Whitburn, Whitburn Heartlands and Whitburn Youth Band announce award winners for 2018

Chris Bradley, his son Ryan, Chic Cullen, Robert Fraser and Rachel Harris were the big winners at the Whitburn Band Annual Awards for 2018.

Chris won the Player of the Year award for the fifth time since its inception in 2004, and the third time in the past four years. Chris, the band’s principal cornet player, had another marvellous year on the contest and concert stage. He won the coveted Best Cornet medal at the Scottish Championships as part of the band’s victory there, and he was nominated in the 4barsrest Player of the Year and Solo CD of the Year categories for his work Fusion. Chris was also named in the 4barsrest World Band of the Year for the second successive year.

Chic Cullen was named the Players’ Player of the Year. Chic, a former principal cornet player with the band, once again delivered several amazing performances from his Repiano Cornet chair, in particular some stunning solo contributions at the European Championships and Brass in Concert.

Chris Bradley’s 18-year-old son Ryan, who plays percussion with Whitburn, was named the Bandsperson of the Year. Ryan was recognised for his work throughout the year but, in particular, his talents in music technology that enabled Whitburn to perform at Brass in Concert with a dubstep backing track and light show.

Robert Fraser, meanwhile, was awarded a special Presidents Award for his work throughout the year as he completely reorganised the band’s music library. Robert, who also plays Eb Bass with Whitburn and was last year’s Bandsperson of the Year, is also at the forefront of an archive project that will celebrate Whitburn Band’s 150th anniversary in 2020.

Chris Yule and Stewart Brynes were both awarded medals for Ten Years Service with Whitburn. Chris is principal percussionist with the band and was part of the team that won the Best Percussionist prize at the Scottish Championships in 2018. He also won the Whitburn Player of the Year award in 2012, and has been central to Whitburn’s fantastic successes in recent years on the contest and concert stage.

Stewart – a local Whitburn Boy – was awarded for his long association with the band that includes spells in the cornet and baritone sections. Stewart is also a two-time winner of the Whitburn Bandsperson of the Year award, having picked up the accolade in 2006 and 2012.

Whitburn Heartlands Band and Whitburn Youth Band also recognised their award winners for 2018 at the band’s annual party.

Caroline Farren, the Musical Director of Whitburn Youth Band, outlined the fantastic progress achieved by the youth players of the Whitburn organisation.

Two particular highlights of 2018 mentioned by Caroline were Whitburn Heartlands finishing second in the Fourth Section of the Scottish Championships and Whitburn Youth Band’s performance at the Scottish Youth Championships.

The award winners of Whitburn Heartlands and Whitburn Youth Band were:

Heartlands Players’ Player of the Year – Rachel Harris

June & Tom Robertson Award for Youth Player of Year in Heartlands – Aileen Orr

Whitburn Youth Band Player of the Year – Rachel Harris

Whitburn Youth Band Most Improved Player – Rachel McLean

Whitburn Youth Band Bandsperson of the Year – Morgan Jones

More Photographs at https://www.whitburnband.com/2019/01/06/whitburn-whitburn-heartlands-whitburn-youth-band-announce-award-winners-2018/