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2018 4BR Contest Performance of the Year

So many great performances to choose from this year — but there could only be the one winner...

Manger
  Manger's brilliantly surreal entertainment set at the Siddis Championships has claimed the contest performance of the year award

Winner: Manger Musikklag (Siddis Entertainment Championship)

2. Eikanger Bjorsvik ('Partita' — Norwegian National Championship)
3. Valaisia Brass Band ('The Turing Test': Own Choice — European Championship)


There were any number of outstanding performances to choose this year that fitting together a 'long list' of nominations was hard enough — let alone picking a winner.

However, when bands are struggling to think of new and inventive way to entertain audiences — especially in a contest format, Manger's quite remarkable 'In Time with Cubism' concept inspired by conductor Martin Winter, and delivered with such polished elan, wit and musical insight was a sheer delight.

It gained 4 first preference votes and 3 podium votes.

An almost surreal homage to Picasso and Stravinsky (including a ragtime xylophone solo inspired by 'The Rite of Spring') via Howard Snell and Kurt Weill, it was brilliantly executed and fully deserved its Siddis title victory.

Monumental

Just behind came Eikanger Bjorsvik's stunning account of Wilfred Heaton's monumental 'Partita' at the Norwegian National Championships early in the year, which gained 2 first preference choices and 4 podium votes.

Brilliant

Valaisia Brass Band completed the European clean-sweep thanks to their brilliant performance of Simon Dobson's intricate 'The Turing Test' as their own-choice at the European Championships in Utrecht — one that did enough to claim that particular title.

It gained 2 first choice preferences and 2 podium votes.

An almost surreal homage to Picasso and Stravinsky (including a ragtime xylophone solo inspired by 'The Rite of Spring') via Howard Snell and Kurt Weill, it was brilliantly executed and fully deserved its Siddis title victory4BR

Past Winners:


2017: Eikanger Bjorsvik — Fraternity (European Championship)
2016: Cory — The Triumph of Time (British Open Championships)
2015: Cory — Spiriti (National Championship)
2014: Brass Band Bugermusik Luzern — Trance (Swiss National Championship)
2013: Tredegar — Arabian Nights (Fantasy on Rimsky Korsakov's Scheherazade for Brass Band) (British Open Championship)
2012: Foden's — Daphnis et Chloe (National Championship)
2011: Cory — Red Priest (British Open Championship)
2010: Fairey (Geneva) — Eden (English National Championships)
2009: Fountain City Brass Band — Dreams (Scottish Open Championship)
2008: Eikanger Bjorsvik — Riffs & Interludes (Norwegian Championship)
2007: Brass Band Oberosterreich — Titan's Progress (European Championship)
2006: Black Dyke — Vienna Nights (British Open)
2005: Black Dyke — Journey to the Centre of the Earth (European Championship)
2004: Black Dyke — Montage (British Open)
2003: Buy As You View Cory — Revelation (European Championship)
2002: Yorkshire Building Society — Concerto Grosso (European Championship)
2001: Foden's — Les Preludes (British Open)

Panel:

The Awards Panel consisted of : Iwan Fox (Editor 4BR); Malcolm Wood (Chief Contributor); Steven Mead (euphonium soloist); Gordon Simpson (statistician Brass Band World magazine); Chris Thomas (Chief Contributor Brass Band World magazine); Kenny Crookston (CEO, Brass Bands England); Frode Rydland (EBBA Music Commission/soprano cornet Bjorsvik Brass); Alexander Zwann (Chief contributor CU Brass); Tom Davoren (conductor/composer); Tim Mutum (writer/brass band recording and history specialist).

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Syndey

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Friday 25 April • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London. . W1C2DJ


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Friday 9 May • Konzerthaus, SandvigÃ¥ 1, 4007 Stavanger, Norway


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Saturday 10 May • Konzerthaus, SandvigÃ¥ 1, 4007 Stavanger, Norway


Linthwaite Band

April 21 • Linthwaite Band is a 4th section contesting Band , with a busy Summer of engagements coming up, and are looking to complete our friendly team, with a back row 2nd cornet player, and are keen to fill the position as soon as possible.


Chinnor Silver

April 21 • Required Percussion and Bass players (Eb or Bb). We are a friendly and ambitious band and have successfully qualified for the second section national finals and also earned promotion to the 1st section in 2026. Come along and help complete our happy team


wantage silver band

April 21 • A friendly and ambitious first section band, Wantage Concert Brass are looking for an experienced and dedicated MUSICAL DIRECTOR to help drive the band's continued growth and development, building on their best result to date at the recent area contest.


Nicholas B. Hudson

FTCL LGSMD (Hons)
Musician | Trombonist | Educator


               

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