Winner: Concerto Grosso (Derek Bourgeois)

2. The Turing Test (Simon Dobson)
3. A Brussels Requiem (Bert Appermont)

A classic test-piece that still retains the full gamut of its epic characteristics takes the award this year — with 'Concerto Grosso' providing bands at the Swiss National Championship with a staggering test of musical character.

Technically ferocious, musically adroit and waspishly witty, it remains one of the great contest peaks of elite level banding — and still as feral as a bad tempered alley cat with its claws out.

Turing

It gained 3 first choice preference votes and 3 podium votes to just tip the balance ahead of Simon Dobson's British Composer award winning 'The Turing Test', which also gained 3 first choice votes and 2 podium votes.

Brussels

Once again no less than five different pieces gained at least one first choice vote from the panel, with Bert Appermont's 'A Brussels Requiem' coming in third with 2 first choice preferences and 2 podium votes.

Technically ferocious, musically adroit and waspishly witty, it remains one of the great contest peaks of elite level banding — and still as feral as a bad tempered alley cat with its claws out4BR

Past Winners:

2017: Fraternity (Thierry Deleruyelle)
2016: Fraternity (Thierry Deleruyelle)
2015: The God Particle (Rolf Rudin)
2014: Vita Aeterna Variations (Ed de Boer writing as Alexander Comitas)
2013: Of Distant Memories (Music in an Olden Style) (Edward Gregson)
2012: Goldberg 2012 (Svein Henrik Giske)
2011: Breath of Souls (Paul Lovatt-Cooper)
2010: Saint Saens Variations (Philip Sparke)
2009: Titan's Progress (Hermann Pallhuber)
2008: The Dark Side of the Moon (Paul Lovatt-Cooper)
2007: Music for Battle Creek (Philip Sparke)
2006: Vienna Nights (Philip Wilby)
2005: Eden (Dr. John Pickard)
2004: St. Magnus (Kenneth Downie)
2003: Festival Music (Eric Ball)
2002: Masquerade (Philip Wilby)
2001: Albion (Jan Van der Roost)

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).