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History
Founded
in 1973, Brass Band Treize Etoiles is comprised of musicians chosen from
the best village bands in Valais (Southern Switzerland) and is divided into two
different bands : the A and the B-Band. Both take their name from the 13 stars
on the flag of Valais.
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A-Band:
The
Musicians of BB13*(A-Band) with Géo-Pierre
Moren
(Conductor) and Jean-Jacques Bornet (Sponsor Bornet Frères SA).
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The
A-Band of Brass Band Treize Etoiles, conducted since 1977 by Géo-Pierre Moren,
is one of the most decorated bands in Switzerland, as they have won the Swiss National
Championship ten times (in 1978, 1979, 1983, 1986, 1989, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2004 and
2006), the Swiss Open Contest seven times (in 1990, 1991, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2007),
the European Open Contest three times (in 2000, 2001 and 2003), the Swiss Entertainment
Contest three times (in 1992, 1996 and 1998), the “Grand Prix” of Birmenstorf three times (in 1991, 1995 and 1997), as well as the first
broadcasted contest “Swiss Brass”. Moreover, Brass Band Treize Etoiles was
awarded “Swiss Band of the Year” in 1996, 1998 and 2001.
The band has also obtained an impressive number of places of honour, such as 2nd
place at the Dutch Open Contest in 1993 and a 5th place
at the "All England Masters International" in 2006. Brass Band Treize Etoiles has taken
part in the European Brass Band Championship ten times and placed third in
1980, 1999 and 2001, and fourth in 1979 and 1990. The
Band has been crowned as World Champions at the World Music Contest in Kerkrade
(NL) in July 2005.
Brass
Band Treize Etoiles, in addition to their different competition activities, has given
numerous concerts in Valais, of course, but also in nearly all Swiss Cantons, as
well as abroad. They have had the opportunity to accompany well-known soloists
(e.g. Steven Mead, Martin Winter, Roger Webster, Alan Morrison, Roland Szentpàli,
Håkan Hardenberger) and to work with famous conductors such as Richard
Evans, Elgar Howarth, Major Peter Parkes and Howard Snell.
Brass
Band Treize Etoiles has already recorded 16 CDs. They are available in our
online shop...
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B-Band:
The
Musicians of BB13*(B-Band) with Carole Rudaz (Conductor),
Géo-Pierre
Moren (Conductor) and
Jean-Jacques Bornet
(Sponsor Bornet Frères SA).
The
B-Band of Brass Band Treize Etoiles was founded in Spring 1992. Many young and
talented musicians wanted to play in the A-Band, but it was not possible to
welcome them because of the limited number of players accepted into a band that
competes at such prestigious contests as the National Championship or the Swiss Open.
Therefore, Géo-Pierre Moren decided to found a second band to help these young
musicians realize their dreams. This solution also provides a chance for the
A-Band to easily replace missing or departed players. The decision to found a B-Band was made in April and, following an
announcement in the papers, 57 musicians applied for the entering exams which
took place in May and June. 30 of them were finally accepted and the first
rehearsal was given on June 13th, 1992.
After
the Summer-break, the rehearsals began again and, without losing time, the
B-Band of Brass Band Treize Etoiles gave their first public performance on
October 31st, 1992, at the traditional Autumn concert of the band.
Competing
in First Section at the National Championship in Montreux, these enthusiastic young
musicians placed 5th from 15 competing bands, a real achievement.
One year later, in 1993, Brass Band Treize Etoiles B placed 2nd in Montreux and, in
1994 and 2002, placed 3rd. They won the “Thônex Brass Festival”
(entertainment contest opened to First Section bands) in 1995 and 1996.
The
musicians in this band average 18 years old and are conducted by both
Géo-Pierre Moren and Carole Rudaz.
Brass
Band Treize Etoiles is sponsored by BESSON INSTRUMENTS, on which all sections
of the bands play, by NAX EXCURSIONS-TRANSPORTS-VOYAGES, for travels, by
HELVETIA-PATRIA insurance, the music shop MUSIC-CENTRE S.A., Sion, and BORNET
FRERES SA, Sion.
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