Tenor horn reaches European Soloist Competition 2016 final!
After the release of the CD back in November, I’ve another great news to share with you!
The European Brass Band Championship 2016 took place this year in Lille last April, and with it came another great competition; the European Soloist Competition (ESC), let’s get a closer eye on it…
After a first round where candidates were chosen via video last February, 24 remaining competitors were able to attend the next step in Lille.
The jury’s members were Michel Becquet, Steven Mead, Thierry Thibault, Russel Gray and Thierry Deleruyelle.
The rest of the competition was split in 3 other rounds; round 1 took place on Tuesday 26th of April, in Lille conservatory’s auditorium, which has an incredible sonority… despite of the raining noise everyone could hear from inside! The set piece was “Triptish on a theme by Haendel”, written by Peter Meechan.
The next day, round 2 took place in Tourcoing’s conservatory, where I could choose the piece: 2nd and 3rd movement from John Golland’s “Sonata”. You already know that piece since it is of course on the “Adventure” CD, and it’s always a pleasure to perform it!
I also wanted to thank Mélanie Gadenne for her amazing work as my pianist for those two round.
After several long stressful hours, the results hit on 4:30pm : 4 people were expected for the great final; William Birrer (baritone), Jérémy Coquoz (cornet), Adélaïde Ferrière (marimba) and… Sophie Binet-Budelot!! What an unforgettable moment to hear my name at that precise minute! Long live tenor horn, which reaches the final step for the first time ever!!!
Next day, last day! The final round also acts as an opening ceremony for the European Brass Band Championship, and I’m expected there at 8pm. They gave me number 3 on the morning, after the rehearsing. It was delightful to be accompanied and supported by my friends from the Brass Band Nord-Pas-de-Calais!
Long wait for my performance with mom and Lili, my mascot…
And here we go! It was at Roubaix, and the concert hall gave a very interesting sonority (and so were the applause!) The public seemed to like my performance, even if I wasn’t myself extremely happy with it.
Dices are thrown…
After a second part performed by the European Youth Brass Band, I got the third prize, and above all, the public prize!!
But the week wasn’t over, I got the privilege to compete for the European brass band competition with Brass Band Buizingen and also played with the Brass Band Nord-Pas-de-Calais for the gala concert.
This week was for me outstanding, so much happiness, cheering and encouragements which give me more and more the enthusiasm to go on and improve and develop this amazing instrument: tenor horn!