Registered Charity in Scotland No. SC033163 |
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Registered Charity in Scotland No. SC033163 |
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We take a look at the entrants in the Scottish Challenge Shield.
Records indicate that a brass band has been in existence in the East Renfrewshire town of Barrhead as long ago as 1819. Initially named the Levern Instrumental band, Barrhead has also been known as Barrhead Instrumental Band, Barrhead Silver Band, Barrhead and District Band and as it is now, Barrhead Burgh Band. The band enjoyed a number of contest successes in the mid 60’s including winning the 1964 4th Section and the 1967 3rd Section at the Scottish Championships but undoubtedly the most successful period to date was in the 1990’s when they went from 4th to 1st Section in only 5 years. In doing so they achieved numerous contest wins and accolades. These include the 3rd Section Scottish Championship title in 1995, SBBA Band of the Year in 1995, Best 2nd Section Band at the 1996 Carnegie Trust, Strathclyde Charities and Land O’Burns contests as well as 2nd Section Runners-Up at the 1996 Scottish Championships. In 1994 the band travelled overseas for the first time undertaking a concert tour of Germany followed by a second tour in 1999 to Belgium and Holland. 2004 saw the band achieving numerous successes including winning the 2nd Section at the Scottish Championships, winning the 2nd Section at the Carnegie Trust Contest, winning the West of Scotland Championships, achieving 3rd Place at the British National Championships (2nd Section) and being awarded the title of Scottish Brass Band Association Band of the Year 2004. In 2005, Barrhead Burgh Band has returned to the 2nd Section. After a packed schedule of concerts, marches and gala days; September saw the band taking 3rd Place at Brass in the Park open contest.
Conducting Barrhead Burgh Band in Perth will be Martyn Ramsay. Martyn was once the band's Flugel Horn player in 2003/04 where he won Solo prizes as the band enjoyed a year of great success, winning the 2nd Section and coming third at the National Finals. From there Martyn moved to the Kirkintilloch band where he was the Flugel Horn player for 3 years. During that time he won the Best Horn medal at the Scottish Championships in 2005 and a winners medal in 2007. Having been forced to retire from playing in 2007 at the tender age of 27, Martyn has now decided to focus his attention on conducting having been inspired by the experience of playing under the likes of Steve Bastable, Nigel Boddice, Dr Stephen Cobb, Russell Gray and of course his father, Allan
Scottish Championships - 4th (1st section)
Fife Brass Band Festival - 3rd (1st section)
Land O'Burns - 8th
The Bathgate Band can trace it's origins to the early part of the nineteenth century, but first came to prominence in the early 1840's when they were asked to play for Queen Victoria on her visit to Linlithgow. This appears to be the band's first high profile engagement for which they received the princely sum of one guinea! From these origins the Band appears to be the oldest musical organisation in West Lothian and amongst the oldest in Scotland. The Band continued to flourish with the help of the ever-growing town of Bathgate, receiving support from the local hand and loom weaving industry and also from local mining and steel foundry concerns. The Band even spent a few years in the 1870's in the guise of the local Volunteer Militia Band. In the 1890's the prosperous town council took an interest in the Band, supporting it by public subscription, which prompted a name change to the Bathgate Public Band. Following the formation of the Scottish Amateur Brass Band Association the Band competed in the inaugural Scottish Championship in 1895 and have participated ever since. Our most successful period in the competition was during the 1930's, when the Band consistently appeared in the first three places with the Clydebank and CWS (Glasgow) Bands. The Band continued to perform for Royalty, having played for the King on a local visit in 1910 and for the present Queen during a visit to Bathgate in 1955. Although the Band suffered a slight decline during the 1960's and early 1970's the introduction of brass tuition in local schools in 1974 revitalised the Band. Our contesting successes have also continued, most notably by winning the Second Section British Championships in 1989 and 1997, taking first place in the First Section of the Pontins Brass Band Championship in 1998 and third place in the First Section of the National Mineworkers Contest in the year 2000.
Recent Form
Scottish Championships - 6th (1st section)
Campbeltown Brass was formed in 1983 from brass players in the Campbeltown Grammar School Concert Wind Band. For the first 20 years of its existence Gordon Evans was the musical director of the band. In 1993 Gordon was awarded the MBE for his services to music in Campbeltown and in 1997, the Mortimer Medal by the Worshipful Company of Musicians for his work in training young brass musicians. Craig Anderson has been helping out with contests and training since 2004, and his efforts have seen the band grow stronger, adding more contest wins. In spring 2005, Campbeltown Brass were pleased secure Craig's services on a more permanent basis. Unfortunately the need to leave Campbeltown for employment or further education, means that the majority of players leave the town after finishing school and the band still relies almost entirely on youngsters from the Grammar School for its membership. Fortunately, many keep up their brass banding when they leave and many bands throughout the United Kingdom and beyond can boast a "Campbeltonian" in their band room. Previous players have went on to play for Kirkintilloch, Kirkintilloch Kelvin, Newmilns & Galston, Barrhead Burgh, Broxburn Public, Clackmannan & District, City of Discovery, Scottish Co-op, Hepworth, Fodens, Sellers, Brighouse & Rastrick, and the current bumper-up of Black Dyke is Campbeltown trained!! Campbeltown Brass has had many contest successes at both senior and junior level. Qualifying for the national finals on two occasions, they currently compete in the third section, but were in the second section in the late 80's/early 90's and again in the late 90's. Every 'normal' contest requires the usual 300 mile round trip, with an overnight stay!! The band are currently enjoying a fine vein of form which has seen them win back to back Scottish Championship titles in the 3rd and 2nd sections. They are also the current holders of the Scottish Challenge Cup, won in Perth in 2007.
Craig Anderson is an award-winning tuba soloist and freelance player with a wealth of experience that has seen him play with numerous leading orchestras and ensembles. Craig began playing at the age of 11 with the Monklands Youth Concert Brass Band. At the age of 15 he was awarded a full scholarship to study at the junior school of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama studying with Philip Hore (Royal Scottish National Orchestra). During his time at the junior school he performed as a soloist with many youth orchestras and on two occasions he performed movements of the Vaughan Williams tuba concerto with the RSNO. On leaving the junior school he was awarded the Gilbert Innes prize for brass. After being accepted to the RSAMD full time Craig began to freelance almost immediately, working with the BBC SSO and Scottish Opera in his first year. Studying under Anthony Swainson, Craig was a finalist in the Radio 2 Young Musician of the Year and won the prestigious Governor's recital prize for brass. Craig graduated from the RSAMD in 1995 with a DRSAMD and a CPGS. He freelances regularly with the BBC SSO, RSNO, Scottish Opera, Scottish Ballet, Northern Symphonia, Scottish Chamber Orchestra and many more. He is visiting brass instructor at three of Scotland's top independent schools and is also the specialist tutor for the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland and the West of Scotland Independent Schools Orchestra. Craig has performed in venues across Britain and on the continent. He has made numerous recordings for television and radio in the capacity of orchestral player, ensemble member or soloist. A highlight of his career was winning the open tuba competition at the International Tuba/Euphonium Conference at the Royal Northern College of Music in January 2000.
Recent Form
Scottish Championships - Winners (2nd section)
Lower Section National Finals - 12th
Croy band was started in Smithstone around 1874. Over the years the band gained in popularity and it was soon being called on to play at many of the local functions being held in the area. In 1902 a new parish of Holy Cross was opened in Croy with Fr. Francis McCann as Parish Priest. Fr. McCann was quick to see the potential in the band and he approached the band to see if they would come under the banner of the new parish. Time went by and it wasn't until 1908, under the negotiation of Fr. John Charleson, that the band became known as Croy Parish Band. The band has always had a strong tradition of supporting many local charities in the pursuit of raising much needed funds. Indeed during the 1921 and 1926 national strikes, the band played a big part in raising funds so as to feed the strikers and their families via the soup kitchens set up in Auchinstarry, Croy and Smithstone. Following the bands centenary celebrations in 1975 a decision was made by the band committee to form a Junior Band, which it was hoped, would feed new players into the Senior Band and so maintain the long term future of the band. The Junior Band, under the leadership of James Rafferty, proved to be a massive success from day one and the Junior Band was in demand to play at countless local events such as gala days, school concerts and other fund raising activities. To this day the band actively looks to train new players and at present, under the guidance of Grant Golding, there are approximately 20 young players in the Youth Band. Many successes have been achieved by the band over the years. To date we have represented Scotland on seven occasions at the National Finals. The band was also the first civilian band to be asked to play at a Scotland versus England international football match at Hampden Park in February 1968. The band was also invited to play at Bellahouston Park during the visit of Pope John Paul II to Scotland in 1982. Following on from this the band were then invited to participate in the St Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin in 1983.
Although spending most of his life living in Kirkintilloch, Kenneth was actually born in St Andrews in the Kingdom of Fife.
He started playing the Eb Horn at secondary school and quickly joined Kirkintilloch Junior Band. Two years later he changed to F horn but was still invited to attended the band (this time Senior Band) by their then conductor David James.
"I remember the very first time I heard the band at full pelt (John Dickson,Jim Smith et all) in the old wooden band room beside the canal and thinking that it was such a great sound….”
He attended the RSAMD from 1976-84 (4 years junior-4 years senior). and was awarded the horn prize in 1983 and 84. (He was the first horn player to play the Gregson Horn Concerto for F Horn and Brass Band in an Academy Post Graduate recital).
After graduating at Glasgow University (joint course) he was appointed Assistant Principal Horn to the Scottish Opera Orchestra by Sir Alex Gibson.
Two years later he moved to Assistant Principal Horn in the then SNO and stayed there for the next seventeen years.
During his spell with the RSNO he performed in concerts with Pavarotti, Yehudi Menuhin, Barry Tuckwell, John Lill, John Ogdon and many other great soloists as well as “being fortunate enough to have recorded some fantastic film sound tracks”. …Batman, Superman, Mission Impossible, Out of Africa …”far too many to remember”, with their original composers, Gerry Goldsmith, Lalo Shiffron, Ron Goodwin, Elmer Bernstein etc.
Kenneth has also performed many times on television, and is the horn player on the last series of Harry Secobmes “Highway” programme.
In April 2003 he left the RSNO to take up his present position as Senior Teacher in the East Renfrewshire Music Service.
Kenneth has given In Service Training, lectures, adjudicates and given Master Classes throughout Britain.
He helped design the Kinder Horn for Boosey and Hawkes and still plays regularly.
Scottish Championships - 3rd (2nd section)
Fife Brass Band Festival - 2nd (2nd section)
Land O'Burns - 10th
Johnstone Silver Band was formed in 1834 by workers in the local textile mills. At that time Johnstone and Paisley were second only to the North of England in the manufacture and processing of cotton and the workers were keen to take up music as a new leisure pursuit. By the 1850's the Johnstone Brass Band were only one of about nine bands that existed within a six mile radius but by the end of the Second World War were the only band to survive. The "Silver" part of the Band's name was adopted to encourage the public to donate silver, rather than copper coins when public collections were taken in the late 1900s. In recent years, the band has enjoyed a number of successes within the contesting arena, culminating in their success at the regional championships in 2005 where they won the first section in the Scottish region.
Raymond Tennant began his playing career as cornet player with the Kirkintilloch band in 1970 then moved on to tuba. He gained entry to Royal Scottish Academy of Music & Drama in 1977, with further studies at Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and the National Centre for Orchestral Studies in London.
Following his studies Raymond was appointed as principal tuba with Scottish Ballet and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and has performed with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Opera and the Ulster Orchestra. He has also appeared on numerous recordings and on TV on a few occasions!
In the past ten years Raymond has been MD at Newtongrange Silver, Unison Kinneil, Lochgelly, Johnstone, and Kirkintilloch Kelvin and has enjoyed numerous contest successes at regional and national level.
Scottish Championships - 2nd (2nd section)
Fife Brass Band Festival - Winners (2nd section)
Northern Counties Open - 4th
Land O'Burns - 5th
Lower Section National Finals - 10th
Borders Entertainment Contest - Winners
Kirkintilloch Kelvin Brass was formed in 1994 as the result of many years of teaching brass instruments in Kirkintilloch by a number of tutors, but Willie Tennant has been the main tutor. Having taught a number of players who progressed to the senior band, it was felt that the formation of a full contesting Band would give an outlet for the other musical talents within the Band. To this end Kirkintilloch Kelvin Brass was formed, taking it's name from the river Kelvin which flows through part of the town, and keeping the identity with the town and the senior band with the name Kirkintilloch. They competed in the 4th section at the Scottish Championships for the first time in 1995 conducted by Paul Hart, and since then they have been conducted by Charles Keenan, John Needham, Mark Purvie, Allan Ramsay, Raymond Tennant and Alastair Orr. Their present Musical Director is Raymond Tennant. In 1999 they were placed second in the 4th section conducted by Paul Hart, and were promoted to the 3rd Section. They represented Scotland at the National 4th Section Finals in Nottingham that year and gave a creditable performance conducted by Allan Ramsay. The year 2000 saw them take second place in the 3rd Section Conducted by Raymond Tennant and again represented Scotland at the 3rd Section National Finals in London's Royal Albert Hall in October 2000, and from October 2000 they were promoted to the 2nd Section. On Friday the 20th of October in London's Royal Albert Hall, the Kirkintilloch Kelvin Brass, conducted by Raymond Tennant, gave the greatest performance in their history to became 3rd Section Champions of Great Britain. The band has made great strides since it's formation and continues to be part of the Kirkintilloch partnership with both bands working together to benefit teaching and performance of brass music in Kirkintilloch and beyond. In 2004 the band competed in the 1st section of the Scottish Championship gaining third place. Earlier this year the band took that final step and gained second place in the 1st section, winning promotion to the Championship section for 2006.
The band will be conducted in Perth by Charles Keenan. Charles Keenan started playing the cornet in the St. Laurence's Brass Band in Greenock at the age of 10. On leaving school in 1972 he entered the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama where he studied trumpet with David James. In 1974 he was awarded the subject prize for trumpet and after graduating in 1975 he was awarded a post graduate year to further his conducting experience. Charles Keenan commenced his teaching career in 1977 and since then has been involved in conducting, training and developing brass bands as well as introducing many young people to the brass band movement. He is currently the Instrumental Music Co-ordinator with Inverclyde Council Education Services.
Recent Form
Scottish Championships - 4th (1st section)
Northern Counties Open - 3rd
Land O' Burns - 2nd
The Lochgelly Band are a based in the town of Lochgelly which is in the county of Fife in Scotland. The band were formed at some time during the early to mid 19th century although the first recorded instance of a brass band in the town dates from 1854 so this is generally regarded as the date of formation. Since its formation the band have been active participants in both the contest arena and in public performance. The band are regularly seen at most of the local childrens gala day parades and regularly play concerts throughout the year including an annual Carol concert in the St Andrews Church in the town. On the contest stage the band were Scottish Champions in 1973 and gained a creditable 6th place at the National Championships of Great Britain in the Royal Albert Hall, London later that year. More recently the band has had a difficult time in the 90's suffering successive relegations. However at the beginning of the new millenium the band has surged back to prominence with two successive Scottish Championship victories in 2002 and 2003 and a second place in 2005 bringing them back into the 1st section for competition in 2006. During their successful run the band also won the 4th section of the National Mineworkers Championships in 2002.
The band will be conducted in Perth by Paul Drury. Paul Drury was born in Dundee in 1967 and received his early musical education at school and at his local Salvation Army Citadel. Paul studied tuba with Anthony Swainson of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra for four years, becoming an Associate of the Royal College of Music aged 17 (one of the youngest tubists to achieve this award). He was also principal tuba of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain and principal euphonium of the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland. Whilst at school Paul also performed as a concerto soloist with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Paul has played Eb Bass in Edinburgh Gorgie SA Band, Whitburn Band, Unison Kinneil Band, Fuoco Brass and the Household Troops Band of the SA.
Paul is becoming increasingly well known as a composer and arranger and has had over a dozen compositions published by the Salvation Army, as well as in 2007 establishing his own web based publishing house, M8 Music. Paul has been invited to compose works for the Grimethorpe Colliery Band, Sellers International Band, The New York Staff Band, the Household Troops Band, Govan Citadel Band and Edinburgh Gorgie Band, as well as being commissioned to write solos for virtuoso soloists Phillip McCann and Leslie Neish. In addition his music has been recorded by a number of bands and he was the composer of the title track on the 2004 recording by the International Staff Band of the Salvation Army. In 2003 Paul was the winner of the inaugural Longridge Composers’ Forum, and his circus march ‘Jubilee’ won the Best March Prize for the Sellers International Band at the 2004 Brass in Concert contest at Spennymoor. Paul has held a number of conducting positions in the past few years, including Resident Conductor with Unison Kinneil and Whitburn Bands. As well as his association with Lochgelly Band, Paul is also the Resident Conductor of the Kirkintilloch Band. By profession Paul is a Director of a Christian charity working with people affected by homelessness, and has two young sons.
Recent Form
Scottish Championships - 3rd (1st section)
Fife Brass Band Festival - 2nd (1st section)
Land O'Burns - 7th
FCBA Open - 5th
Pontins - 10th
Formed in 1919, by the paper mill as a social outlet for its workers, Tullis Russell Mills Band has since grown from strength to strength and has enjoyed much success over the years under the leadership of many famous conductors: Drake Rimmer, John Haldane, Ray Farr and John Maines. Even some of the world’s most outstanding players and tutors are products of “Tullis”, such as John Wallace, John Millar and James Gourlay. Contesting wise, the Band have always been “in with a shout”, gaining numerous 2nd and 3rd places at most local and national contest throughout the years. Tullis Russell Mills Band set up a unique record of results at one contest where the Band won a hymn-tune contest for 13 years in succession, until the contest organisers decided to make the event a march contest. The band have been Scottish champions on three occasions -1952 (championship section) under the directorship of Drake Rimmer, in 1985 (3rd Section) under the baton of James Miller and 1995 (2nd Section) due to the dedication of the Musical Director, Bruce Davis. There have been many memorable contests and concerts in the last 20 years, with the band qualifying 7 times within this time, to represent Scotland at the National Championships. Recently the Band has been up and down from the 2nd and 3rd sections and is currently in the 3rd Section where the band gained a creditable 3rd place at the championships last year. In 1985 Tullis Russell Mills Band made the first of its very successful visits to Boblingen, near Stuttgart in Germany. Boblingen is the twin town of Glenrothes, where the band is based. More recently in 2005 the Band played host to the Tampereen Tyovaenyhdistyksen Soittokunta Band from Finland and a future trip is planned for 2006 for Tullis to go to Finland. The band still continues to play where at all possible, at local gala days, fetes, church concerts and contests etc and are available for all occasions. As well as the senior band we also have a learner’s band ensuring the future of the brass banding traditions of Scotland.
John Hinckley has been eminently successful with many bands in Britain and Europe. John had an enviable reputation as the flugel horn player with the world famous Brighouse & Rastrick Band, he was a member of from 1974 - 1992. "we won everything, some a few times over and even played on Top of the Pops!" The natural progression in to conducting was an easy step. He had 5 years as resident conductor with the Marple Band during their most successful period. This was followed by a 7 year period as the musical director of the celebrated Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band. Spectacular progress was made, notable contest achievements including winning the Yorkshire Area, the strongest of them all. Together they won the Grand Shield enabling a return to the much coveted British Open Championships and top 3 placings at the All England Masters Championships. John has been Professional Conductor for two of the best bands in Norway, Tertnes Brass and Kleppe Musiklagg. He has recently held similar positions with CWS (Glasgow), Unison Kinniel, Mount Charles and Yorkshire Imperial.
Scottish Championships - 4th (2nd section)
Fife Brass Band Festival - 3rd (2nd section)
Northern Counties Open - 12th
FCBA Open - 7th
Pontins - 5th
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2007 - Whitburn
2006 - Whitburn
2005 - Fishburn
2004 - Hepworth
2003 - Scottish Co-op
The adjudicators for the event:
Scottish Open - Roger Webster and Peter Meechan
Scottish Challenge Shield - Michael Fowles and John Roberts
Scottish Challenge Cup - Michael Fowles and John Roberts
Scottish Youth Brass Band Championships - Michael Fowles and Ian Smith
Because the Scottish Challenge Shield and Scottish Challenge Cup contests have early starts there will be a pre-draw for these events.
All sections of the Scottish Youth Brass Band Championships will also be subject to a pre-draw.
The draw for the Scottish Open contest will take place at 1:30pm.
Saturday 24th
9:00am - Scottish Challenge Shield
12:00am - Scottish Challenge Cup
3:00pm - Scottish Open
7:30pm - Results of all sections
Scottish Youth Brass Band Championships
11:00am - Community Section
12:00pm - Development Section
2:00pm - Intermediate Section
2:30pm - Premier Section
4:45pm approx - Concert by National Youth Brass Band of Scotland
5:30pm - Awards ceremony