YORK at the Swedish Brass Band Festival in Värnamo

Roland Fröscher (on the left) after the award ceremony together with the conductor of Windcorp Brass Band Andreas Kratz

The annual Swedish Brass Band Festival took place on the 9th and 10th of November in Värnamo in the south of Sweden, where this most important Swedish event for Brass Bands celebrated its 25th anniversary this year.

In total 24 Brass Bands participated in 3 categories in the 2007 National Championships. Additionally 4 children’s brass bands and 4 youth-brass bands faced the jury in the "Minibrass" competition.

On this occasion YORK was represented as both a sponsor and an exhibitor with a large display of musical instruments. Both musicians and visitors took a particular interest in the exhibition of York’s collection. Instruments from cornet to tuba were tested and could be compared directly to those of other exhibitors. YORK instruments won recognition for their quality and sound characteristics, which embody the legendary British Brass sound.

Compliments were paid to YORK musician Roland Fröscher from Switzerland for his spontaneous readiness to play as solo Euphonist with "Windcorp" – one of Sweden’s best Brass Bands. This co-operation was made possible by the support of YORK. Roland Fröscher’s musical brilliance and the beautiful sound of his euphonium blended perfectly with that of the Windcorp Brass Band, which is why the top-class judges - Ray Farr, Philip Sparke, Dr. Roy Newsome and Jappie Dijkstra were hugely impressed by this outstanding performance.

Consequently Roland Fröscher, who plays exclusively on a YORK Eminence Euphonium, and the Windcorp Brass Band won the Swedish Brass Band Master 2007 title in the competition’s top performance class.

In addition to the winner’s trophy, the conductor Andreas Kratz received a silver-plated cornet, donated by YORK, for the best Brass Band. Some members of the "Windcorp Brass Band" took the opportunity to test YORK’s new brass instruments, and were so convinced by the quality of these that they spontaneously exchanged their own instruments for the ones from YORK in order to play them on the Galakonzert.

Congratulations to "Windcorp Brass Band" and Roland Fröscher for their triumph. We are delighted to have been able to contribute to their “Brass at its best” success.