Title goes to Austria

The OSEW kicked off on Friday evening with the Swiss Students Competition, a percussion competition for students from Swiss music universities. On Saturday and Sunday, the soloists and ensembles put their musical skills to the test.

The OSEW Swiss Student Competition for university graduates took place for the third time this year. The concept was revised in collaboration with the Swiss universities. Students enrolled at Swiss music universities up to the age of 24 are eligible to take part. The jury was made up of internationally renowned experts Franz Bach, Stuttgart and Roman Brogli, Pugema TI. The competition took place in three parts (1st round: timpani/mallet; 2nd round: set-up/body percussion/music theater; 3rd round: marimba with three finalists). Cédric Gyger from Schönenried, a graduate of the Zurich University of the Arts, took first place with the pieces For Marimba II and Indifférence through. He relegated Farida Hamdar from Rehetobel and Corentin Barro from Mühleturnen to the places of honor.

The OSEW competitions took place in the Dreitannensaal and in the Grünau school complex. The highlight was the grand final for the Eastern Switzerland Solo Champion on Sunday afternoon. In view of the many outstanding performances, the internationally recognized jury had a difficult task to master. Children and young people born between 1998 and 2012 competed in the slow melody, ensemble and solo competitions, with around 800 young musicians taking part, from clarinets, trumpets and trombones to a wide variety of percussion instruments.

The five category winners of the weekend qualified for the grand final on Sunday afternoon. Katharina Mätzler (Bregenzerwald Music School) came out on top on her bassoon with her outstanding, virtuoso performance. She was able to convince the jury the most and took the coveted title of "Eastern Switzerland Solo Champion" abroad for the first time. Sven Dahinden, snare drums from the Schüpfheim music school, came second with his performance. Linus Tschopp from the Sulgen Music Society took third place on the euphonium. He was also nominated to take part in the "Prix Musique 2020".

Next year, the competition will take place for the 20th time from September 4 to 6, 2020. The association will certainly come up with something special for the anniversary, promised long-time OSEW Managing Director Verena Fehr, and also revealed that a belated present will then take place in Sirnach in 2021 with the final of the "Prix Musique".