The three finalists could choose for the last round between two pieces: the French Jérémie Dufort and Benjamin Pierce from U.S.A. played the Concert for tuba and orchestra by R.Szentpali, while the third contestant, the French Stephane Labeyrie, preferred the Concert for tuba and orchestra by J.Williams. All the three performances were appreciated by the public, that emphasized the ability of the single tubist with extended applause. Moreover the public played a role of particular importance because it was called to decree its favourite tubist, voting directly during the concert.

At the end of the performances the Jury - headed by Sandro Gorli (Italia) composer and conductor and composed by Øystein Baadsvik (Italy), Gerard Buquet (France), James Gourlay (Scotland), Walter Hilgers (Germany), Miguel Moreno (Spain) and John Stevens (U.S.A) - gathered in order to decide the winner while the Symphonic Orchestra of Friuli Venezia Giulia entertained the public with an awesome execution of the Sinfonia n.41 “Jupiter” K551 by W.A.Mozart.

The verdict expressed by the jurors took into consideration also the Final with piano and awarded the first prize to Benjamin Pierce, and two second prizes ex-aequo to Jérémie Dufort and Stephane Labeyrie. The public confirmed the judgment of the Jury awarding its prize to Benjamin Pierce.
At the end of the Competition the Artistic Director, prof. Giampaolo Doro, looked really satisfied and he emphasized the ability of the contestants and the importance of this Competition, pointed out by the presence of tubist from all over the world (Brasil, U.S.A., Japan, South Korea and all Europe).

Benjamin Pierce was born in New York in 1977. He is Asst. Professor of Tuba and Euphonium at the University of Arkansas. He holds degrees from Bowling Green State University (BM) and the University of Michigan (MM, DMA). Pierce has performed with major ensembles including the Detroit Symphony, the Detroit Chamber Brass, the Brass Band of Battle Creek, the Toledo Symphony, and the Flint Symphony. He has served as principal tubist of the Ann Arbor Symphony and the North Arkansas Symphony Orchestra. Pierce has been a recitalist and clinician at workshops and conferences in the United States and abroad. He has performed as a soloist with numerous ensembles including the Tokyo Symphony, the Oulu Symphony of Finland, the United States Army Band ("Pershing's Own"), and many others. This year, Pierce was grand prize winner of the Jeju International Brass Competition in South Korea, and the first piece winner of the International Competition of Markneukirchen 2008 for tuba. He has won both the tuba and euphonium divisions of the International Tuba/Euphonium Conference Solo Artist Competition and both divisions of the Leonard Falcone Intemational Solo Artist Competition (Michigan, USA). He has been the grand prize winner of the Tokyo Wind and Percussion Competition and has also won international competitions in England and Finland, among several others. Pierce has two solo recordings, Wheels of Life and Cheers, available directly from www.benpierce.com.

Jeremie Dufort was born in Enghien les Bains (France) in 1978. He graduated in 2004 at CNSM in Paris, where he studied in the class of m° Gerard Buquet and Bernard Neuranter.
He won the first prize at the International Competition "Philip Jones" in Guebwiller (France) in September 2003 and in 2004 he won the first prize at the International Competition "L’UFAM" and the third prize at the International Competition “Città di Porcia”. Moreover in 2004 he was finalist in the recruitment competition for a solo tuba player at the Paris Opera and in 2002 at the Paris Ensemble Intercontemporain.
From 2002 to 2006 he played with the Paris Police Orchestra, from 2006 to 2007 he played as tuba soloist with the Orchestre du Palau de les Arts de la Reina Sofia, in Valencia (Spain), conducted by Lorin Maazel and Zubin Metha. Since October 2007 he has played as a bass tuba with the Orchestre d'Harmonie de la Garde Républicaine. Moreover he has played with several orchestras and ensemble including: Ensemble Modern of Frankfurt, Paris Opéra, National Orchestra of France, Paris Orchestra, Lille National Orchestra, National Orchestra of Bordeaux-Aquitaine.
Currently he is assistant in the tuba class at the National Conservatory of Paris and before he taught tuba, chamber music, brass ensemble, and choral at the Music School of Cambrai.

Stephan Labeyrie was born in 1975. He studied the tuba with Marc Ursule at the CNR of Toulouse where he obtained the gold medal in 1991. In October of the same year, he entered the National Academy of Music of Lyon in the class of Mel Culbertson. In 1992, he obtained the Special Prize of Musical Quality at the International Competition of Markneukirchen (Germany). In 1995, he obtained the National Diploma of High Studies of Music with mention of the jury at the CNSM of Lyon. In June 1995, he was invited to take part in the Final Concert of the International Congress of Tuba in Chicago (U.S.A.). In December 1995, he was awarded the First Prize at the Tuba International Competition of Sydney (Australia). In May 1996, he was awarded the First Prize at the International Compeition of Markneukirchen. In 1997 he was awarded the First Prize at the International Competition of Riva del Garda (Italy).
Stephan Labeyrie has taken part in many festivals and has played as a soloist in various formations (recitals and orchestra) all over the world (U.S.A., Japan, Austria...).
After having played at the National Opera of Lyon with Kent Nagano and having spent two years with the National Orchestra of Capitole of Toulouse, he currently plays as tuba soloist at the Paris Orchestra conducted by Christoph Eschenbach. Since 2005 he has taught at the Music Conservatory of Lausanne. He currently plays with Yahama instruments and takes part in their development.