Valaisia Brass Band directed by Arsene Duc has claimed its first Swiss Open title following a highly competitive event held at Lucern’s magnificent KKL Concert Hall.
Ten of the best top flight Swiss bands battled to win the prestigious title in a contest that sees the competitors perform a set work and orchestral transcription, with a separate award for the best performance of a contest march.
Outcome swung
The eventual outcome was only decided after the competition swung in many musical directions, with Valaisia ending the set test discipline in fourth place after their performance of ‘On Alderley Edge’ off the number 1 draw.
It was six time champion and home town favourite Brass Band Bugermusik Luzern, directed by Michael Bach, and National champion Brass Band Fribourg, led by Frederic Theodoloz who tied for first place after the marks of the separate judges Pascal Eicher, Maurice Hamers, Philip Sparke, Dr Robert Childs and Howard Lorriman were calculated.
With the highest and lowest marks were taken out, it meant that defending champion Brass Band 13 Etoiles were a point behind, after their performance conducted by James Gourlay.
All to play for
It was all to play for in the orchestral transcription stakes, with works by Berlioz, Verdi, Stravinsky, Bliss, Borodin and Lalo on show.
However, it was Valaisa’s stunning performance of the suite from Ottorino Respighi’s ‘Pines of Rome’ that brought the house down to give them a single point margin over Wallberg Band with Ensemble de Cuivres Valaisan in third.
Failed
Both Luzern and Fribourg failed to catch the ears of the judges and had to seventh and fourth respectively — a margin that gave Valaisia their first Swiss Open title on only their second appearance at the event.
Valaisia was founded by former Brass Band Fribourg conductor Arsène Duc in 2008, in the canton of Valais in southern Switzerland and has several Valaisan and Swiss solo champions in their ranks.
Double
The victory is their second major domestic title following their National Championship success in 2009, and comes after the band had worked extensively with musical advisor Allan Withington earlier this year.
The band now hopes to make it a domestic ‘double’ at the Swiss National Championships in November.
The band now hopes to make it a domestic ‘double’ at the Swiss National Championships in November4BR
Results:
Adjudicators: Pascal Eicher, Maurice Hamers, Philip Sparke, Dr Robert Childs, Howard Lorriman
Set Work/Own Choice = Total
1. Valaisia Brass Band (Arsène Duc): 169/176 = 345
2. Brass Band Fribourg (Frédéric Théodoloz): 173/169 = 342
3. Brass Band 13 Etoiles (James Gourlay): 172/167 = 339
4. Brass Band Bürgermusik Luzern (Michael Bach): 173/165 = 338
5. Wallberg Band (Garry Cutt): 163/175 = 338
6. Oberaargauer Brass Band (Armin Bachmann): 164/67 = 331
7. Ensemble de Cuivres Valaisan (Francois Roh): 157/171 = 328
8. Entlebucher Brass Band (Patrick Ottiger): 165/160 = 325
9. Brass Band Berner Oberland (Corsin Tuor): 159/165 = 324
10. Ensemble de Cuivres Mélodia (Stéphane Duboux): 151/152 = 303
Best March: Wallberg Band
Best Conductor: Arsene Duc
