*
banner

Siddis Championship

Gala Concert
Stavanger Konserthus
Stavanger
Sunday 27th November

The Gala Concert of the 2016 Siddis Brass Championships took place after nine hours and more of highly enjoyable music making had been heard at the two halls of the striking Stavanger Konserthus. 

The main Championship event had been the usual mix of inventive musical and visual entertainment in the Fartein Valen, the 1,500 seat main auditorium named after the austere Norwegian composer of atonal music who died in 1952 and who was born in the coastal city.

However, there was certainly nothing atonal about the celebratory music on offer, with this short, but enjoyable concert featuring the talents of Brasskompaniet, a ten-piece ensemble formed in 2012 by players at the Norwegian Academy of Music, as well as the remarkable young skills of trumpeter Sofie Kolve Haukas.

Highly polished

The group’s concert schedule is increasing, with their profile sure to get another boost following this highly polished performance. Having completed a tour of Norway in 2014 and given a performance at the recent 10th Malcolm Arnold Festival, 2016 has also seen a number of appearances at prestigious events.

Opening with ‘Divilj Konj’, an up-tempo arrangement of a traditional Serbian folk melody, Brasskompaniet took the enthusiastic audience through an eclectic range of repertoire that showcased their substantive musicianship in a cohesive blend of stylistic commonality. Excellent balance and precision were the hallmarks of an impressive set - as was the stamina, which did not wane throughout 45 minutes of demanding playing.

Style and nuanace

The group also played an accompanying role to the talents of Sofie Kolve Haukas, who earlier in the year had won the Ungommens Musikkmesterskap Youth Solo contest, the top prize of which included a solo performance at the Siddis contest. 

Sofie performed as trumpet soloist in two pieces, Goedicke’s precise ‘Concert Etude’ and engaging ‘Blamann Blamann’, each delivered with an admirable sense of style and nuance allied to an already formidable technique.

With the audience eager to hear the results, Brasskompaniet finished with the lollipop ‘Mr. Jums’ to set the evening up perfectly for the rather lengthy ceremony (which also saw them provide the numerous specially commisisoned fanfares).

This was an excellent show by a group that will hopefully be heard time and time again at contests not just in Norway but further afield.

Iwan Fox

Support us for less than a cup of coffee...

4BR wants to ensure that the brass band movement remains vibrant and relevant. We also want to be able to question, challenge and critically examine those who run and play in it, producing high quality journalism that informs as well as entertains our readers.

So if like us you value a strong, independent perspective on the brass band world - then why not consider becoming a supporter and help make our future and that of a burgeoning brass band movement more secure.

So one less cappuccino then?

Support us    



The Hepworth Band - Hepworth Band New Year Celebration Concert

Sunday 26 January • Christ Church, New Mill, Holmfirth HD97ER


Contest: Norwegian National Brass Band Championships

Friday 7 February • Grieghallen, Bergen, N-5015. N-5015


Contest: Norwegian National Brass Band Championships

Saturday 8 February • Grieghallen, Bergen, N-5015 N-5015


Contest: North West Regional Championships

Sunday 23 February • Winter Gardens Complex, Church Street, Blackpool FY1 1HU


Contest: Yorkshire Regional Championships

Saturday 1 March • Corporation Street, Huddersfield HD1 2TA


Midsomer Norton and Radstock Silver Band

January 11 • The Midsomer Norton and Radstock Silver Brass Band are a friendly 4th Section Band who have recently appointed a new MD and are now looking to fill a few empty seats. In particular we are looking for Cornets, Bb Bass and Percussion.


Crewe Brass

January 11 • Due to relocation after the Northwest Areas Crewe Brass have a vacancy for a FLUGEL player join our highly motivated 4th section band.


Crewe Brass

January 11 • Due to relocation after the Northwest Areas Crewe Brass have a vacancy for a 1ST HORN player join our highly motivated 4th section band.


Morgan Griffiths

Dip. Performance
Conductor, Peripatetic Music Teacher, Lower brass specialist


               

 © 2025 4barsrest.com Ltd