Test-piece preview concerts announced ahead of Scottish Championships

As bands put the finishing touches to their preparations ahead of the upcoming Scottish Brass Band Championships at Perth Concert Hall, details have been announced of two test-piece ‘showcase’ evenings over the coming week.

Johnstone Band has announced that it is to host a joint open rehearsal with neighbouring Renfrew Burgh Band on Tuesday 7 March, where they will air their respective test-pieces in Johnstone Town Hall, Church Street, Johnstone, PA5 8DU.

The free-to-enter event, which starts at 7.30pm, will see Mark Good conduct Renfrew Burgh Band in a preview of this year’s 2nd Section test-piece, Dean Goffin’s Rhapsody in Brass while Martyn Ramsay will conduct Johnstone Band as it showcases the 1st Section test, Land of the Long White Cloud by Philip Sparke

Meanwhile, Scottish Open champion Whitburn Band has announced a similar event on Friday 10 March which will see the host band being joined by Dunaskin Doon, Broxburn and Livingston and Whitburn Heartlands bands at Whitburn Academy.

Professor Nicholas Childs will lead Whitburn in a performance of the Championship Section test-piece, Herbert Howells’ Pageantry after performances of Land of the Long White Cloud (Dunaskin Doon), Rhapsody in Brass (Broxburn and Livingston) and Dan Price’s Darkwood (Whitburn Heartlands).

The Whitburn event, also free-to-enter, will commence at 7.30pm.