Trumpet player Mark Fenne of Geneva had a unique opportunity at the 2008 Brass Band Championships on Saturday.

Despite his group, Prairie Brass Band, placing sixth among seven bands, the 42-year-old had the chance to showcase brass band music and play in front of a hometown crowd at the Norris Cultural Arts Center in St. Charles.

“This is a one-of-a-kind event,” said Fenne, whose wife and three sons attended the concert. “It’s exciting. It’s fun. It’s challenging. It’s giving the community something it hasn’t heard in awhile.”

Fenne joined the band at the request of a friend and two weeks later competed in his first Brass Band Championship. Since then, he’s been hooked and hopes interest in brass band music will continue to grow. A regional sales manager in Palatine, Fenne has spent three years with the Arlington Heights-based Prairie Brass Band.

“All the bands put a lot of work into this competition,” he said. “The level of play gets better and better each year.”

Seven 30-member bands from Iowa, Florida, Missouri, Illinois and Wisconsin competed in the competition.

Brass bands are comprised of brass instruments and some percussion. The bands have remained popular in Europe, where 1,200 compete in the United Kingdom, while only 100 to 150 compete in the United States, said Brass Bands International President Clark Niermeyer, also a member of Prairie Brass. European competitions include the Scottish Open Championships and the European Brass Band Championships.

Contestants in the Norris competition were judged on listenability, technical ability and entertainment value. The Fountain City Brass Band from Kansas City, Mo., repeated as champions, scoring 348 points Saturday and giving them a $1,000 prize and the right to participate at an international competition in England. Prairie Brass, the only Illinois entry, finished with 302 points. Bands played swing jazz to contemporary hits.

Niermeyer said he is not yet sure if the concert will return to St. Charles, although 600 people attended the competition Saturday. The contest  moved to St. Charles from Arlington Heights this year.

“I thought it went very well,” Niermeyer said. “Everybody played well and seemed pleased with the event.

“It’s difficult moving to a new community and new facility. I thought it was  good start.”