Solo & Ensemble Contest Details Announced
The Scottish Brass Band Association (SBBA) has confirmed the final arrangements for the forthcoming Besson Scottish Solo and Ensemble Championships.
The youth sections will take place on 7 February in the Regal Theatre, Bathgate with the senior event on 8 February, moving to a temporary new home at the Strathbrock Centre, Broxburn. The adjudicators for the weekend are Michael Dodd, principal euphonium of Grimethorpe Colliery, along with International soloist and Grimethorpe's new resident conductor, James Gourlay.
The Championships commence at 9.30am on the Saturday, when the players from five regional qualifiers in the Junior, Intermediate and Youth categories will perform to determine the Scottish Champion in each of the sections. In order to encourage the development of the solo repertoire, SBBA is pleased to confirm that last year's new initiative of a ú25 voucher for new music, courtesy of World of Brass, will again be awarded to the performer of the most innovative choice of music in each of the solo categories over the weekend.
The Gala Concert on the Saturday evening will see the adjudicators swap their pens for instruments when they become the guest soloists, accompanied by reigning Scottish Champion, Whitburn Band, conducted by Steven Mead, and the Scottish Youth Champion, West Lothian Schools Brass Band, conducted by Nigel Boddice MBE.
Sunday morning's event will commence at 10.00am with the qualification section for the six available slots in the afternoon's senior Solo Final, followed by the Ensemble contest. Once again, SBBA has decided to make both the senior solos and ensembles open events and is therefore encouraging players from outwith Scotland to enter.
SBBA would like to thank Tim Barrett of Besson and Susan Thores of West Lothian Council for their ongoing support of the event.
For more information or to enter, please download the entry form or contact SBBA Secretary, Tom Allan on 07881 920361 or secretary@sbba.org.uk. Tickets for the Saturday evening concert are available from the Regal Theatre box office on 01506 433634.
