Whitburn lines-up two concerts ahead of 'Area' defence.

Tuesday 27 February 2018

* IT HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT, DUE TO THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, WHITBURNS'S CONCERT WITH FPO TONIGHT HAS NOW BEEN CANCELLED *

Whitburn Band has announced details of two concerts coming up over the next two Fridays, as the West Lothian outfit prepares for the defence of its Scottish Championship crown.

This Friday, 2 March, Whitburn will perform a joint concert with the Fanfare Promotion Orchestra (FPO) from the Netherlands at the town’s Brucefield Church at 7.30pm.

The following Friday, 9 March, sees Whitburn host an open rehearsal on the eve of the Scottish Brass Band Championships, featuring bands from four sections of this year’s contest.

The Fanfare Promotion Orchestra was founded in 2013 to promote the concert fanfare, a type of musical ensemble unique to the Netherlands and Belgium. The orchestra was founded by the Stichting Streekfestival with the specific aim of getting young people enthusiastic about this type of music, similar to a wind band.

Since 2013, the orchestra has delivered several successful concerts inside the Netherlands, working together with artists such as the Dutch actor Bram van der Vlugt. The orchestra’s trip to Scotland is its third tour abroad, having previously visited Norway and Estonia.

Whitburn Band Manager Charlie Farren commented: “The band is looking forward to playing with the Fanfare Promotion Orchestra, and this concert will give West Lothian audiences a chance to hear this collaboration between Scotland’s finest brass band and the innovative musicians from the fanfare orchestra from the Netherlands.”

While the concert is free to attend, members of the audience can make a donation, with funds going towards Whitburn Band's participation at the forthcoming European Brass Band Championships in Utrecht at the beginning of May.

The following week’s concert, also free to enter, commences at 7.00pm in Whitburn Academy featuring the following bands:

4th Section: Whitburn Heartlands (Iain Fleming) performing and rehearsing World Tour by Rodney Newton

3rd Section: Langholm Town (Chris Shanks) performing and rehearsing Napoleon on the Alps by Philip Harper

1st Section: Dunaskin Doon Band (Chris Bradley) performing and rehearsing Brass Metamorphosis by James Curnow

Championship Section: Whitburn (Professor Nicholas Childs) performing and rehearsing Odyssey by Kevin Norbury

Everyone is welcome to come along and support the bands ahead of their challenges at the 2018 Scottish Championships in Perth Concert Hall over the weekend of 10 and 11 March.

 

 

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Email Nigel Martin: sbbapr@gmail.com