News about the 9th international wind music festival held in Opatija and the results of the competition for 2018
From 27.04. Until 28.04.2018, the 9th International Wind Music Festival "Mitteleuropa Blasmusikfest 2018" took place in Opatija and Rijeka.
The two - days festival was attended by ten orchestras from Austria, Slovenia and Croatia with about 500 musicians, as well as four majoreteams from Rijeka, Opatija and Lovran.
The first day of the festival was revue-like and was held in the town of Rijeka on the main promenade (Korzo), where in addition to the orchestras from abroad, there were also three local orchestras: the Spincici band from Kastav with the majorettes of the city of Rijeka (senior and junior team) the Lovran wind band with the majorettes of Opatija and Lovran, and the civic music Delnice, whose choreography delighted everyone on Korzo.
After the festive march, the orchestras played four pieces together with the majorettes: Najdraža Rijeko (My Favorite Rijeka), Serenada Opatiji (Serenade an Opatija), Show Time and the Radetzky March.
On the second day of the festival (28.04.2018), the wind competition was held in the congress hall of the Grand Hotel Adriatic in Opatija, in three categories for seniors and one youth category.
In the hardest, A category, the Bauernkapelle Eberschwang won first place with 96,30 points. The gold plaque was presented by the president of the jury, Mr. Branimir Slokar, and the prize, the Yamaha YTR2330 trumpet, was presented by Mr. Dalibor Novak on behalf of the sponsor, Euro Unit from Cakovec.
The wind music Sv. Ana Rozga from Dubravica near Zagreb won the 3rd place in the A category with 71.90 points and thus the bronze plaque and the prize - a percussion set by the organizer of the festival.
In the second, B-category, the Austrian orchestra Musikkapelle Pischelsdorf won first place with 89.60 points, the golden plaque and the prize, the Prelude by Conn-Selmer flute. The prize was presented on behalf of the organizer by the president of the organizing committee of festivals Mr. Damir Milić.
Second place in the B category was won by the Pihalni orkester Vrhpolje - Vipava with 84.90 points. It received the silver plaque and the percussion set Lion Style with 12 instruments.
The third place in the B category was won by the Goris ki pihalni orkester wind band from Nova Gorica with 77.10 points, as well as the bronze plaque and the Lion Style percussion set with 12 instruments.
In the third, C-category Die Hardis - Die Jugendmusikanten Hard from Austria won the third place with 71.40 points and received a certificate, just like the Jugenblasorchester Haag from Österrreich in the youth category, with 71.20 points.
The five-member international jury in the following composition: the president Mr. Branimir Slokar and the jury members Mr. Giorgio Prašelj, Mr. Matteo Firmi, Mr. Vanja Lisjak and Mr. Marjan Orešković declared the compulsory piece of the Bauernkapelle Eberschwang (Music for a festival by Philip Sparke) for the best interpretation of the compulsory piece. In the name of the organizer, the golden plaque was presented by Mr. Slokar.
Mr Slokar also presented Mr Matjaž Meden of the Pihalni orkester Vrhpolje-Vipava (Slovenia) with the golden plaque for best conductor performance.
The Anniversary Festival Mitteleuropa Blasmusikfest 2019 will take place from 25.04. to 28.04.2019 in Rijeka, the European Capital of Culture for 2020, at the same time as Adriatic Music Fair 2019, the first international fair for musical instruments and accessories.