RESULTS Besson Scottish Solo and Ensemble Championships: Day Two
2015 Besson Scottish Open Solo and Ensemble Championships: Day Two
Adjudicators: Tom Hutchinson, Owen Farr and Sarah Naish
Official accompanist: Fiona Dickson
THE Scottish Open Solo Championship is heading to Fife following a keenly fought contest in Livingston.
Dean Bromage, of Tullis Russell Mills Band, triumphed in an engaging performance of Terry Camsey's solo Life's Pageant on day two of the Besson Scottish Solo and Ensemble Championships.
Adjudicators Owen Farr and Tom Hutchinson praised Dean for his lyrical playing, adding: "You communicate well with the audience. A great finale. Well done."
The 27-year-old shared the podium places with two tenor horn players with Iain Fleming in second and Rachel Neil close behind in third. The trio also shared the spoils in the slow melody event, with Rachel, of Kirkintilloch Band, coming out on top in her sensitive treatment of A Time for Peace.
Reflecting on the solo performances, Owen Farr said: "The standard was very high. There was a lot of great playing. It was thoughtful, musical playing which was well structured and well phrased.
"Overall, some really impressive displays."
Taking the ensemble prize back to Glasgow on the return journey along the M8 was Co-operative Funeralcare's trombone quartet. The group, which featured Paul Kiernan, Mark Haldane, Ray Galt and Jim Bone, led the audience on a whirlwind tour through the back catalogue of one of Hungary's most famous composers in Excerpts from Liszt. Tom Hutchinson commented: "Brilliant dynamic contrast. The balance is spot on and you allow all the solo lines to be clearly heard.
"Overall a fantastic performance which has been well rehearsed."
Not far behind was Ayrshire Brass, largely made up of players from Irvine and Dreghorn Band. Indeed, Derek Leitch, John Boax, Laura Shannon, Anne Taylor and Dawn Spence did much to impress in Livingston.
On top of the headline solo event, further success for Tullis Russell came in the form of Emma Miller, 16, and Carol Ednie, 15, as the pair marched to victory in the open duet contest. The potential was clear to see in the baritone duo's performance of Softly As I leave You, with Tom Hutchinson writing: "You both play with a lovely sound.
"I loved the chemistry between you! Keep up the good work."
Chemistry - and playing as a unit - was the focus of Tom's thoughts when reflecting upon the ensemble playing he had heard in the Howden Park Centre.
He said afterwards: "For me, it's so important to listen and look at each other in order to play in time.
"In ensemble playing, you have to make sure the solo lines are heard because balance is incredibly important, as is tuning up together before going on stage. These are all things to think about."
Earlier in the day, it was the turn of the country's brightest percussion-playing talents to take to the stage.
Ruaridh Neil, from Perth, held the attention of the audience throughout with a mature reading of Marimba Flamenca on that very instrument. The 17-year-old, of Buckhaven and Methil Miners Band, deservedly took the plaudits in a contest which had no shortage of variety; drum kit, timpani and vibraphone were among the other instruments to feature.
It was a competition which left adjudicator Sarah Naish thoroughly impressed. She said: "What a great morning we had listening to so many young players on such a variety of instruments.
"In this current climate of drastic cuts being made to the instrumental instruction service across so many authorities, it really is fantastic there is this opportunity for so many young players to participate in solo performance and ensembles.
"In terms of a couple of pointers, I would ask the young percussionists to check the height and position of each instrument, making sure it's right for them to play, positioning the instrument so the audience can see them and their sticks.
"The choice of mallet and stick is important too but most of all, acknowledging the audience is crucial! Smile when they come on, look like they're enjoying the performance and at the end, don't just run away. Take a bow and enjoy the moment!"
Percussion Solo Section
Adjudicator: Sarah Naish
Instrument/ Band Draw Award Place
Ruaridh Neil - Marimba
Buckhaven & Methill Miners 8 GOLD 1 Winner
Cameron Hogg-Drumkit
Kingdom Percussion Academy 7 SILVER
Heather Wilson-Marimba
Kingdom Percussion Academy W/D
Amber Wilson-Vibraphone
Kingdom Percussion Academy 4 SILVER
Marcus Latto-Drumkit
Kingdom Percussion Academy 3 SILVER
Emma Smith-Xylophone
Kingdom Percussion Academy 6 SILVER 3
Abbie Smith-Timpani
Kingdom Percussion Academy 2 BRONZE
Lewis Halstead - Xylophone
Kingdom Percussion Academy 1 SILVER
Michael McLaughlin - Marimba
Tullis Russell Mills 5 GOLD 2
Trophy for Best 13 - 16 Soloist - Michael McLaughlin
Open Slow Melody section
Name Instrument Band Draw Points Award
Lindsay Green Horn Bathgate Band W/D
Fiona Rodger Baritone Bo'ness & Carriden 6 75
Stephen Lomas Bass Trombone In Slide Out 2 78
Raymond Galt Trombone Kirkintilloch Kelvin 7 76
Rachel Neil Horn Kirkintilloch 3 85 1 winner
Dean Bromage Cornet Tullis Russell 5 80 3
Ian Fleming Horn Whitburn 1 82 2
Michael Fleming Horn Whitburn W/D W/D
Euan Meikle Cornet Whitburn 4 77
Open Ensemble
Band Draw Points Place
Co-operative Funeralcare 2 88 1 Winner
Ayrshire Brass 1 80 2
Open Duet Section
Name Name Instrument
Emma Miller Carole Ednie Baritones 1 80 1
Open Solos
Name Instrument Band Draw Points Award
Stephen Lomas Bass Trombone In Slide Out 4 79
Rachel Neil Horn Kirkintilloch 1 80 3rd
Dean Bromage Cornet Tullis Russell Mills 2 85 1st
Ian Fleming Horn Whitburn 3 83 2nd
Individual Awards Solos
Award Winner
Philip McCann Award-Best Cornet: Dean Bromage
George Gilmour Award-Best Trombone: Paul Kiernan
Bram Thomson Award-Best Horn or Flugel: Rachel Neil
James Gourlay Award-Best Bass: Laura Shannon
John Stark Award-Best Euphonium or Baritone: Fiona Rodger
David Young Award-Best over 40 soloist: Ian Fleming
