/94) = 92
7. Molde Brass (Russell Gray) (91/90) = 90.5
8. Sola Brass (Selmer Simonsen) (88/89) = 88.5
9. Tertnes Brass (Philip Hannevik) (87/87) = 87
10. Oslo Brass (Frode Amundsen) (86/88) = 87

Adjudicators: Maurice Hamers, Torodd Wigum, John Wallace
Soloist Prize: Solo Trombone of Manger Musikklag
Best Section: Percussion of Ila Brass Band

1st Division:

1. Sandefjord Brass Symposium (David Roberts) — 96
2. Tomra Brass Band (Frans Violet) — 95
3. Alexander Brass Band (Morten E Hansen) — 94
4. Jaren Hornmusikkforening (Garry Cutt) — 93
5. Tertnes Amatørkorps (Tormod Flaten) — 90
6. Kleppe Musikklag (Bjorn E. Breistein) — 89
7. Sørum Musikklang (Christian Tenfjord) — 88
8. Laksevåg Musikkforening (Tom Brevik) — 87
9. Jølster Musikklag (Arvid Anthum) — 86
10. Askøy Brass Band (Yngve Nikolaisen) — 85
11. Tromsø Brass (Tor Kristian Innbjor) — 84
12. Kopervik Musikkorps (Melvin White) — 83

Adjudicators: Jens T. Larsen, Gavin David Lee
Soloist Prize: Solo Trombone of Sandefjord Brass Symposium
Best Section: Cornets of Tomra Brass Band

2nd Division:

1. Ørskog Brass (Karl Ole Midtbo) — 96
2. Musikkorpset Gjallarhorn (Espen Westbye) — 95
3. Brøttum Brass (Michael Antrobus) — 94
4. Haukås Musikklag (Thor-Arne Pedersen) — 93
5. Oster Brass (Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen) — 92
6. Flesland Musikklag (Patrik Randefalk) — 91
7. Radøy Brass (Tormod Flaten) — 90
8. Stangaland Brass (Reid Gilje) — 89
9. Hornorkesteret Stavanger (Clive Zwanswiniski) — 88
10. Sagvåg Musikklag (Havard Kroka) — 87
11. Frei Hornmusikk (Kim Lofthouse) — 86
12. Rong Brass (Stian E. Svendsen) — 85
13. Follesø Musikklag (Reid Gilje) — 84

Adjudicators: Arnfinn Dalhaug, Gavin David Lee
Soloist Prize: Principal Cornet of Frei Hornmuskk
Best Section: Cornets of Oster Brass

3rd Division:

1. Bjørsvik Brass (Russell Gray) — 96
2. Manger Old Star Brass (Johannes Mangersnes) — 95
3. Lindås Brass (Helge Haukas) — 94
4. Borge Brass Band (Oddvar Nostdal) — 93
5. Agder Brass (Morten E Hansen) — 92
6. Gjesdal Brass Band (Jonas Skartveit Rogne) — 91
7. Flora-Bremanger Brassband (Johnny Saelemyr) — 90
8. Fjell Brass (Svein Henrik Giske) — 89
9. Trondheim Politi's Brassband (Peter Hatfield) — 88
10. Hasle Brass (Robert Brekke Nilsen) — 87
11. Skui Brassband (Henrik Dalhaug) — 86
12. Torskangerpoll Musikklag (Eirik Gjerdevik) — 85
13. Hordvik Musikklag (Knut Emil Mjos) — 84
14. Fræna Musikkorps (Jens Kristian Mordal) — 83
15. Bergen Brass Band (Kim Lofthouse) — 82

Adjudicators: Jens T. Larsen, Elisabeth Fossan
Solo Prize: Principal cornet of Bjørsvik Brass
Best Section: Trombones of Agder Brass

4th Division:

1. Flå Musikkorps (Odd Steinar Morkved) — 96
2. Tysnes Musikklag (Eirik Gjerdevik) — 94
3. Grenland Brass (Gwyn Evans) — 93
4. Nes Musikkforening (Andres Halla) — 92
5. Lismarka/Mesnali Brass (Morten Fagerjord) — 91
6. Gjøvik Bybrass (Torbjorn Lunde) — 90
7. Fjordbrass Lavik (Jason Burn) — 89
8. Langhus Brass (Idar Torskangerpoll) — 88
9. Stavanger Kommunes Korps (Morten Ovrebekk) — 87
10. Hetlevik Musikklag (Egil Magnussen) — 86
11. Skeie Glad Brass (Espen Westbye) — 85
12. IMI Brass (Per Erik Petersen) — 84
13. Brumund-Nordaasen Musikkforening (Morten Sanner) — 83
14. Rosendal Musikklag (Torstein Hatlevik) — 82
15. Musikkorpset Heimdal (Per Olav Paulsen) — 81
15. Salhus Musikklag (Tom Eide Osa) — 81
17. Lyshornet Brass (Jan Arne Pupe) — 80
17. Rudsbygd Brass (Botolv Gjeldaker) — 80
19. Moen Musikkforening (Thomas Petersen) — 79
19. Randaberg Musikkorps (Selmer Simonsen) — 79
21. Fagernes Musikkorps (Jon Henning Lien) — 78
21. Florø Hornmusikk (Kjetil Hoidal) — 78
23. Sotra Brass (Espen Selvik) — 77

Adjudicators: Elisabeth Fossan, Arnfinn Dalhaug
Solo Prize: Principal cornet of Flå Musikkorps
Best Section: Horn and flugel section of Tysnes Musikklag

Open Class:

1. Seim Musikklag (Hogne Holmas) — 90
2. Knarvik Blandakorps (Andreas Lien Roe) — 88

Adjudicators: Arnfinn Dalhaug, Elisabeth Fossan