\"muckle toon\" welcomes Borders Entertainment Contest & some new inovations
Saturday 5th November sees no less than 23 brass bands descend on the "muckle toon" of Langholm in the Scottish Borders to compete in the popular Borders Entertainment Contest. Now in it's 11th year, the contest, organised by the Scottish Borders Brass Band Association, has become a popular and unique day in the Scots banding calendar, being a contest for bands in sections 2-4 only.
It is also unique in being one of the few contests where there is a theme each year; this year, to mark the sad passing of one of bandings finest writers, each of the 18 bands in the senior contest will be required to play, as part of their 15 minute programme, at least one piece by the wonderful Goff Richards.
Although the Borders association is a small one, we are not afraid to try new ideas, and are piloting a new departure in adjudication. As the contest has been pre-drawn, the two music adjudicators will be in the open, but separate and non-conferring. A further experiment is that while one shall write traditional remarks, the other will record his thoughts directly on to a CD, along with a recording of the band's performance as it happens. This is used in wind band contests, and was tried, with great success, at a solo contest organised by one of the member brass bands last year in Selkirk. The association are pleased that the experiment is being looked at for potential use in other Scottish contests, and indeed, we would be interested in feedback from any of the competing bands, players or conductors!
What makes this even more interesting is that, as well as the wise and "well kent" Archie Hutchison, the adjudication team is completed by the respected Stan Lippeatt, who, as Chairman of the Association of Brass Band Adjudicators, is on record as saying he is more than happy to be part of this trial. The bands' entertainment efforts will be judged by local music teacher Sarah Berker, and the whole day will be compered by the Borders very own Alasdair Hutton.
As with the rest of Scotland, there is great emphasis on youth in our area, and the youth section of the contest has become a popular lunchtime feature of the day over the last few years. 5 bands from all over the Borders will play a short programme in their own separate contest to be judged by Jenny Cook, a respected cornet player and teacher, originally from Scotland, but now living and working on the Isle of Man. The current Scottish youth champions at senior level, the Scottish Borders Youth Band, will also play a short concert programme before the results at the conclusion of the day.
The contest commences at 9.30am, in the comfortable surroundings of the Buccleuch Centre, and promises to be an excellent day of brass banding, as well as our way of saying "thank you" to the great, great Goff Richards.
