Under the spotlight: Shotts St Patrick's
TAKING its turn under the spotlight ahead of the Band Supplies Scottish Challenge is Shotts St Patrick's Brass Band. The North Lanarkshire band competes in the second section and is in the midst of a busy contesting season as it also prepares for the Borders competition on November 7.
Here, Shotts St Patrick's Band tells its story...
Principal cornet: Lynsey Mcilwraith
Soprano cornet: Gregor Beattie
Flugel: Joe Hughes
Solo horn: Ruth Young
Solo baritone: Paul Gonnella
Solo euphonium: William Brown
Solo Eb bass: Mark Mckeown
Solo Bb bass: Tommy Nayles
Principal percussion: Bill Mclellan
Shotts St Patrick's Brass has had a varied 2015 contesting season. We achieved a disappointing 10th place at the Scottish Championships in March but responded to this with a section win at the Fife Brass Band Festival contest the following month with our principal cornet also picking up the best instrumentalist award. This was closely followed by a seventh place (second in the section) at the Northern Counties contest.
The band is currently working towards the Borders contest under the experienced baton of Craig Anderson as guest conductor and is also thrilled to have Andrew Duncan at the helm for this year's Challenge Shield Contest. Shotts St Patrick's is proud to boast attendance at the majority of contests in the Scottish banding calendar.
The conductor
Andrew Duncan has enjoyed a long history with Shotts St Patrick's having taken the band on many occasions over the past almost 10 years. A renowned tuba soloist, composer, conductor, adjudicator and teacher, Andrew brings with him a wealth of experience and the band are delighted to be working in partnership with him.
Andrew said: "It's great to be back working with my friends at Shotts Band for the Scottish Challenge contest in November. I first conducted Shotts almost 10 years ago and it's always nice to return.
"I'm sure that the band will enjoy working on our chosen test piece for Perth and I'm really looking forward to working with them."
