Report: Scottish Championships 2015
PERTH was a hub of musical activity at the weekend for the 2015 Scottish Brass Band Championships.
The event, organised by the Scottish Brass Band Association, saw nearly 60 bands taking part on March 14 and 15 in Perth Concert Hall.
Whitburn enjoyed a double success, with its senior outfit claiming the championship section title and Whitburn Heartlands Band coming out on top in the fourth section. Elsewhere there were victories for Newtongrange Silver Band in the first section, Jedforest Instrumental in section two and Renfrew Burgh Band in the third section.
Those finishing in the top two spots in each contest received an invite to represent Scotland at the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain later in the year.
During the course of the weekend, several other prizes were given out. Richard Evans, Musical Director Emeritus of the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland, received the Lifetime Achievement Award. The President's Award was given to Dorothy Hall in recognition of her 30 years of involvement as an administrator with Dunfermline Town Band. Langholm Town Band, meanwhile, was recognised for its 200 years of existence.
Championship section bands tackled Peter Graham's work, The Torchbearer, with Whitburn Band and Professor Nicholas Childs coming out on top ahead of Co-operative Funeralcare and Allan Withington. Adjudicator Sandy Smith praised the "fine musical shapes" as well as the style and purpose of the performance, adding that the ending was built "with real musical direction, purpose and style".
Fellow judge Stephen Roberts wrote: "A very fine performance with excellent, musical soloists and well shaped architecture."
In the first section, Newtongrange Silver and Lee Skipsey triumphed on Philip Sparke's A London Overture with Unison Kinneil Band finishing as runners-up. Adjudicator Mark Wilkinson commented on the balance of dynamics and detail in the opening of Newtongrange's performance. He continued: "Well delivered and executed. Some fine playing from band and soloists. Well done."
Leigh Baker singled out the band's conductor for his shaping of the rendition and described it as "a well organised, colourful performance. A good band sound and lots of detail."
Jedforest Instrumental Band and conductor Phil Rosier returned to the Borders smiling after winning the second section performing set work Variations on Maccabeus, by Kevin Norbury, ahead of Croy Silver Band and Kenneth Blackwood. Stephen Roberts enjoyed the attention to dynamic detail and the playful character when necessary in Jedforest's account. He summed up by writing: "Congratulations, a most enjoyable and rounded performance."
In the third section, Renfrew Burgh Band came out on top with Musical Director Mark Good, performing Philip Sparke's Evolution: Five States of Change, closely followed by Irvine and Dreghorn Band. Archie Hutchison, judging, said of Renfrew: "This has been a very good performance. There was a great deal of accuracy in delivery, with some players really shining through. Intonation and tuning was very good, with all solos competently delivered."
Fourth section champions Whitburn Heartlands took the title by five points on Dean Jones' An English Pastorale. Under the baton of Robert Fraser, the band was followed by MacTaggart Scott Loanhead Band. Mark Wilkinson praised the style at the opening of Whitburn's reading. He continued: "Flows well with a good attempt at dynamics. The general ensemble is good. Has drive and attention to detail. Good contributions from percussion and horns are balanced."
