The iconic Stravinski Auditorium at the imposing 2m2c Music & Convention Centre in Montreux will host the 47th Swiss National Championships next weekend before it undergoes an extensive two-year refurbishment.

The venue has hosted the event since 1988, although the complex was first opened on the famous Avenue Claude Nobs on the banks of Lake Geneva in 1973. It is scheduled to return in 2025, and for the next two years will return to the KKL Hall in Lucerne.

The 19th & 20th November will see 61 bands compete, whilst the Swiss Brass Band Association will present its first ever 'Merit Award' to the remarkable young cornet player Mathilde Roh.

Weekend

Saturday 19th November will see the Third Section (9.00am) followed by the Elite Section at the Stravinski Auditorium. The day will be rounded off with the 'St Magnus' set-work performances of the Blue Riband Excellence Championship Section.

Saturday will also see the Miles Davis Hall host the Fourth Section (10.00am) followed by the Second Section. The results of the Elite, Second, Third and Fourth Sections on Saturday evening.

Sunday (20th November) will see the First Section (8.45am) as the prelude to the own-choice selection do the Championship Section bands in the afternoon.

These results will be announced at around 7.45pm, where the presentation will be made by former SBBA President Ariane Brun to Mathilde Roh.

Set-works

Whilst the Championship, First, Second, Third and Fourth Sections will playing established set-works in 'St. Magnus', 'Chivalry', 'Variations on 'Was Lebet'', 'St Austell Suite' and 'Neverland', the Elite Division (First Section in UK) will tackle a new work from Ludovic Neurohr entitled. 'Nu' — inspired by introspective feelings and mood.

As always there is sure to be a great deal of interest in the own-choice works employed by the Championship Section contenders.

Three new works will be heard this year: 'Are We Dark Inside' (Ludovic Neurohr), 'BLOCH-Party' (Jonathan Bates) and 'Sand and Stars' (Thierry Deleruyelle).

In addition there will be the opportunity to hear '31342 feet' (Ludovic Neurohr), 'Cataclysms' (Roland Szentpali), 'Journey of the Lone Wolf' (Simon Dobson), 'Music of the Spheres' (Philip Sparke), and 'Other Lives' (Oliver Waespi), which is being performed twice.

Judges

The adjudicators for the contest will be Dr Robert Childs, Martin Ellerby, Kevin Houben, Marc Jeanbourquin, Gilles Rocha, Thomas Ruedi, Anne van den Berg, Jan van der Roost and Klaas van der Woude.

The defending champion is Valaisia Brass Band, looking to make it an unprecedented seven wins in a row.

The usual party atmosphere will be enjoyed once more on Saturday evening with the 'Riviera Jazz Quartet' leading the dancing and celebrating long into the night.

Information and ticket orders at http://www.swissbrass.ch and www.saisonculturelle.ch.

It is scheduled to return in 2025, and for the next two years will return to the KKL Hall in Lucerne4BR

Competing Bands:
Excellence Section:

Brass Band Treize Etoiles
Brass Band Berner Oberland
Brass Band Burgermusik Luzern
Brass Band Fribourg A
Jura Brass Ensemble A
Melodia A Brass Ensemble
Valais Brass Ensemble
Liberty Brass Band
Valaisia Brass Band

Elite Section:

BML Talents
Brass Band Eglisau
Brass Band Emmental
Brass Band Harmonie Neuenkirch
Brass Band Imperial Lenzburg A
Brass Band Rickenbach
Euphonia Brass Ensemble
Graubunden Brass
Regional Brass Band Bern
Universal Brass Band Wil

First Section:

AEW Concert Brass Fricktal
Brass Band Treize Etoiles B
Brass Band Breitenbach
Brass Band Cazis.
Ambitus Brass Ensemble
Brass Band Feldmusik Knutwil
Brass Band Fribourg B
Brass Band Kirchenmusik Fluhli
Brass Band Lötschental
Brass Band MG Reiden
Brass Band RosAlp
Liberty Junior
MGRR Brass Band

Second Section:

Brass Band Abinchova
Brass Band Berner Oberland Junior
Brass Band Feldmusik Escholzmatt
Brass Band Harmony Rickenbach
Brass Band Imperial Lenzburg B
Valais Junior Brass Band
BB MG Konkordia Aedermannsdorf
Brass Band L'Avenir Lignieres
Brassband Musikgesellschaft Root
Brass Band Thurgau
Brass Band Zurich
Constellation Brass Band B
Musik Frohsinn Oberburg
Oberwalliser Brass Band

Third Section:

Brass Band Gurbetal
Brass Band Franches-Montagnes
Brass Band Frutigen
Brass Band Solothurn
Jura Brass Ensemble B
Melodia Brass Ensemble B
Musikgesellschaft Jenaz
MV Brass Band Henggart
Thunerseebrass

Fourth Section:

Entlebucher Jugend Brass Band
Fanfare Union de Buix
Hinterlander Jugend Brass Band
Jugend Brass Band Michelsamt
Jugend Brass Band Oberer Sempachersee
Jugend Brass Band Regionale Musikschule Liestal