Newland Concert Brass is set to mark its 30th anniversary
Newland Concert Brass is set to mark its 30th anniversary with a concert on Friday 6th October at Bathgate Academy. 
Newland Concert Brass was formed in 1987 with an emphasis on concerts as the name suggests.
The name Newland was taken from the venue where the first rehearsal took place - The Old Academy in Bathgate whose benefactor was John Newland.
The blue uniform of Newland is well recognised in West Lothian as a result of playing at gala days, concerts, Bathgate Music Festival and the Bathgate Procession and John Newland Festival.
Newland has contested in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th sections of the Scottish Championships and qualified for the British Championships on three occasions.
The band has organised charity concerts over the years raising funds for various charities including Cancer Research UK, The British Heart Foundation, BeatSCAD, River Kids, Spinal Injuries Unit Southern General and CHAS.
Other notable engagements in the band's 30-year history include an open air concert in Sorpesee in Germany, a performance on the TV programme Challenge Anneka, a concert at the opening of the Bathgate Partnership Centre, a performance in the presence of Her Majesty The Queen in Linlithgow and joint concerts with the Lowland Band of the Scottish Division, the South Kirk Singers and the Lochgelly Brass Band.
In 1988, the band made its first trip abroad; a concert tour of Hochsaurland in Germany.
This visit developed links with both the area and a German band, Neheim-Husten Fanfarenkorps. The following year a partnership was agreed and since then both bands have taken part in several exchange visits. Newland last visited Neheim in July 2016.
Ten members of Newland Concert Brass have also taken part in three International Youth Music Camps as part of the Bathgate/Cran-Gevrier Twinning agreement. These camps took place in France, Scotland and Italy.
The band members, Musical Director Paul McKelvie OBE and Junior Band Conductor Karen Heenan, are all looking forward to the Anniversary Concert.
Doors will open at 6.30pm when refreshments will be served and there will be an opportunity to look at photographs from the past thirty years. The concert will start at 7.30pm and will feature both the junior and senior bands. Tickets priced £5 (school children free) are available from band members.
The senior band is keen to fill vacancies in back row cornet, tuned percussion and B flat or E flat bass and anyone interested should contact them via their facebook page.
