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2024 4BR Contest Performance of the Year

Of all the contest performances across the world, these were the three crackers that caught the ears of our panel.

Contest
  The incredible performance by Treize Etoiles at the British Open tops our list this year

Winner: Brass Band Treize Etoiles — The Lost Circle (British Open)

2. Eikanger Bjorsvik Musikklag — Jesus in Tibet (Norwegian National Championships)

3. Brighouse & Rastrick — Z 1920: The Mark of Zorro (Brass in Concert)

An overwhelming winner this year as the stunning performance of Brass Band Treize Etoiles led by Frederic Theodoloz in claiming the British Open title at Symphony Hall is the '4BR Contest Performance of the Year'.

Those who were fortunate enough to hear it live were left in no doubt to its title winning credentials on the day — the judges calling it "a privilege to listen to" and a "monumental, memorable contest performance".

The panel agreed with it gaining 9 first choice nominations and four others.

The stunning contest premiere of Simon Dobson's 'Jesus in Tibet' performed by Eikanger Bjorsvik under Florent Didier at the Norwegian Championships in February is the runner-up, gaining 4 first choice nominations and five others.

Third place with 1 first choice nomination and 8 others goes to Brighouse & Rastrick's rambunctious display of masked virtuosity and style at Brass in Concert under David King on, 'Z 1920: The Mark of Zorro'.

Panel:

The Awards Panel consisted of: Iwan Fox (4BR Editor); Malcolm Wood (4BR); Chris Thomas (4BR & BBW); Gordon Simpson (brass band statistician); Anne Crookston (conductor/adjudicator); Sarah Groarke-Booth (conductor/adjudicator); Alexander Zwann (conductor/journalist); Jess Tredrea (conductor/musician); Tim Mutum (brass band historian); Tom Davoren (conductor/composer); Michael Franz (Editor Brass Band News Switzerland); Henk Van Loon (Editor CU Brass); Stein Skorpholm (broadcaster/musician); Camila Soderstrom Tveit (musician/adjudicator); Philippa Edwards AOM (conductor/performing arts producer)

those who were fortunate enough to hear it live were left in no doubt to its title winning credentials on the day — the judges calling it "a privilege to listen to" and a "monumental, memorable contest performance"4BR

Past Winners:

2023: Foden's — Sand and Stars (British Open Championship)
2022: Tredegar — So Spoke Albion (European Championship)
2021: Foden's — Heroes (National Championship of Great Britain)
2020: Manger Musikklag — Midnight's Butterflies (Norwegian National Championship)
2019: Cory — Titan's Progress (National Championship of Great Britain)
2018: Manger Musikklag (Siddis Entertainment Championship)
2017: Eikanger Bjorsvik — Fraternity (European Championship)
2016: Cory — The Triumph of Time (British Open Championship)
2015: Cory — Spiriti (National Championship of Great Britain)
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 of Great Britain)
2011: Cory — Red Priest (British Open Championship)
2010: Fairey (Geneva) — Eden (English National Championship)
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 Championship)
2005: Black Dyke — Journey to the Centre of the Earth (European Championship)
2004: Black Dyke — Montage (British Open Championship)
2003: Buy As You View Cory — Revelation (European Championship)
2002: Yorkshire Building Society — Concerto Grosso (European Championship)
2001: Foden's — Les Preludes (British Open Championship)

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Saturday 7 December • Thornhill Parish Church, Dewsbury WF120JZ


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Friday 13 December • Thomas Estley Community College. 2 Station Road. Broughton Astley. Leicestershire LE9 6PT


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Saturday 14 December • Putnoe Heights Church MK418EB


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Saturday 14 December • St Wilfrid's Church, Church Street, Kirkby in Ashfield NG17 8LA


Wakefield Metropolitan Brass Band

December 24 • Solo Baritone Eb Bass and Percussion required to complete the line up building towards the NEMBBA and area contests. Under the Direction of Duncan Beckley, the band is keen to fill the few remaining seats.


Reading Spring Gardens Brass Band

December 19 • Current joint 1st place in the L&SC 4th section grading tables and 2024 4th section National Finalists. We have recently appointed a new MD and are now looking to fill a few empty seats! Rehearsals in Woodley (RG5) on Thursday evenings.


Dobcross Silver Band

December 14 • Looking for a new challenge in the New Year? . Dobcross Silver Band is a progressive and Successful 3rd section band on the lookout for a competent SOLO BARITONE PLAYER. If you are a team player you fit perfectly! Really enjoyable rehearsals here!


Gary Davies


Conductor, Band Trainer, Adjudicator


               

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