History of the Youth Brass Orchestra
The Youth Brass Orchestra of the F. Chopin Mariánské Lázně School of Music was founded in 1969. Over its more than fifty-year history, three conductors have led the orchestra. In 1981, the orchestra’s founder, conductor Václav Nováček, handed the baton to Mgr. Jaroslav Zíma. In 2000, leadership passed to the current artistic director, conductor and manager Josef Koreis.
Orchestra founder Václav Nováček
(led the orchestra from 1969 to 1981)
Jaroslav Zíma, long-time leader of the orchestra
(headed the orchestra for 19 years - from 1981 until he handed the baton to Josef Koreis in September 2000)
Handing the baton to Josef Koreis
(during a gala concert held for the occasion at the Casino Social House in Mariánské Lázně, September 2000)
Since its founding, the Youth Brass Orchestra has performed at many festivals and international competitions, bringing home numerous diplomas and awards. We consider these to be our greatest successes: two overall victories at the festival in Hamar, Norway; first places at international festivals in Bamberg and Trier, Germany; and first, second and third places in the national round of the Czech Republic’s wind orchestra competition. Below is an overview of important milestones in the orchestra’s history.
The orchestra’s history in dates…
2020–2029
- 2025 Tour of Italy
- 2024 Tour of Croatia
- 2024 Gala concert for the 55th anniversary
- 2023 Tour of Italy
- 2022 Tour of Croatia
2010–2019
- 2019 Tour of Italy
- 2019 Gala concert for the 50th anniversary
- 2018 Germany
- 2017 Tour of Italy
- 2016 Tour of Spain and Germany
- 2015 Tour of Slovakia
- 2014 Tours of France, Hungary and Germany
- 2014 Central round of the national wind orchestra competition - Letovice (3rd place)
- 2013 Tours of France and Spain
- 2011 Tour of Spain
- 2010 Central round of the national wind orchestra competition - Letovice (2nd place)
2000–2009
- 2009 Tour of Sicily
- 2007 Central round of the national wind orchestra competition - Litvínov (1st place)
- 2007 Tour of Tunisia
- 2006 Tours of Italy and France
- 2005 Tours of Spain and Malta
- 2004 Tours of Hungary and France
- 2004 Central round of the national wind orchestra competition - Litvínov (2nd place)
- 2003 International competition - Ostrava (silver rating), tours of Spain and France
- 2003 The orchestra released its second CD
- 2002 Tours of France and Germany
- 2001 Regional round of the youth wind orchestra competition (1st prize), tours of Belgium, Luxembourg and France
- 2000 J. Zíma handed the baton to J. Koreis, tours of Croatia, France and Germany
1990–1999
- 1999 The orchestra released its first CD
- 1999 Tours of Malta and Italy, international competition - Steinbach, Germany (1st prize)
- 1998 International competition - Prague (2nd prize)
- 1997 Tours of Tunisia, France and Germany, central round of the soloists’ competition (1st prize)
- 1996 Tours of Germany, Sweden, Denmark and Bulgaria
- 1995 Central round of the national competition (3rd prize), tours of Spain and Germany
- 1994 Competition - Waldsassen, Wunsiedel, Germany (1st prize)
- 1993 Competition - Trier, Germany (1st prize), live radio broadcast, TV appearance
- 1992 Competition - Herzogenaurach, Germany (1st prize twice)
- 1991 Competition - Kühlbach, Germany (1st prize)
- 1990 International festival - Bamberg, Germany (1st prize)
1980–1989
- 1989 International festival - Brno (gold rating, special prize)
- 1985 Festival - Rostock, Germany (special prize for interpretation)
- 1984 Festival - Velingrad, Bulgaria
- 1983 Festival - Hamar, Norway (1st prize three times, overall winner twice)
- 1981 Jaroslav Zíma takes over leadership of the orchestra
1970–1979
- 1977 Festival - Neerpelt, Belgium (2nd prize)
1960–1969
- 1969 The orchestra is founded by conductor Václav Nováček