Success at 2013 Besson Scottish Solo and Ensemble Championships Success
The 2013 Besson Solo & Ensemble Championships held on 2nd and 3rd February at Livingston's Howden Park Centre, presented another highly successful weekend event of music making, presented by The Scottish Brass Band Association (SBBA) in association with Besson and West Lothian Council.
With 40 finalists competing in the Scottish youth Solo Championship sections, and performances involving approximately 95 young musicians in the finals of the Scottish youth ensemble championship sections, Saturday's youth event displayed an impressive show-case of young musical talent from across the country. Sunday's events then opened the stage to a series of Open championships, which welcomed over 50 brass and percussion players from Scotland and beyond, offering a feast of virtuosic solo and ensemble performances. A full list of results are now available on the SBBA website - www.sbba.org.uk.
The adjudicators for the weekend included Besson Clinicians, Michael Dodd (euphonium virtuoso of The Grimethorpe Band) and Les Neish (tuba virtuoso and renowned workshop leader) for the brass sections, whilst the percussion sections were overseen by Iain Sandilands (celebrated freelance percussionist and workshop leader). In their closing comments, all adjudicators repeatedly remarked on the high standard of performances throughout the sections, acknowledging the significant and positive development of brass and percussion playing in the country during recent years. Their enthusiasm for the performances was also balanced with sound advice and guidance on performance techniques and considerations, enabling the competitors of all ages to benefit further from the experience of the weekend.
Andrew Duncan, Development Manager commented: "The weekend has seen some amazing performances in all sections. It has been exciting to see how the Open Percussion Solo Section has grown in popularity since its introduction last year and we look forward to seeing a similar growth in the newly introduced ‘Scottish Open Duet Championship'.
As has been so evident in recent years, the 2013 youth sections in particular offered a clear demonstration of how the hard work by the players and tutors, and indeed the supporting family and friends, is now paying off in abundance.
Congratulations obviously go to all the deserved prize-winners, but it is also extremely important to recognise and encourage the achievements of everyone who performed at these national championships - stepping out on the stage to perform takes dedication, courage and determination - all of which are fine qualities to nurture and encourage."
The Scottish Brass Band Association wish to openly thank everyone involved in making the weekend such a success. In particular, Besson and West Lothian Council for their keen support of the event, the esteemed adjudicators, and the British Bandsman magazine and World of Brass for their additional prizes and awards. The whole event has gained significant acknowledgment from leading contributors to the brass band fraternity, confidently leading next year's championships to further success for the growing number of participants.
The 2013 national title winners include:
• Scottish Junior Solo Champion - Iona McVicar (Horn - Campbeltown Brass Band)
• Scottish Intermediate Solo Champion - Jordan Robertson (Trombone - Carnoustie High School)
• Scottish Youth Solo Champion - Calum Tonner (Cornet - Kirkintilloch)
• Scottish Junior Ensemble Champions - James Young High School
• Scottish Intermediate Solo Champions - Carnoustie High School
• Scottish Youth Ensemble Champions - Carnoustie & District Youth
• Scottish Open Percussion Solo Champion - Ruaridh Neil (Xylophone - Buckhaven & Methil)
• Scottish Open Slow Melody Champion - Ian Fleming (Horn - Whitburn)
• Scottish Open Solo Champion - Ian Fleming (Horn - Whitburn)
• Scottish Open Ensemble Champions - Kirkintilloch Kelvin Brass
• Scottish Open Duet Champions - Louise Edgar & Stephen Lomas- Flugel/Trombone 2 95 - Leyland
FULL RESULTS
Overall Awards in the Open Solo Contest
Award Winner
Philip McCann Award-Best Cornet - Craig Heriot - Tullis Russell
George Gilmour Award-Best Trombone - Stephen Lomas - Leyland
Bram Thomson Award-Best Horn or Flugel - Ian Fleming - Whitburn
James Gourlay Award-Best Bass - Kenny Brown - Kingdom Brass
John Stark Award-Best Euphonium or Baritone - Chris Robertson - Kirkintilloch
David Young Award-Best over 40 soloist - Ian Fleming - Whitburn
Results Open Slow Melody Contest
Name - Instrument - Band - Draw - Points - Award
Fiona Rodger Baritone Bo'ness & Carriden 11 92 3RD
Kirsty Fleming Baritone Dalkeith & Monktonhall 14 86
Stuart Black Flugel Jedforest 1 89
Kenny Brown Bass Kingdom Brass 10 87
Chris Robertson Euphonium Kirkintilloch 7 85
Rachel Neil Horn Kirkintilloch 2 93 2ND
Stephen Lomas Bass Trombone Leyland 8 89
Alan Douglas Euphonium Tullis Russell 13 88
Craig Heriot Cornet Tullis Russell 12 89
Christopher Hamilton Horn Unison Kinneil 6 85
Lauren Robb Cornet Unison Kinneil 5 87
Ian Fleming Horn Whitburn 3 94 1st
Charles Cullen Cornet Whitburn 4 90
Louise Edgar Flugel 9 87
World of Brass Music Innovation Award - Stephen Lomas
Only 1 Ensemble in the Open Ensemble Section
Kirkintilloch Kelvin Brass- Mixed Ensemble awarded 96
Open Duet Section
Names - Draw - Points - Place
Louise Edgar & Stephen Lomas- Flugel/Trombone 2 95 1st
Chris Robertson & Sarah Knight- Euphonium 1 93 2nd
Open Solo Section
Name - Instrument - Band - Draw - Points - Award
Kenny Brown Bass Kingdom Brass 2 92
Chris Robertson Euphonium Kirkintilloch 8 93
Rachel Neil Horn Kirkintilloch 5 94 3rd
Stephen Lomas Bass Trombone Leyland 9 95 2nd
Craig Heriot Cornet Tullis Russell 1 91
Christopher Hamilton Horn Unison Kinneil 4 89
Ian Fleming Horn Whitburn 6 96 1st
Open Percussion Solo - Adjudicator Ian Sandilands
Name & Instrument - Draw - Award - Place
Ruaridh Neil-Xylophone 9 Gold 1st - also award for best 13-18 age group
Daniel Fairley-Vibraphone 10 Gold 2nd
Cameron Hogg-Snare Drum 1 Gold - also award for best 12 and under age group
Heather Wilson-Glockenspiel 12 Silver
Amber Wilson-Snare Drum 13 Silver
Abbey Honeyman-Xylophone 14 Gold
Emma Smith-Xylophone 6 Silver
Abbie Smith-Snare Drum 15 Silver
Stacey Smith-Glockenspiel 3 Bronze
Michael McLaughlin-Xylophone 4 Gold
Jay Stenhouse-Xylophone 11 Silver
Kyle Kinnear-Xylophone 2 Bronze
Finlay Taylor-Xylophone 7 Silver
Paul Mathers-Xylophone 5 Bronze
Sam Walker - Xylophone 8 Gold 3rd
Only one Percussion Ensemble
Tullis Russell Intermediate - Gold Certificate
Result Junior solos
Name - Instrument - Band/School - Draw - Award - Place
Archie McVicar Eb Bass Campbeltown Brass 4 Gold 2nd
Iona McVicar Horn Campbeltown Brass 5 Gold 1st
Amy Paterson Flugel Campbeltown Brass 14 Gold 3rd - also Music Inovation Award
Iona McFarlane Cornet Monikie PS(Carnoustie) 8 Silver
Finlay McGhee Euphonium Monikie PS(Carnoustie) 10 Gold
Ethan Docherty Horn Carnoustie HS 12 Silver
Ashley Ferguson Cornet Howdenburn PS 1 Silver
Claire Miller Horn Kingdom Brass B 11 Silver
Adam Bathgate Cornet Kingdom Brass Youth 7 Silver
Hannah Kemp Cornet Selkirk 6 Silver
Owen Shade Trombone St.Margaret's Academy 2 Silver
Rob Calder Baritone St.Margaret's Academy 3 Gold
Charlotte Docherty Cornet St.Margaret's Academy 9 Silver
Madeline Hume Flugel Wilton PS Hawick 13 Gold
Result Junior Ensemble
Band/School - Draw - Award - Place
Bellsquarry Primary School 5 Gold 2
Hawick Schools 1 Silver 3
James Young High School 4 Gold 1
Jedforest Band Buddies 6 Bronze
St.Margaret's Academy ‘A' 2 Silver
St.Margaret's Academy ‘B' 3 Silver
Result Intermediate Solo
Name - Instrument - Band/School - Draw - Award - Place
Carole Ednie Baritone Buckhaven Brass Beginnings 9 Silver
Innes Roy Euphonium Campbeltown 1 Silver
Chris Flynn Euphonium Carnoustie HS 3 Gold 2
Jordan Robertson Trombone Carnoustie HS 4 Gold 1
Jacqueline Stark Trombone Carnoustie HS 14 Silver
Lynsay Brown Cornet Dalmellington 2 Gold 3
Rachel Jones Cornet Dalmellington 12 Gold
Harry Marshall Cornet Hawick HS 13 Gold
Emma Miller Baritone Kingdom Brass B 5 Silver
Andrew Pennycook Eb Bass Loanhead Brass Roots 15 Silver
Leighton Griffin Euphonium Newtongrange Silver 10 Gold - also Music Innovation Award
Lois Kirk Flugel St.Margaret's 6 Silver
Benjamin Hindley Flugel St.Ronan's 8 Silver
Kyle Kinnear Baritone Tullis Russell 7 Silver
John Walker Euphonium Whitburn Youth Band 11 Silver
Result Intermediate Ensemble
Band/School - Draw - Award - Place
Campbeltown Brass ‘A' 6 Silver
Carnoustie High 2 Gold 1
Dalmellington 3 Gold 2
East Lothian Schools 5 Bronze
St.Margaret's Academy 1 Bronze
Tullis Russell Intermediate 4 Silver 3
Result Youth Solos
Name - Instrument - Band/School - Draw - Points - Place
Sarah Knight Euphonium Carnoustie & Dis. 1 90 6
Peter Jackson Euphonium Carnoustie HS 3 94 2
Rebecca Anderson Horn Dunfermline Town 8 88 8
Calum Tonner Cornet Kirkintilloch 5 96 1st
Chris Robertson Euphonium Kirkintilloch 2 93 3
Scott Kerr Euphonium Newmilns & Galston 7 91 4 - also Music Innovation Award
Joseph Cunningham Bass St.Margaret's 11 87 10
Douglas Couchman Cornet St.Ronan's 6 90 5
Liam Orr Cornet St.Ronan's 9 88 9
Rebecca Lindsay Euphonium St.Ronan's 10 - Withdrawn
Lloyd Griffin Cornet Whitburn 4 89 7
Result Youth Ensembles
Band/School - Draw - Points - Place
Carnoustie & District Youth 1 96 1
Dalmellington 5 86
James Young High School 6 92 3
James Young Plus 2 94 2
Langholm 3 - Withdrawn
Tullis Russell Intermediate 4 89
