Swedish National Brass Band Championships
I have just returned from a long weekend in the picturesque city of Gothenburg, Sweden. My main task was to appear as soloist in the Gala Concert of the Swedish National Brass Band Championships, and to adjudicate the day's contesting.
I arrived early evening on Thursday and was immediately ushered into a trombone quintet rehearsal with Gothenburg Brass trombone section (we were rehearsing a new Stephen Bulla piece for the gala concert). I was immediately struck by the fabulous talents of this trombone section! The standard of playing was terrific - not surprising when you think that the Bass trombone player is a member of the Gothenburg Opera brass section.
Low Brass Students at Gothenburg University
The following day saw a series of masterclasses with the trombone and low brass students at the School of Music & Musicology, Gothenburg University, arranged by Prof. of Trumpet Studies Bengt Eklund. Again, I was very impressed by the standard of playing, no surprise when you realise that Ingmar Roos (Professor of Trombone) was one of Christian Lindberg's teachers!
Prof. Bengt Eklund cond. of Gothenburg Brass
The Swedish National Brass Band Contest took place in a lovely village, Varnamoe. The structure of the contest differs slightly to the UK competition in so far as each band plays a programme of twenty five minutes instead of the 'set piece' system that we tend to use. After a long days judging with an old friend of mine Herbert Moller, we both came up with clear winners; Gothenburg Brass cond. Bengt Eklund.
The gala concert was also given by Gothenburg Brass in which a wide variety of music was enjoyed. I was fortunate in performing the ever popular Gordon Langford 'Rhapsody for Trombone and Brass Band' and then joined the rest of the 'bone section in Stephen Bulla's great arrangement for the Spiritual to the 'Bone team, 'Peace Like a River'.
'Peace Like a River' by Stephen Bulla for Trombone Quintet and Brass Band
The weekend was extremely enjoyable and I made a number of great friends in Gothenburg. I very much look forward to returning to work with the band again next year.
