Under the spotlight: Dunaskin Doon
READY to take its turn under the spotlight is Dunaskin Doon Band, from Ayrshire. The second section outfit has enjoyed a new lease of life in the past couple of years and is in the midst of preparing for the Band Supplies Scottish Challenge on November 28.
Time for the band to reveal some more information about itself...
Soprano cornet: Leanne Cuthbert
Principal cornet: Alan Taggart (guesting on principal seat from Newmilns and Galston)
Flugel: Wendy Williams
Solo horn: Emma McTaggart
Solo baritone: Gillian Kay
Solo trombone: David Kay
Solo euphonium: Fiona Waddington
Solo Eb bass: George Hoffin (guesting from Newmilns and Galston)
Solo Bb bass: Ross McKnight
Principal percussion: Marion Hutchison
Formed in 1869, Dunaskin Doon Band was a works band based around the iron furnaces at Waterside, near Dalmellington, in Ayrshire. The band has a rich and varied heritage. Over the years it has played across the UK at corporate events in Aberdeen, weddings in Troon and gala days across Ayrshire as well as contests in Wembley Arena, Harrogate and Cheltenham. Rehearsal are twice weekly in Ayr and the dairy contains a sensible mix of concerts, contests and a variety of local events.
Under Gary Williams' guidance the band gained second place in the third section at the Scottish Areas in March 2014 earning promotion to the second section and the right to represent Scotland at Cheltenham in September. The band returned victorious, gaining a fantastic second place in the Nationals adding some lovely silverware to our trophy cabinet!
Dunaskin has continued this run of solid results in 2015 starting at Brass at the Guild in January and throughout the calendar with Northern Counties Entertainment Contest in May, Land o' Burns in June and the Fife Charities Open Contest in September.
Concerts this year have seen the band play host to two world famous cornet players. Russell Gray provided a masterclass and a stunning evening concert in February. He performed a brilliant Post Horn Gallop on a length of hose pipe after leaving his actual post horn in Manchester! Former Grimethorpe principal cornet, Iain Culross, featured as guest soloist in June, showcasing the cornet beautifully.
The band works hard but has a lot of fun! Alex M Ascot, is a little knitted mascot, who follows the members on their adventures everywhere! This year he has been skiing in France, sunbathing in Egypt and he is currently honeymooning in Barbados with our bumper up! The phrase "three's a crowd" seems to have passed him by! Recently, however, band members have expressed concerns that Alex appears to be developing a chronic and worrying addiction to selfies!!
This is an exciting and dynamic time for Dunaskin Doon Band, which is looking forward to continued concert and contest successes with a lot of hard work, a great team ethos and Gary Williams at the helm.
The conductor
Dunaskin Doon Band is enjoying a new lease of life following a gradual rebuild over the last two years. The band was delighted when Gary Williams BA (Hons) PGCE (Music) accepted the position of MD in October 2013. Gary's passion for all things brass is matched by his depth of knowledge. He knows exactly what he wants from the band and has the ability to bring out the very best in his players.
He draws on a wealth of personal experience in brass bands having been a member of Wingates, BT, Blackburn and Darwen and Foden's and having guested with Grimethorpe Colliery, Leyland and Black Dyke on both euphonium and baritone over the years. He conducted Dearham Band, based in the North of England, from 2007-2010 taking them from the third section to the first section in under four years.
