Under the spotlight: Dunaskin Doon
Sunday 30 October 2016
Dunaskin Doon Band with Musical Director, Chris Bradley.
THE Dunaskin Doon Band is looking to continue a successful contesting year at the 2016 Band Supplies Scottish Challenge.
Podium places at Brass at the Guild and Scottish Championships were followed by a strong showing at the National Brass Band Championships and the Ayrshire band will be keen to continue the momentum with conductor Chris Bradley at the event in Kilmarnock on November 19.
Principal players
History
The Mermaid of Zennor saw Dunaskin Doon enjoy a great start to the year, finishing on the podium at Preston’s Brass at the Guild contest in January, also picking up an award for Best Basses. The mermaid delivered again at the Scottish Championships when the band finished second in its section, gaining promotion to the first section and an invitation to attend the Nationals.
April saw the band host a very successful concert featuring the talents of Scott Kerr (principal euphonium, Whitburn Band). The band’s then musical director, Gary J Williams, made the sudden decision to leave the band in May, ending his successful two and half year association with the band.
Chris Bradley (principal cornet, Whitburn Band) accepted the position of MD in June and rehearsals began in earnest for a busy summer. The Land O’ Burns Contest saw the band take to the contesting stage for the first time with Chris at the helm. Despite a challenging programme, the result was the best at Land O’ Burns for the band in a number of years. Finishing sixth overall (behind five championship section bands) the band picked up silverware for best second section band, best Ayrshire band and best tenor horn.
The band’s trip to Cheltenham saw it finish eighth in its section, the highest placed of all the Scottish bands which attended the National Finals. The adjudicators described the band’s performance of Images for Brass as “bold and cinematic” and praised the MD for his musical interpretation.
The band continues to work hard and is looking forward to consolidating its place in the first section from 2017.
