Under the spotlight: Kirkintilloch Band
LOOKING to make its mark at the Scottish Open is Kirkintilloch Band, conducted by Raymond Tennant. Based in East Dunbartonshire, the championship section band is celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2015.
Here's some more information about Kirky, which enjoys a proud history of contest success - including fourth place at the British Open Championships in 2004.
Soprano cornet: Caroline Tennant
Principal cornet: Gregory Chaplain
Flugel: Claire Mcllreavy
Solo horn: Rachel Neil
Solo baritone: Gareth Ross
Solo trombone: Oliver Begley
Solo euphonium: Andy Robson
Solo Eb bass: Lauren Mccormick
The Kirkintilloch Band was formed in 1890 with funds provided by public subscription and is still a self supporting organisation as it celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2015.
Its first contesting appearances were in the second section Scottish Championships in 1898 and 1899. However it was not until around 1948 that its contesting prowess came to light. The band progressed through the sections in the 1950s and '60s. Kirkintilloch made its debut in the 1968 National Championships in the Royal Albert Hall.
The appointment of Professor Walter B Hargreaves as Musical Director marked a turning point in the band's history when it won the Scottish Championships in 1984 and 1985 under his guidance. ‘Kirky', as it is known in the banding fraternity, won the Scottish Championship in 1990 and 2002 conducted by Frank Renton. Success at the Scottish Championships meant further appearances in the National Finals in the Royal Albert Hall and to the band competing in the European Championships in Copenhagen (1985), Wales (1986) and Rotterdam (1991) Luxembourg (1995) Bergen (2003) and Stavanger (2008).
In 2001 conducted by Allan Ramsay, Kirkintilloch won the Grand Shield Contest and qualified for the British Open Championships for the first time in its history. In September 2004 Steve Bastable conducted the band at the British Open Championship when they were place 4th; this was undoubtedly the band's best result since its formation in 1890.
In 2007 under the leadership of Nigel Boddice Kirky once again became Scottish Champions and the band was again back in the top five at the British Open in 2008, conducted by Selmer Simonsen. A safely negotiated passage straight back from the Grand Shield last year saw them secure a 7th place finish allowing the band to continue its amazing run of consecutive appearances that this year saw the Kirkintilloch Band appearing for the 15th consecutive year at the British Open but for the first year, conducted by fellow Scotsman Russell Gray.
The Kirkintilloch Band has never had the backing of a sponsor, but is very grateful for the support received from East Dunbartonshire Council. Band members pay for all trips and visits to contests in various parts of the UK and Europe.
The conductor
Raymond Tennant began his musical career as a cornet player, having been taught to play by his father, and as a member of Kirkintilloch Silver Band. In 1976 he took up the tuba, and one year later he gained entry to the Royal Scottish Academy of Music. After graduating in 1980 he continued with post-graduate studies at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and the National Centre for Orchestral Studies (University of London).
On returning to Scotland he became Principal Tuba with Scottish Ballet and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, and as a player also performed with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Opera, the Ulster Orchestra, and the National Theatre. He was a founder member of the brass ensembles Caledonia Brass and First Brass! He has featured as guest soloist with various bands and orchestras, has appeared in a number of films, and also in numerous television and radio broadcasts.
He began his conducting career in 1983, with the Johnstone Silver Band, and during his early years there the band gained promotion from the fourth to the first section. From 1987 until 1991 he was Eb bass player and Associate Conductor with the CWS (Glasgow) Band, and enjoyed many successes with them - which included playing in their first National Championships triumph at the Royal Albert Hall in 1990.
Throughout the nineties, and into the new millennium, he continued his successes with various bands within Scotland and England, and won the 2000 National Championship 3rd Section as conductor of Kirkintilloch Kelvin Brass, again at the Royal Albert Hall.
A further period with the Johnstone Band in the position of Musical Director followed, and amongst the many highlights of this period was guiding them into the Championship Section for the first time in their history.
In 2003 Raymond took up the position of Resident Conductor of the Scottish Co-op Band, and latterly has been MD of the Johnstone Band and Kilmarnock Concert Brass.
He is delighted to return to the band where his playing career began - Kirkintilloch - and looks forward to a fruitful association with the band.
