State Wind Orchestra Baden-Württemberg

Since 1978, the Landesblasorchester Baden-Württemberg has been shaping the brass music scene in Europe and is one of the most renowned orchestras. The LBO was founded by the Wind Music Association of Baden-Württemberg in order to further develop symphonic wind music, to break new ground, to be able to play works in original instrumentation and at the same time to be a role model and sound reference for the music associations throughout the state. Numerous international prizes and recognised CD productions document the special quality of the selection orchestra. The 85 musicians come from all over Baden-Württemberg. They spend four weekends a year working on the demanding concert programmes. The repertoire includes original compositions and arrangements of classical works. World premieres and chamber music ensembles are also part of the annual programme. Due to its high musical level, the orchestra has become one of the most sought-after addresses for highly qualified and committed musicians in recent years. In 2005, the LBO won first prize in gold with distinction in the concert class at the World Music Contest (WMC) in Kerkrade (NL). In 2011, the LBO won the 2nd International Wind Orchestra Competition at the Berlin Philharmonie. In July 2015, the Landesblasorchester represented Germany and Europe at the WASBE World Conference in San José, California, for which it undertook its biggest trip since the orchestra was founded. In May 2016, the LBO achieved fourth place at the European Championships (ECWO) for Wind Orchestras in Utrecht, the Netherlands. The orchestra celebrated its greatest success again at the WMC in Kerkrade in July 2017: with 96 points, the LBO was runner-up with the highest score ever achieved by a German orchestra.

 

Björn Bus was born in Brunssum in the Netherlands. His musical roots also lie there in the south of the Netherlands. He started as a drummer with the Harmonie Orkest Concordia Treebeek. Later he switched to the trombone. Björn Bus learned conducting from Alex Schillings. In 2004 he graduated from the Groningen Conservatory. He graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor's degree. In the same year he completed his trombone studies with Harrie Ries at the Maastricht Conservatory. In 2005 and 2006 he studied baroque trombone with Wim Becu at the Musikhochschule Aachen. He completed his Master's degree in conducting in 2011 at the Conservatorium Maastricht, also summa cum laude. His teacher was the internationally renowned conductor Jan Cober. Björn Bus has demonstrated his talent and won prizes at numerous master classes and competitions. He attended further master classes in conducting and worked with well-known personalities. In 2005 he won second place in the EBBA (European Brass Band Association) conducting competition in Groningen. At the WMC 2009 (World Music Contest) in Kerkrade he earned the bronze baton. During this competition he worked with 'De Marinierskapel der Koninklijke Marine'. Currently Björn Bus conducts the following orchestras: Orchestra of the Dutch Customs, Landesblasorchester Baden-Württemberg, Harmonie St. Joseph Sittard and Harmonie St. Jozef Kaalheide - Kerkrade. He is active as a board member in the WASBE association (World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles) and has taken over the general artistic direction of the World Music Contest (WMC) in Kerkrade since autumn 2018. Björn Bus is also a sought-after guest conductor with well-known orchestras at home and abroad. He has been a frequent guest with the Leipzig Radio Wind Orchestra, the Koninklijke Militaire Kapel 'Johan Willem Friso', the Banda Municipal Barcelona and the Wind Orchestra of the Maastricht Conservatory. He also gives conducting courses and is a sought-after adjudicator at international competitions.