The 2nd German National Brass Band Championships took place recently, in Ingolstadt, where reigning European B Section champions, 3BA Brass once again took the top honours.

Champions again

The three adjudicators, Corsin Tuor (Switzerland), Jan van der Roost (Belgium) and Hannes Buchegger (Austria) had an enjoyable day which culminated in Chief Musical Advisor of the Bavarian Windband Association (BBMV) Dieter Boeck announcing the 2009 champions — the 3BA Concert Band of the Bavarian Brass Band Academy, who won the ‘Hoechststufe’ title for the second consecutive year, and will once again represent Germany at the 2010 Europeans in Linz in Austria.

James Cook

Under the direction of Franz Mathysiak, the reigning B Section European Champions gave a competent reading of both the set piece, 'James Cook — Circumnavigator' by Gilbert Vinter, and their own choice piece, 'Hymn of the Highlands' by Philip Sparke.

Cologne

Meanwhile the title in the 'Oberstufe' Section was also retained this year — by defending champions, Cologne Concert Brass under the direction of Heinrich Schmidt.

It can’t get any better, as to celebrate with 300 friends and to realize that the event you worked that hard for is enjoyed by all present, bandsmen and audience alike!CLaus Wittmann

Schwaben

In the 'Mittelstufe' Section it was Brass Band Schwaben, another member of the growing 3BA family, conducted by Robert Sibich who took the honours.

Coverage

The German Championships have grown in importance again in 2009, underlined by the Bavarian broadcasting company (BR) covering the event with two production teams and presenter Stephan Ametsbichler.

A selection from the championships will be broadcast on Bayern4Klassik on the 11th of June from 6.00pm.

Entertainment Contest

For the first time in it’s short history, an Entertainment Contest was added to the Championships, and was received with great enthusiasm by the audience.

Four bands competed on the evening of the championship day providing a huge variety of styles, and it was Brass Band A7 under the direction of Johnny Ekkelboom were proclaimed winners.

2010

The Entertainment Contest will be part of the 3rd German Brass Band Championship weekend in the Mercatorhalle Duisburg on May 21st -23rd 2010 and will be open to brass bands from abroad, whilst the Championship itself will remain a German national affair.

The organisers hope that bands especially from the Benelux countries will participate, as Duisburg is in relatively short distance from their borders.

Highlight

The contest proved to be a real highlight for the 3BA Chairman and driving force behind the the German brass band movement, Claus-Peter Wittmann.

He succeeded in holding the event for the second consecutive year in Ingolstadt, organizing the event in close cooperation with Andreas Horber, the secretary of the Bavarian Wind Band Association.

"It can’t get any better", he told 4BR, "...as to celebrate with 300 friends and to realize that the event you worked that hard for is enjoyed by all present, bandsmen and audience alike!"

Results:
Hoechststufe Section:
1. 3BA Brass

Oberstufe Section:
1. Cologne Concert Brass

Mittelstufe Section:
1. Brass Band Schwaben

Entertainment Contest:
1. Brass Band A7