Banda di Castions di Strada

Inside Rossini’s band it lives since many years the so called “Mini Band”, a group composed by more than 40 youngsters between 9 and 17 years old of age. What we call today Mini Band, was originally the effective band when the refounding of it was settled in 1973. Its components were in fact uniquely youngsters between the age of 5 and 16 years old; as a consequence, many of them, when reaching the age of 16, decided to leave the band because they felt “old”. Some of them instead remained, and with the time passing, we experienced a reverse in trend; as a matter of fact today the average age of the musicians is around 19 years old. The first Mini Band was born in 1995, to re-evocate the original band of the beginnings. In the last years, the Mini band has given great satisfactions, gathering many successes in local competitions for young musicians (in the year 1995 they won the first price at the competition of Corno di Rosazzo). Here below are the successes achieved by the Mini Band in the last years:

• Year 2005: Regional Competition in Corno di Rosazzo: 1° price and Best Direction price;
• Year 2005: International Music Competition in Costa Volpino (Bergamo): 3° price;
• Year 2006: Regional Competition in Corno di Rosazzo: 3° price and Best Direction price;
• Year 2006: National Competition for young bands in Bertiolo: 1° price;
• Year 2007: Regional Competition in Corno di Rosazzo: 4° price;
• Year 2007: International Music Competition in Costa Volpino (Bergamo): 1° price and Best Direction price;
• Year 2008: Regional Competition in Corno di Rosazzo: 2° price and Best Direction price;
• Year 2009: International Music Competition in Costa Volpino (Bergamo): 1° price;
• Year 2009: Regional Competition in Corno di Rosazzo: 2° price and Best Direction price;
• Year 2010: Regional Competition in Corno di Rosazzo: 2° price;
• Year 2011: International Music Competition in Costa Volpino (Bergamo): 3° price;
• Year 2011: Regional Competition in Corno di Rosazzo: 1° price and Best Direction price;

In the occasion of the excellent result obtained in Costa Volpino, apart from the chart and the score, what mostly satisfied us was the judgement of the President of the Jury, Maestro Andreoli, who said: Optimal harmony between the director and the musicians. It should actually be me thanking you, as this confirms a thesis in which I truly believe: the quality and enthusiasm in the service of the youngsters! (our director, Mauro Vidoni, obtained in this occasion the Best Direction price). 

The preparation of such competitions is challenging for our musicians who, besides doing the weekly singular lessons with their teachers, must take part to ensemble rehearsals with Director Vidoni. At these rehearsals, along with the musical aspects and techniques, discipline plays an important role too. 

For the young musicians who are waiting to enter the official Band, the Mini Band is at the same time the first exercise for the ensemble music and the first contact with public.

Finally we would like to remind that in 2005, 16 components of Rossini’s Mini Band took part with enthusiasm to the Young Regional Band of Friuli Venezia Giulia, together with other musicians of the same age coming from other regional bands.

The last effort, in terms of timings, is the achievement of the 1° price at the Regional Competition in Corno di Rosazzo on May 7th 2011. Moreover the Director Mauro Vidoni won the 1° price for Best Direction!