Swiss Solo and Quartet Championships
Congratulations to soprano cornet player Louis Kroni on winning the Swiss Solo Champions title at the 50th Swiss National Solo & Quartet Championships recently. Taking place over two days in Bern the event, organised by the Swiss Brass Band Association, involved nearly 200 musicians aged 7 to 59 featuring brass and percussion sections in each of the four age categories.
Louis, from Union Instrumentale Courroux, and who plays for Ensemble de Cuivres Jurassien, gave a superb performance of 'Dark or Bright?' by Simon Nori which gained a near perfect score of 99 points out of 100 from the international jury. As the overall champion, Louis Kroni 2025 will receive an invitation to perform as a guest soloist at the RNCM International Brass Festival 2026 in Manchester. A spokesperson from the event stated, "The Swiss Brass Band Association is thrilled to accept the invitation for its Champion Soloist to perform at this world leading festival. We thank Dr David Thornton, Festival Director for his tremendous support and this excellent collaboration."
The adjudication panels of the preliminary rounds consisted of Kirsty Abbotts; Chris Binns; Tim De Maeseneer; Tormod Flaten; Simon Howell; Tom Hutchinson and Roger Webster. The finals were judged by Philippe Bach; Domenico Catalano; Tim De Maeseneer; Russell Gray; Pascal Schafer and David Thornton. The percussion judges were, Peter Fleischlin, Dessislava Kepenerova and Jonathan Salvi.
The outstanding standard from the seven finalists from an initial preliminary field of 28 competitors, saw runner-up Claude Romailler (flugel) from Ancienne Cecilia Chaermignon awarded 98 points, with third placed Vincent Crausaz from Echo du Lac Rossens, in third, just a point behind.
The new Junior Solo Champion is euphonium player Nathany Goumaz from Echo des Roches Chatonnaye. Young Arno Bard from Fanfare de Crissier won the Cadets Championship title and 12 year old cornet player Louis Bolis from Echo d'Orny Orsieres, won the under 13 Solo Championship.
Three quartets took part in the Premier Category, each having to perform the set-work, 'Four of a Kind' by Cedric Vergeres. The 1234 ensemble comprising Oriane Bruckel, Alena Imseng, Fabio Imsemg and Vincent Crausaz twon the quartet title.
Results:
Adult Category:
1. Louis Kroni: 99
2. Claude Romailler: 98
3. Vincent Crausaz 97
Junior Category:
1. Nathany Goumaz: 97
2. Julie Pralong: 96
3. Simon Gabriel: 95
Cadet Category:
1. Arno Bard: 98
2. Lea Bouinoix: 97
3. Lionel Schnyder 96
Under 13 Category:
1. Louis Bolis: 93
2. Evan Vergeres: 92
3. Noah Lagger: 91
Quartet:
1. 1234: 94
2. VissoiF Quartett: 89
3. Tenues A: 88
