RESULTS Besson Scottish Solo and Ensemble Championships: Day One
2015 Besson Scottish Open Solo and Ensemble Championships: Day One
Adjudicators: Tom Hutchinson and Owen Farr
YOUNG PLAYERS HIT HIGH NOTES
YOUNG brass players have dazzled and delighted at the Besson Scottish Solo and Ensemble Championships.
The event, at the Howden Park Centre in Livingston, saw musicians from Campbeltown Brass and Dalmellington Bands triumph, along with those from West Lothian and Carnoustie.
The youth solo champion prize went to 20-year-old trombone player, Dan Eddison, after his performance of Arthur Pryor's The Blue Bells of Scotland found favour with adjudicators, Tom Hutchinson and Owen Farr of Cory Band.
Dan, of Dalmellington Band, was praised for his "well controlled" playing with the fast and furious final variation earning particular praise. Owen Farr commented: "Bravo. You make a great effort to get all the notes in here.
"A fantastic ending - well done!"
Further success for Dalmellington came in the senior ensembles contest with victory for its ‘A' ensemble. The quintet, consisting of Rebecca Wilson, Lynsay Brown, Karin McKenzie, Dan Eddison and Duncan McCluskie, scooped the Clydebank Burgh Band Trophy playing Bohemian Rhapsody.
Taking the solo prize in the intermediate solo contest, for players aged 13-16, was Jordan Robertson.
The 16-year-old, of Carnoustie and District Youth Band, impressed in the final movement of Eric Ewazen's Sonata For Trombone and Piano with the adjudicators describing it as "a very mature performance full of musical awareness, poise and technical accuracy".
Carnoustie claimed a double in the intermediate age group as its trombone quartet of Jordan Robertson, Jacqueline Stark, 17, Joanna Flynn, 17, Iain Yeaman, 15, was victorious. The ensemble delighted in Finale and Blues 2 from Jazz Quartet by Christopher Norton, followed by Shibuya, the last movement from Philip Sparke's Tokyo Triptych.
Earlier in the day, tenor horn player Amy Paterson, of Campbeltown Brass, stormed to victory in the junior category with an impressive rendition of John Hartmann's La Belle Americaine. Owen Farr praised the 13-year-old's "elegant playing and well-measured phrasing". He added: "Stylish playing and I hear all the detail. A great virtuosic ending!"
The James Young High School outfit claimed first prize in the junior ensemble contest, proudly taking home the Kinneil Band trophy.
Reflecting on the playing in the ensemble contests, Tom Hutchinson told the audience: "One of the main things with a small ensemble is there are less people to hide behind than when you're playing in a band.
"Another is playing together. A few groups used a conductor and it's usually clear when to play by following that person.
"If you don't use a conductor, work out who is leading."
Owen Farr praised the teachers and accompanists for their efforts, telling the musicians the key to successful performances was about more than fireworks.
He said: "Musical understanding is the most important thing. That played a big factor in the results.
"When you're younger you sometimes forget about the slower sections and become obsessed with playing fast all the time but shape and interpretation is crucial."
Carrie Boax, SBBA president, reflected positively on day one of the Besson Scottish Solo and Ensemble Championships. She said: "I have been thoroughly impressed with the standard of playing, from the youngest to the oldest.
"Much praise is due to the conductors and teachers for their efforts - particularly in light of the cuts which are being made to instrumental tuition across the country at present.
"It is also heart-warming to see such fine playing from many players who are involved in the National Youth Brass Bands of Scotland [NYBBS] and to see the young musicians socialising with each other in between performances.
"That is part of the NYBBS legacy and bodes well as the organisation looks ahead to a brighter future."
Junior Ensemble Result
Band/School Draw Award Place
Campbeltown Junior Quintet 8 SILVER
Carnoustie A Quintet 7 SILVER 3
Coalburn Bronze 5 GOLD 2
Duns Primary School 1 BRONZE
James Young High School 6 GOLD 1 winner
Kingdom Brass Youth 4 SILVER
St.Ronan's Future Band 2 BRONZE
Tullis Russell Youth A 3 SILVER
Junior Solo Result
Name Instrument Band/School Draw Award Place
Erin McLellan Cornet Campbeltown Brass 10 GOLD
Amy Paterson Horn Campbeltown Brass 5 GOLD 1 winner
Iona McFarlane Baritone Carnoustie & District 8 GOLD
Gavin Lee Cornet Carnoustie High School 12 BRONZE
Holly Bennet Baritone Carnoustie & District 13 GOLD 2
Euan Court Eb Bass Coalburn Bronze 4 GOLD 3
Eliza Bevan Trombone Duns Primary 7 SILVER
Shannon Todd Horn Kindom Brass Youth 1 SILVER
Tanera Callaghan Cornet St.Margaret's Academy 11 BRONZE
Callum Robb Cornet St. Ronan's Silver 14 SILVER
Lizzie Bell Horn St.Ronan's Silver 3 GOLD
Gregor Koziel Cornst Tullis Russell Youth 9 BRONZE
Gregor Finlay Trombone Tullis Russell Youth 15 BRONZE
Rachel Harris Horn Whitburn Youth 2 BRONZE
Katie Anderson Baritone Whitburn Youth 6 SILVER
Intermediate Ensemble
Band/School Draw Award Place
Campbeltown Brass A 4 GOLD
Campbeltown Brass B 11 BRONZE
Carnoustie A Quintet 7 GOLD 2
Carnoustie B Quintet 8 SILVER
Carnoustie C Quartet 5 GOLD 1 winner
Hawick High School (Blue) 2 BRONZE
Hawick High School (Yellow) 13 SILVER
James Young High School 3 SILVER
St.Ronan's Future 12 SILVER
Tullis Russell Intermediate A 9 SILVER
Tullis Russell Intermediate B 1 BRONZE
Whitburn Heartlands 6 GOLD 3
Whitburn Youth Band 10 BRONZE
Intermediate Solos
Name Instrument Band/School Draw Award Place
Callum Blair Cornet Barrhead Burgh 10 SILVER
Owen Pickering Trombone Campbeltown Brass 1 SILVER
Jordan Robertson Trombone Carnoustie High School 14 GOLD 1 winner
Chris Flynn Euphonium Carnoustie High School 3 GOLD 2
Finlay McGhee Euphonium Carnoustie High School 12 GOLD
Olivia McCutcheon Euphonium Dallmellington 13 SILVER
Madeline Hume Flugel Hawick High School 5 SILVER
Molly Marshall Eb Bass Hawick High School 15 BRONZE
Harry Marshall Cornet Hawick High School 11 GOLD 3
Louise Freeborn Baritone James Young High School 9 SILVER
Leighton Griffin Euphonium Newtongrange Silver Band 7 SILVER
Jay Stenhouse Baritone Tullis Russell Intermediate 2 BRONZE
Emma Miller Baritone Tullis Russell Intermediate 4 BRONZE
Carol Ednie Baritone Tullis Russell Intermediate 8 SILVER
Mark Elwis Cornet Whitburn Youth 6 SILVER
Youth Ensembles
Band/School Draw Points Place
Dalmellington A 1 85 1 winner
Dalmellington B 3 77 3
Tullis Russell Intermediate 2 78 2
Youth Solos
Name Instrument Band/School Draw Points Place
Rebecca Anderson Horn Bon Accord Silver W/D
Lynsay Brown Cornet Dalmellington 4 75 2=
Rebecca Wilson Cornet Dalmellington 2 75 2=
Dan Eddison Trombone Dalmellington 1 85 1 winner
Kyle Kinnear Euphonium Tullis Russell Intermediate 3 72 3
