Dalmellington Take Brass in the Park Honours
The Dalmellington Band lifted the top prize at the Brass in the park Contest held in the big top in Newtongrange park on 3rd September. In its 9th year the contest attracted a record entry of 16 bands in the open section and 5 bands in the development section. Adjudicator Alan Ramsay said of Dalmellington that they sounded more like a Championship section band than a 1st section one; a remark which will have gone down well in South Ayrshire. The Johnstone band were in second place with Barrhead Burgh taking third. Indeed most of the bands played to form with only Lochgelly and Shotts St Patricks suffering unexpected results. With both of these bands being Harrogate bound perhaps they have their eyes on bigger prizes to come. In the 2nd section Jedforest Instrumental continued their current run of success further underlining their current dominance of banding in the borders. The third section prize was taken by MacTaggart Scott Loanhead and the fourth section prize was won by the ever improving Abbey Brass (Jedforest) whilst Sanquar and District took the prize for non-contesting bands.
Senior soloist winner Derek Kirkwood
The soloists award was judged this year by former British Open Solo Champion and soprano virtuoso Alexandra Kerwin. The standard this year was particularly high with several commendable performances. This writers particular favourites being ?Leaning on a Lampost? performed by Mark Good of Campbeltown Brass; ?The Sun Has Got His Hat On? performed by the Eb bass player of Queensferry Community Brass and ?Georgia on My Mind? performed by the Principal Cornet of Clydebank Burgh. There was only one winner of the senior award in the judges eyes and that went to Derek Kirkwood of Dalmellington for a superb rendition of Gordon Langfords ?Rhapsody For Trombone?. The junior soloist award went to the euphonium player of Broxburn & Livingston.
Loanhead Brass Roots celebrate
The Brass in the Park contest continues to support the development of brass bands in Scotland with the development section contest for youth and junior bands. The development section took place in the middle of the main contest and was judged by Iain Davey of Newtongrange Silver Band. There are no losers in this contest with all entrants being awarded either a gold silver or bronze award for their performance. Of the five entrants St. Ronans Future Band, Turriff Youth Band and Loanhead Brass Roots were presented with Gold awards; Langholm Juniors a Silver award; and Broxburn & Livingston Juniors a Bronze award. Loanhead Brass Roots were judged to be the best band in the section and the Best Instrumentalist prize was won by Ross Brotherston, principal cornet of St Ronans Future Band.
As always at Brass in the Park the organisation was excellent. The informality of the event is also a refreshing change from the sometimes stuffy atmosphere of traditional brass band contests. With lots to see and do, excellent food and drink, and of course top quality entertainment on offer it is no wonder that this contest continues to improve every year. The contest is of course only the centrepiece of a whole weekend of events staged under the canvas of the big top in Newtongrange park. The weekend started on Friday night with the opening Gala concert featuring the Newtongrange Silver Band with guest soloist Alexandra Kerwin. Following the contest day on Saturday the weekend came to a close with the Praise in Brass concert on Sunday afternoon again highlighting the talents of Newtongrange Silver Band and guest soloist Alexandra Kerwin in a programme of traditional hymns and band arrangements of ceremonial music. Following hot on the heels of the successful Land O?Burns contest this weekend proved that there are a lot of good things happening in the brass band movement in Scotland. All of this is of course due to the hard work of the dedicated team of people who organise these events. A big vote of thanks to Alan McLaren and his team at Newtongrange Silver band for another successful Brass in the Park weekend.
