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The Besson sponsored Scottish Open Solo and Ensemble championships took place in the Regal Community Theatre in Bathgate on the weekend of 2nd/3rd February 2008.

The championship weekend had in fact kicked off on the Friday afternoon with adjudicator Les Neish presenting a masterclass at Barrhead High School in conjunction with West of Scotland Brass Band Association and Levern Community Brass in support of the Scottish Brass Band Association youth development policy. An audience of local tuba players and upwards of 30 schoolchildren benefitted greatly from the tuition and tips passed on by Les. And it looks like the youth development efforts of the SBBA are beginning to bear some fruit with an entry of 45 soloists and 21 ensembles competing in the three youth sections on the Saturday. Indeed, some were to remark that the day turned into a bit of a marathon but for the right reasons. It was fantastic to witness the resurgence of interest in the youth Solo and Ensemble Championships and long may it continue.

The youth events themselves came to be dominated by players representing the town of Carnoustie, from both primary and secondary schools. As well as a Championship golf course, the town of Carnoustie can now boast to be home to the junior, intermediate and youth Ensemble Champions of Scotland and also the Intermediate Solo Champion. This is a quite remarkable return and is in no small part due to the superb tuition provided in the areas schools by Michael Robertson. Thanks to the sponsors that success will now be assisted by the provision of three cornets awarded to the winning ensembles.

In the Solo Championships the Junior section, for players under 12, was won by Rachel Jones from Dalmellington ahead of Craig Knight from Carnoustie primary and Rachael Downs representing St.John The Baptist primary school. The intermediate section, for players aged between 12 and 15, was won by the aforementioned Joe Walters of Carnoustie High school just ahead of Ross Knight, also of Carnoustie High. Haley Edmond of Whitburn finished in third place. In the Youth section, aged between 16 and 21, Rachel brown of Loanhead Brass Roots took the title ahead of Ailsa Russell of Carnoustie High and Frazer Kirk representing Broxburn & Livingston.

As mentioned previously the ensemble contests provided a hat trick of wins for Carnoustie based groups. Having said that the adjudicators did have some hard decisions to make such was the standard of playing. Finishing second to Carnoustie primary in the Junior Ensembles were Williamston primary closely followed in third place by Cumbernauld primary. The Intermediate Ensembles was won by Carnoustie High school ahead of the much travelled Campbeltown ensemble with Dalmellington coming home in third place. In the Youth Ensembles Carnoustie High duly completed the hattrick, finishing ahead of Edinburgh University Band and St Margarets Academy respectively.

Besson Scottish Solo and Ensemble Championships 2008

Saturday 2nd February - Bathgate Community Theatre

Adjudicators - Les Neish & Michael Dodd

Junior Solos (under 12) - for The Kirkintilloch Band Trophy

Music Innovation Award - Craig Knight

Intermediate Solos (12 - 15) - for The Whitburn Band Trophy

Music Inovation Award - Sarah Knight

Youth Solos (16 - 21) - for The Scottish Co-op Band Trophy

Music Inovation Award - Michael Fleming

Junior Ensembles - for the Kinneil Band Trophy

Intermediate Ensembles - for the Bo'ness & Carriden Band Trophy

Youth Ensembles - for the Clydebank Burgh Band Trophy

* - Adjudication only, no points awarded

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