Successful Borders Brass Workshop
Over 80 young brass and percussion players gathered at Galashiels Academy last weekend to take part in a fantastic day of music-making.
Andrew Duncan, the distinguished Scots composer, arranger and conductor led the A band and was joined by the talented James Chamberlain, from Whitburn Band who looked after the ‚Äö?Ñ??B band‚Äö?Ñ?? while Borders music teacher, Cameron Mabon, led the ‚Äö?Ñ??C band.‚Äö?Ñ??
At the culmination of the event each of the three bands gave a short performance of some of the pieces that they had tackled during the day. The C Band, containing players as young as seven years-old, entertained with fun pieces like "Old MacDonald," and the theme from the movie, "Top Gun." Jim Chamberlain led the B Band through "The Eye of the Tiger," and the Righteous Brothers "Unchained Melody." Meanwhile, the A band thrilled the audience with the march "Teuksbury," followed by a hymn tune and the theme from "Braveheart." The concert concluded with an arrangement of the theme from hit TV show, "Friends."
It had been the aim of the Scottish Borders Brass Band Association to attract a large number of young players to the event by providing top-quality tuition. Alan Fernie, Chairman of the Association felt that this goal had been achieved and commented, "the benefits that such a successful day will bring to our young musicians will not be immediate. But, like myself when I was a young bandsman, they'll remember it, and be both influenced and inspired in their music making for years to come."
