Brass Band 13 Étoiles win the Swiss Open 2019

Congratulations are thoroughly deserved for Brass Band Treize Étoiles, who proved once again at the Swiss Open that they are a force to be reckoned with. The 30th
Besson Swiss Open Contest took place at the stunning setting of the KKL on Lake Lucerne, as part of the World Band Festival, on Saturday 21st September.
 
The victory for Treize Étoiles was won through a superb performance of the set work, which also bagged the band’s euphonium player the soloist prize. Unfortunately the band drew number one in the own choice, which may have just put them off their stride in what was judged to be a 3rd placed performance of Herbert Howells’ ‘Pagentry’. The two performances however proved to be enough to get Treize Étoiles over the line, by a single point, to the top spot.
 
Brassband Bürgermusik Luzern ran the winners close in the set test, however a disappointing result in the own choice meant they finished 4th overall. It was Brass Band Berner Oberland that won the own choice portion of the contest with a cultured reading of Percy Fletcher’s much loved ‘An Epic Symphony’, but the deficit from the set work left the band as runners-up. 3rd placed Ensemble de Cuivres Valaisan completed the podium prizes.
 
The event concluded in traditional fashion with a scintillating gala concert performance from the Black Dyke Band under the direction of Professor Nicholas Childs, showcasing a myriad of dazzling soloists, that left the audience on their feet shouting for more.
 
Full Results:
(set test+own choice=total)
1. Brass Band 13 Étoiles (Frédéric Théodoloz) 177+168=345
2. Brass Band Berner Oberland (Corsin Tuor) 172+172=344
3. Ensemble de Cuivres Valaisan (François Roh) 169+168=337
4. Brassband Bürgermusik Luzern (Michael Bach) 176+159=135
5. Wallberg Band (Ivan Meylemans) 165+168=333
6. Brass Band Fribourg (Maurice Donnet- Monay) 162+168=330
7. Brass Band Luzern Land (Roland Froscher) 163+166=329
8. Oberaargauer Brass Band (Christopher Luchsinger) 157+169=326
9. Liberty Brass Band Ostschweiz (Stefan Roth) 167+152=319
10. Ensemble de Cuivres Melodia (Vincent Baroni) 155+157=312

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