News item on the 4barsrest website - a response
In response to the "news" item on 4barsrest which accompanied our press release about Andy Duncan's return to his musical career, I wish to make clear that the disparaging comments made in the article about Andy are untrue and/or unwarranted. Dealing with some specific points :
There was no "failure to attend some events in Perth" on Andy's part. There were two events he was unable to attend (the EBBA press conference and the Soloists Gala Concert) because SBBA duties required him to be elsewhere to undertake key tasks.
When Andy went to India in April, it was taken as annual leave and with my prior agreement. He returned four weeks before the European Championships, having continued to work on his SBBA organisational responsibilities whilst he was away.
There is demonstrably not "a lack of substantive development in overall youth numbers and initiatives". Creation of new youth and community bands has continued apace in areas which require intensive support, and initiatives such as the Highlands and Islands band tour receive approval from beneficiaries and observers. Our funders continue, rightly, to be impressed with progress.
As in the past two years, we have already been specifically invited to apply for youth development funding for 2015/16. So there are no "question marks over the Scottish Brass Band Association's funding of future youth development".
George Burt
President
SBBA
