2023 Siddis Brass Championships
Siddis Brass celebrated its 40th anniversary this year. Professionally run (with over 80 volunteers helping out) it was Eikanger Bjorsvik that was ultimately successful in retaining their entertainment title in Stavanger. The band won its record 20th Siddis Entertainment Championship title last weekend with an incredible performance focussed on the life and achievements of Polish scientist Marie Curie. The 23-minute set of linked original compositions and arrangements for 'Wednesday 4th July 1934 at 5.35am' (the date and time of her death) came from Eikanger's artistic team of Reid Gilje, Frode Rydland and Fredrick Schjelderup. Linked by the narration of actor Irene Winter portraying the double Noble Prize winner, the set looked back at the joy of her early childhood in Poland through to her work on radioactivity, the tragic death of her beloved husband and the life saving 'Curie Vans' used to save soldiers on the battlefields of the First World War. The celebrations that greeted her post-war visit to the USA were then contrasted by the beautiful and poignant sound of flugel soloist Gyda Matland playing Chopin's 'Etude Op.10' 'Tristesse' as Marie’s life reached its end.
Adjudicator Philip Harper spoke on behalf of the panel, which included Uwe Koller and Sverre Olsrud, explaining, "It gave us so much to ponder and appreciate. The connection between the narration and the music was full of subtlety and emotional texture, always complementing and adding to the story. It was a clear winner for us." Eikanger will now bring the programme to the Brass in Concert Championships where they will hope to impress both the audience and judges once more. Section award winners were Rong, Sagvag Musikklag, Lindas Brass and Langhus Brass.
Results:
Elite Division:
Fartein Valen
Adjudicators: Philip Harper, Uwe Köller, Sverre Olsrud
1. Eikanger-Bjørsvik Musikklag (Reid Gilje)
2. Krohnengen Brass Band (Magnus Brandseth)
3. Stavanger Brass Band (Ian Porthouse)
4. Manger Musikklag (Allan Withington)
5. Bjørsvik Brass (Magnus Brandseth)
6. Tertnes Brass (Paul Holland)
7. Jaren Hornmusikkforening (David Morton)
8. Kleppe Musikklag (Tormod Flaten)
9. Oslo Brass Band (David Hveem)
Entertainment Prize: Bjorsvik Brass
Best Soloist: William Grov Skramsett (cornet) — Manger Musikklag
First Division:
Fartein Valen
Adjudicators: Ray Farr, Daniel Hall
1. Rong Brass (David Morton)
2. Askøy Brass Band (Svein H. Giske)
3. Flesland Musikklag (Margie S Antrobus)
4. Gjallarhorn (Kjetil Djønne)
5. Sola Brass Band (Gwyn Evans)
6. Oslofjord Brass (Elsine Haugstad)
7. Ila Brass Band (Tom Ole Elgsaas Hønsvik)
8. Radøy Brass (Torstein Aagard-Nilsen)
9. Montebello Brass (Preben Nicolai Kragh-Riesling)
Entertainment Prize: Rong Brass
Best Soloist: Stephan Cooper (cornet) — Flesland Musikklag
Second Division:
Kuppelhallen
Adjudicators: Arvid Anthun, Tom Hutchinson
1. Sagvag Musikklag (Karl Ole Midtbø)
2. Hasle Brass (Robert Solberg Nilsen)
3. Agder Brass (Russell Gray)
4. Alexander Brass Band (Morten E Hansen)
5. Follesø Musikklag (Christian Breistein)
6. KOS — Krohnengen Old Stars (Rune Hannisdal)
7. Manger Old Star Brass (Patrik Randefalk)
8. Tysnes Musikklag (Yngve Nikolaisen)
9. Fjell Brass (Paul Fensom)
10. Bergen Brass Band (Thor-Arne Pedersen)
11. Stangaland Brass (Kjetil Djønne)
12. Stavanger Kommunes Korps (Morten Ovrebekk)*
13. Gjesdal Brass Band (Jonas Skartveit Rogne)
14. Sørum Musikklag (Philip Hannevik)
15. Skui Brassband (Jon Terje Svendsen)
16. Oster Brass (Jane Westervik)
*Demoted 1 place due to time infringement
Entertainment Prize: Agder Brass
Best Soloist: Helene Faerestrand (flugel) — KOS — Krohnengen Old Stars
Third Division:
Zetlitz
Adjudicators: Thomas Beiganz, Jayne Murill
1. Lindas Brass (Vidar Nordli)
2. Rosendal Musikklag (Yngve Nikolaisen)
3. Tertnes Amatørkorps (Joseph W. Cook)
4. Haukas Musikklag (Egil Magnussen)
5. Moen Musikkforening (Ole Kristian Egge)
6. Skeie Brass (Nigel Fielding)
7. IMI Brass (Halvor Gaard)
8. Seim Musikklag (Torstein Holmas)
9. Hetlevik Musikklag (Sturle Berntsen)
10. Salhus Musikklag (Bjørn Breistein)
11. Norheimsund Musikklag (Viljar Bjørsvik Rath)
12. Indre Torungen Brass Ensemble (Lars-Bjørnar Strengenes)
13. Laksevag Musikkforening (Fredrick Schjelderup)
14. Lyshornet Brass (Arild Ronaes)
Entertainment Prize: Skeie Brass
Best Soloist: Tor Skeie Olsen (cornet) — Rosendal Musikklag
Fourth Division:
Lille Konsertsal
Adjudicators: Kenneth Crookston, Maria Nygård Molund
1. Langhus Brass (Thomas W. Tengelsen)
2. Fitjar Musikklag (Svein Roger Koppang)
3. Riska Brass Band (Arne Stian Aarrestad)
4. Eidsberg Brassband (Sverre Caspersen)
5. Karmsund Brass (Kristian Thulin)
6. Musikkorpset Heimdal (Linas Dakinevicius)
7. Tasta Brass (Morten Ovrebekk)
8. Randaberg Musikkorps (Pal Magne Austnes-Underhaug)
9. Alvik og Eikelandsfjorden Musikklag (Oddvar Nøstdal)
10. Julebygda Brass (Thor Oyvind Nordby)
Entertainment Prize: Langhus Brass
Best Soloist: Ruben Svanasbakken Sevaldson (trumpet) — Langhus Brass
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