Under the spotlight: Mactaggart Scott Loanhead
AHEAD of the Band Supplies Scottish Challenge on November 28, the Scottish Brass Band Association is turning the spotlight on each of the competing bands.
First up is Mactaggart Scott Loanhead Band, based in Midlothian. The fourth section band came second at the Scottish Championships earlier in 2015, earning the right to represent its country at the National Brass Band Championships in Cheltenham in September.
Here, the band introduces itself...
Soprano: Steve Keightley
Principal Cornet: Alice Kane
Flugel: Susan Brown
Solo Horn: Metis Denton
Principal Trombone: Andrew Pennycook
Solo Baritone: Ron McClure
Solo Euphonium: Chris Mason
Solo Eb Bass: Fiona Mundy
Principal percussionist: Grant Brown
Mactaggart Scott Loanhead Band traces its roots back to Polton Mills Band, winners of the Scottish Championships in 1904. The band became the Loanhead Ex-Service and Burgh Band which disbanded prior to WW2. The band in its present incarnation was formed in 1943 when a concert party from the local engineering works, Mactaggart Scott & Company was rehearsing in the town hall. It came across the stored instruments and approached the town council with a view to forming a 'works band'. Thus, the present band was born and known for many years as Mactaggart Scott Works Band.
During the 1950s and '60s approximately half the members were employees of the company and we currently have an employee of the company in our number. Band members now travel from all over the Lothians and beyond. The band set up Loanhead Brass Roots, our junior band in 2002 under the baton of our then MD Alan Fernie. Alan continues to conduct our junior bands and we are delighted that many of our current players have come through our youth bands.
Having lost a number of key players in the summer of 2014, we were very pleased to come second in the fourth section of the Scottish Championships in March of this year under our former MD Bobby Weir who was with the band until May. The band came a very creditable 10th in the National Finals in September.
The Conductor
Kenny Letham began playing trombone at the age of 12 in his local brass band in Lochgelly in Fife. He studied at the RSAMD for five years and while there became a regular freelance performer on trombone, bass trumpet and euphonium. On completing his studies he took up a posts with Royal Carribean Cruise Lines as a trombonist and musical director and subsequently held a similar position with P&O Cruise lines.
In 2006, Kenny returned to Scotland and again became a freelance performer, teacher, arranger and conductor. He co-founded the Aurical ensemble chamber orchestra in 2006 and continues to manage and perform with this group. He runs a swing band called Berkley Square and in addition to his classical freelancing does a large amount of commercial performance work and is a frequent session musician. In addition to Mactaggart Scott Loanhead Band, he conducts a number of different wind, brass and orchestral ensembles including until very recently Brass Central Strathern and Lochgelly Brass Band and is Brass section coach for WOSIS Wind Ensemble, the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland and the National Youth Wind Ensemble of Scotland.
Kenny became MD of Mactaggart Scott Loanhead Band in July of this year.
