Sixty bands, three competitions, two weekends of brass in Perth
Almost 60 bands have signed up to take part in this year’s Scottish Festival of Brass which showcases a trio of competitions in Perth Concert Hall over two weekends.
On Saturday 22 November, 20 bands from sections 1-4 will take to the stage for the Band Supplies Scottish Challenge contest in which own-choice test pieces will be considered by adjudicators Simon Gresswell and Leigh Baker.
The following Saturday (29 November) will see 14 championship bands compete in the Scottish Open, supported by Besson. Again this contest features own choices of music to be judged by Glyn Williams and Anne Crookston.
The next day the Scottish Youth Championships, supported by Creative Scotland, take place with 25 brass bands participating in four sections – Novice, Non-competitive, Intermediate and Development. Anne Crookston and Glyn & Helen Williams will share the adjudication in this event.
Commented a delighted Carrie Boax, president of the Scottish Brass Band Association: “During the three days of our festival, we’re all looking forward to a veritable feast of brass band music – from the finely honed skills of our elite bands to those young musicians who are just starting out on their banding journeys.”
She added: “We’re very grateful to the funders and supporters of our festival without whom it would not be the annual success it has become year after year.”
Among the numerous programme advertisers are SN Percussion, Renfrew Burgh Band, Brass Reconstruction and The Wind Section, to whom SBBA is very grateful for their continuing support.
Tickets for the Scottish Festival of Brass are available on the day at the entrance to Perth Concert Hall, priced at £16.50 (and £12.50 for concessions).
The full line-up for the two weekends is:
Scottish Challenge, Perth Concert Hall, Saturday 22 November
Adjudicators: Simon Gresswell and Leigh Baker
Arbroath & Carnoustie (Neill McDonald, 4th section)
Barrhead Burgh (Alan Friel, 4th)
Bon-Accord B (Harry Marshall, 3rd)
Broxburn & Livingston (Raymond Tennant, 2nd)
Buckhaven & Methil Miners (Steven Craig, 3rd)
Campbeltown Brass (Owen Pickering, 2nd)
Dalkeith & Monktonhall (James Chamberlain, 1st)
Dunaskin Doon (Chris Bradley, 1st)
Dundee Instrumental (Bob McDonald, 4th)
Dysart Colliery Silver (Robert Fraser, 3rd)
Johnstone (Raymond Tennant, 1st)
Kilmarnock Concert Brass (Rebecca Wilson Paterson, 2nd)
Lochgelly (Chris Shanks, 1st)
Newmains & District (Paul McKelvie OBE, 1st)
Newmilns & Galston (Alan Friel, 1st)
North Lakes Brass (Denis Hadfield, 3rd)
Perthshire Brass (Willie McMullan, 2nd)
Selkirk Silver (Stuart Black, 3rd)
Shotts St Patrick's (Charlie Farren, 2nd)
Unite Scotland Kinneil (Allan Ramsay, 1st)
Scottish Open, Perth Concert Hall, Saturday 29 November
Adjudicators: Glyn Williams and Anne Crookston
Bon-Accord Silver (Adam Cooke)
Coalburn Silver (Gareth Bowman)
Dalmellington (Erik Janssen)
Easington Colliery (Graeme Tindall)
East London Brass (Jayne Murrill)
Fishburn (Chris Bentham)
Hammonds (Morgan Griffiths)
Kingdom Brass (Eoin Tonner)
Kirkintilloch Kelvin (Mareika Gray)
Milnrow (Christopher Binns)
Pemberton Old DW (Ryan Watkins)
Tewit Silver (Martin Hall)
The Kirkintilloch Band (Martyn Ramsay)
Whitburn (Prof Nicholas Childs)
Scottish Youth Championships, Perth Concert Hall, Sunday 30 November
Adjudicators: Anne Crookston and Glyn & Helen Williams
Novice Section
Broxburn & Livingston Future Brass (Jim Bone)
Clackmannan District Beginners (Luci Lamb)
Cupar Bandits & Wizards (Alison Milne)
Hawick Saxhornettes (Stuart Black)
Irvine & Dreghorn Brasslets (John Boax)
Kinneil Youth Band (Scott Gardner)
KIrkton Youth Band (Karen Heenan)
Loanhead Brass Roots and Newtongrange Junior Band (Alan Fernie)
Maroon Brass (Stuart Black)
Perth & Kinross Brass (Elaine Blackwood)
Non-competitive Section
St David’s & Penicuik Joint Youth (John A Dickson)
Intermediate Section
Campbeltown Brass Intermediate (David Cosgrove)
Coalburn Bronze (Jim Park)
Galashiels Youth Band (Stuart Black)
King’s Park Junior Brass (Emily Stokes)
Kirkintilloch Youth Band (Katherine Adams)
Loanhead Brass Youth (Alan Fernie)
Stranraer Brass Training (Angela Miller)
Tweed Valley Brass Youth (Keith Belleville)
Development Section
Campbeltown Brass Development (Katrina Barr)
Irvine Youth Band (John Boax)
Newtongrange Junior Band (Alan Fernie)
Perthshire Youth Brass (Willie McMullen)
Scottish Borders Youth Band (Alan Fernie)
Whitburn Youth Band (Caroline Farren)
