On October 11th, the “Créme de la Créme” of the British Brass Bands will appear at the Royal Albert Hall to determine this year’s champion of the Finals.

Experience live how the best of the best will be decided and be a witness at this unique event. York Brass Instruments will draw 2 x 2 vouchers for the York VIP Box at the Royal Albert Hall.

Visit the York website, answer the question and see the best Brass Bands at the Royal Albert Hall.

http://www.york-brass.com/englisch/Finals%20NBBC/Nationals_lottery.html

York Brass instruments is very happy to welcome the tuba player, Øyvind Grong, as a new York artist.

The Norwegian tuba player studied at the State Music Academy in Oslo. Among others, he won the first prize at the “Military Band Solo Competition” in 1988 as well as the first prize at the “Norwegian Youth Orchestra´s Soloist Competition” in 1992.

In his career of more than 20 years, Øyvind Grong has played worldwide in many national and international orchestras and groups in concerts and on tours.

Since 1995, Øyvind Grong is the principal tubist at the Stavanger symphony orchestra. Besides that, he has been teaching tuba at the Stavanger Music College for more than 10 years, and is also for many years principal tuba player of the well known Stavanger Brass Band.

As a principal, he works regularly in various Scandinavian music formats, such as symphony orchestras, the Royal Norwegian military orchestras, brass bands, chamber music ensembles and many more.

Øyvind Grong is not only a renowned tuba player, he is also an excellent double bass player, bass guitarist and singer. His tremendous musical variety, which also includes jazz, rock and pop music, is impressively demonstrated by his performances in different band formations.

For instance, he played and sang a brilliant Robbie Williams Medley in Big Band style during a gala concert at the Norwegian Brass Band Championship 2008 together with the Stavanger Brass Band.

More about Øyvind Grong under www.york-brass.com

A Philip Sparke work gets the nod as the test piece for the inaugural Australasian Open.

The Federation of Australasian Brass Bands (FABB) has informed 4barsrest Downunder that the Test Piece selected for the inaugural Australasian Open Championship will be ‘Music for Battle Creek’ by Philip Sparke.

The Chairman of FABB, Rick Casagrande commented, “I am particularly pleased with this recommendation made by Music Advisor, Professor David King."

"Following the outstanding success and popularity of Sparke’s ‘Music For Battle Creek’ at the Royal Albert Hall ‘National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain’ last October, FABB believe this composition will be equally as popular with both conductors and players when it receives its Australasian contest premiere at the FABB 2008 Australasian Open Championships.”

Brass Music Specialists in Brisbane have copies of the selection available for purchase at competitive rates. Contact Greg Aitken at greg@brassmusic.com.au or phone +61 7 3278 1311.

The Australasian Open Festival takes place at Tweed Heads on the Queensland-New South Wales border on the weekend of 25 & 26 October 2008.