Swiss Wind Band Association awards two second prizes and no first in Baden

At the final of the Swiss Wind Band Association's (SWBA) 11th Conducting Competition in Baden on 13 September 2026, the jury did not award a first prize.¹ The association describes the demands of the competition as extremely high.¹

Joint second prizes went to Luca Belz from Zollikofen (BE) and Romain Gili from Kriens (LU), while Julia Wyser from Weinfelden (TG) took third prize.¹ According to the Schweizer Musikzeitung, Belz conducts the Musikgesellschaft Wasen i. E., Gili conducts the Orchestre Bis Repetita Lausanne and the Feldmusik Alpenrösli Unteriberg, among others, and Wyser conducts the Stadtmusik Dietikon (ZH) and the Musig Sulgen (TG).²

Nine conductors took part. In the first round they rehearsed for twenty minutes with the WindOrchestra Baden Wettingen, in the semi-final they worked with the Brass Band Emmental, and in the final they conducted the Symphonisches Blasorchester Schweizer Armeespiel.¹ The jury was made up of Stefan Roth (CH), Annick Villanueva (F) and Chiara Vidoni (I).¹

At the final evening in the Kurtheater Baden, 'Ab Uno' by the Vaud composer Théo Rossier was also performed in public for the first time.¹