The Windcorp Band, under the direction of Garry Cutt, retained its Swedish National Championship title in Värnamo last weekend. As a result they will compete at the 2013 European Brass Band Championships in Olso.

Climax

The two day event saw a fine turn out of bands in all five sections, but the climax came with the announcement that Windcorp had secured a hat trick of National victories thanks to a confident performance of the test work, ‘Trittico’, by James Curnow and a scintillating rendition of Oliver Waespi's 2011 European test piece, 'Audivi Media Nocte'.

It gave the band that rehearses at Gothenburg’s Opera House a clear winning margin over Öresund Brass Band, with Solna B rass in third.

Solid

Öresund produced two solid performances to come runner up for a second successive year, with a finely judged rendition of ‘Music for Battle Creek’ that included an outstanding personal contribution from ‘Best Soloist’ prize winner, euphonium player Mikael Thompsen.

Former champions Solna Brass had to be content with third place thanks to two consistent performances under the baton of the experienced Torgny Hanson.

Fine band

Speaking to 4BR, the winning MD was delighted at being able to lead such a fine band to a historic hat trick success – and to a fourth consecutive contest victory.

"It’s a wonderful achievement for such a special band," Garry Cutt said.

"I thoroughly enjoy coming here and to lead them to a hat trick of National victories was something special too. I’m lucky to have led the band to fourth contest victories now – with a win at the Grenland Festival. They are a wonderful team of highly talented musicians, and I’m sure they will be a band to fear at the Europeans in Oslo in 2013."

They are a wonderful team of highly talented musicians, and I’m sure they will be a band to fear at the Europeans in Oslo in 2013Garry Cutt

Unusual schedule

Garry revealed that although the rehearsal schedule is not one that he comes across every day, the quality of the players ensures that Wincorp are always well prepared.

"I came across for two weekends earlier in the year, then again last weekend," he said. "I then didn’t see the band until the contest, so it was a good job the test piece section didn’t start until 9.00pm on the Friday night," he laughed.

"Thankfully, the band is so professional however that I didn’t have any worries, and the two performances they gave were of the highest class."

First Section

In the First Division, there was something of a surprise result as Uffes Blas Brass Band conducted by Mattias Hjortlinger took the honours by a clear three point winning margin.

After coming fourth last year, they defeated reigning champion Torsby Brass, with Asenhoga Missionskyrkas Brass Band in third thanks to a resounding performance of the set work, ‘Brass Miniatures’ by James Curnow.

Double winner

Österledsbrasset Gamla Uppsala conducted by Eva-Karin Axelsson was the sole entrant in the Second Division, whilst the growing grass roots level of Swedish banding saw last year’s runner up Wernen Brass go one better this time around to give conductor Mattias Hjortlinger a personal national ‘double’.

There was an encouraging level of performance in the Junior Section too, where Asenhoga Youth Brass Band conducted by Olof Forsberg took the honours.

Results:

Elite Division:
Adjudicators: Jappie Dijkstra, Ray Farr, Patrik Randefalk

1. Windcorp Brass Band (Garry E. Cutt) — 93/95 = 94
Own choice: Audivi Media Nocte (Oliver Waespi)

2. Öresund Brass Band (Casper Schreiber) — 91/91 = 91
Own choice: Music for Battle Creek (P. Sparke)

3. Solna Brass (Torgny Hanson) — 90/90 = 90
Own choice: Blitz (Derek Bourgeois)

4. Betlehemskyrkans Musikkår (A. Lundin / D. Glänneskog) — 88/88 = 88
Own choice: Endevour (P. Sparke)

5. Malmö Brass Band (Jan Winborg) — 86/86 = 86
Own Choice: Bel-Air (Goff Richards)

Best soloist: Mikael Thompsen – Euphonium (Öresund Brass Band)

First Division:
Set test: Brass Miniatures (James Curnow)
Adjudicators: Jappie Dijkstra, Hannes Buchegger

1. Uffes Blås Brass Band (Mattias Hjortlinger) – 92
2. Torsby Brass (Berit Palmquist) – 89
3. Åsenhöga Missionskyrkas Brass Band (Olof Forsberg) – 86
4. LDK Brass Band (Samuel Pettersson) – 85
5. Gnosjö Brassband (Jan Hultegård) -84
6. Borås Brassband (Magnus Hylander) -83
7. Smyrna Brass (A.Hellman — H.Glanneskog) -82
8. Immanuel Brass (Joel Engström) -81

Best soloist: Hake Karlsson – Soprano (Torsby Brass)

Second Division:
Set test: Knoxville – 1800 (James Curnow)
Adjudicators: Ray Farr, Patrik Randefalk

1. Österledsbrasset Gamla Uppsala (Eva-Karin Axelsson) — 80

Best Soloist: Johan Bjorkesten – Euphonium (Österledsbrasset Gamla Uppsala)

Third Division:
Set test: Jubilation! (James Curnow)
Adjudicators: Ray Farr, Patrik Randefalk

1. Wernen Brass (Mattias Hjortlinger) – 86
2. Säffle Tower Brass (Cissi Albersson) – 85
3. VM-Brasset Växjö (Leif Pettersson) – 84
4. Bors Brassband (Ulrik Lundqvist) — 83

Best Soloist: Mattias Hall – Soprano (VM-Brasset Växjö)

Junior Division:
No points awarded
Set test piece: Simple Gifts (James Curnow)
Adjudicators: Jappie Dijkstra, Patrik Randefalk

1. Åsenhöga Youth Brass Band (Olof Forsberg)
2. Uffes Blås Youth Brass Band (Jesper Hellberg)
3. Bors Youth Brass Band (Ulrik Lundqvist)
4= Gnosjö Youth Brass Band (Hanna Törefors)
4= Immanuel Youth Brass Band (Carina Bigelius)
4= Södertörns Youth Brass Band (Karin Nylander-Lind)
4= Torsby/Arvika Youth Brass Band (Berit Palmqvist)
4= Värnamo Kulturskolan Brass (Magnus Karlström)
Best Soloist: Anton Danielsson – Cornet (Uffes Blås Youth Brass Band)