Bannio Inter-Band Competition
The music competition for bands in the Anzasca Valley, in the heart of the Ossola region
About Bannio Inter-Band Competition
A band competition in the heart of the Anzasca Valley
The Bannio Inter-Band Competition is the premier musical event in Bannio Anzino, a village in the Anzasca Valley in the province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, Piedmont. Organized by the Premiato Corpo Musicale di Bannio—a historic ensemble founded in the late 19th century—the competition transforms the small Ossola village into a key reference point for the Alpine band scene for an entire weekend.
The competition takes place at the Sala Mussa and reaches its maximum capacity of participating bands every year: sixteen ensembles from Piedmont, Lombardy, the Aosta Valley, and Switzerland, with waiting lists that testify to the prestige the event has achieved in just a few editions.
Categories and Jury
Bands perform in three competitive categories plus one non-competitive open category. Each ensemble may supplement its lineup with a limited number of external musicians. The jury, composed of prominent conductors and composers, evaluates performances on a 100-point scale based on rigorous criteria: intonation, sound quality and balance, ensemble precision, rhythm, dynamics, and interpretation.
In recent years, the jury presidency has been entrusted to leading figures in the band repertoire, working alongside expert masters in the field to ensure a high level of technical and artistic comparison for the competing ensembles.
The Gala Concert
The heart of the event is the gala concert by the Premiato Corpo Musicale di Bannio, which brings together about fifty musicians and presents a program curated under the direction of illustrious guests. It is the moment when the village gathers to celebrate its own band and the musical tradition that binds it to the Anzasca Valley community.
A celebration for the whole community
Beyond the competitive aspect, the Inter-Band Competition is a true village festival: two days during which Bannio Anzino welcomes musicians, families, and enthusiasts, enlivening the streets and local venues. The event is sponsored by the Municipality of Bannio Anzino and ANBIMA Piemonte APS, with the collaboration of local associations, and represents one of the most cherished spring events in the Ossola region.
Bannio Anzino and the Ossola
Nestled among the mountains of the Anzasca Valley, at the foot of the Monte Rosa massif, Bannio Anzino combines the beauty of the Alpine landscape with a deep-rooted musical vocation. The competition is the ideal opportunity to discover this corner of Piedmont, its traditions, and the warm Ossola hospitality, in a setting that makes band music a living and shared heritage.
Bannio Inter-Band Competition — edition 2026
6° Concorso Interbandistico di Bannio
L'edizione 2026, la sesta, ha registrato il tutto esaurito di iscrizioni con sedici bande in gara — altre formazioni sono rimaste in lista d'attesa. Le esibizioni si sono articolate su due giornate alla Sala Mussa: sabato 23 maggio sette bande, domenica 24 maggio nove bande, suddivise in tre categorie a concorso e una categoria libera.
Tra le formazioni in gara: Ente Musicale di Verbania, Banda Musicale di Baceno, Corpo Musicale di San Marco di Origgio, Corpo Musicale di Palazzolo sull'Oglio, Corpo Musicale Santa Cecilia di Triuggio, Civica Filarmonica di Morbio Inferiore (Svizzera), Corpo Musicale Castelfranco di Rogno, Banda Musicale di Ghiffa, Banda Musicale di Saint-Vincent, Corpo Musicale di Cadorago, Corpo Musicale A. Raineri di Rodengo Saiano, Banda Musicale di Donnas, Corpo Musicale Santa Cecilia di Valmadrera, Corpo Musicale Santa Cecilia di Albavilla, Corpo Musicale di San Marco d'Oggiono e Corpo Musicale di Cugliate.
La giuria era presieduta dal compositore belga Bert Appermont, con i maestri Marco Somadossi e Andrea Gasperin. Sabato sera, alle ore 21, il concerto di gala del Premiato Corpo Musicale di Bannio, con una cinquantina di musicanti diretti da Bert Appermont e Thomas Altana. La cerimonia di premiazione si è svolta domenica alle 19:30: il trofeo è andato al Corpo Musicale Santa Cecilia di Valmadrera, mentre la Banda Musicale di Saint-Vincent, diretta da Piermario Rudda, ha conquistato il secondo posto di categoria con 89,20 punti.
Programme Bannio Inter-Band Competition 2026
Sabato 23 maggio
- Esibizioni di sette bande a concorso
- Ore 21: concerto di gala del Premiato Corpo Musicale di Bannio, diretto da Bert Appermont e Thomas Altana
Domenica 24 maggio
- Esibizioni di nove bande a concorso
- Ore 19:30: cerimonia di premiazione
Highlights Bannio Inter-Band Competition 2026
- Sedici bande da Piemonte, Lombardia, Valle d'Aosta e Svizzera
- Presidente di giuria: Bert Appermont
- Concerto di gala del Premiato Corpo Musicale di Bannio
- Vincitore: Corpo Musicale Santa Cecilia di Valmadrera
Practical information — Bannio Inter-Band Competition
Location
Sala Mussa, Bannio Anzino (VB), Anzasca Valley, Piedmont.
How to get there
By car: from the A26 motorway, take the Gravellona Toce exit, then follow the state road towards the Ossola region and the Anzasca Valley in the direction of Macugnaga. By train: Domodossola or Piedimulera station, continuing by bus or car towards the valley.
Admission and Program
The event takes place over two days, featuring competitive band performances, an evening gala concert, and the awards ceremony. For updated schedules, regulations, and admission details, please consult the official channels of the Premiato Corpo Musicale di Bannio.
Tips
The village offers dining options; we recommend combining your visit with an exploration of the Anzasca Valley and the trails at the foot of Monte Rosa.
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Where does it take place — Bannio Inter-Band Competition
Sala Mussa