Classic and jazz concert: Brass Ensemble of the Colmar Conservatory directed by Philippe Spannagel  

An array of soloists

The Ensemble des Cuivres (the Brass Ensemble) from the Colmar Music Conservatory is an integral part of the region’s musical landscape. Indeed, the Conservatory’s Director, Philippe Spannagel, was also one of the original ‘companions’ when the Festival first started.

With almost equal numbers of teachers, ex-students pursuing their studies in the region or nationally, and current students, this top-notch group of musicians offers a programme exclusively composed of original pieces, written for the brass section, i.e. trumpets, tubas, euphoniums, French horns and trombones, along with guest saxophones and members of the woodwind family. Together, they will play some breath-taking pieces by modern composers like Philippe Sparke, Kevin Houben and Jan van des Roost. There will also be arrangements of traditional Sicilian and Scottish melodies.

For the soloist spots, the orchestra is thinking big and added some of the most famous horn players in the musical world. On the trumpet is David Guerrier, who was recently trumpet and French horn soloist with the orchestra of the Opera National de Paris and “Victoire de la Musique” prize winner in 2004 and 2007. Bastien Baumet is a euphonium soloist with the Musique de l’Air et d’Harmonie des Gardiens de la Paix Orchestras at the Prefecture de Police, in Paris. Finally, the Welshman, Owen Farr, plays the alto saxhorn, together with the trombonist, and “Victoire de la Musique” prize winner in 2011, Fabrice Millischer.

To round things off, all the young students from the Conservatory’s brass classes, regardless of level, will join their elders and soloists for a rousing musical grand finale.

Philip Sparke : Morning song for 4 soloists and brass band / Blue bells of Scotland,trombone / Napoli, euphonium / Capricorne
Kevin Houben : Lake of the moon
Jan Van Der Roost : Artémis