RESULT Northern Counties Solo & Ensemble Contest
Tuesday 21 January 2020North-East Scotland’s finest young brass talent was on display at the Northern Counties Solos contest in Forfar on Sunday 19th January. As well as the NCBBA titles, the event also served as the regional qualifier for the Besson Scottish Solo and Ensemble finals next month.
The entry of just six soloists was somewhat disappointing given the good numbers over recent years, but what the day lacked in quantity, it more than made up for in quality. Adjudicator Robert Fraser was effusive in his praise of what he had heard, “I was surprised by the difficulty of the pieces chosen” he explained, “but all performers dealt well with the demands of some tricky music, and I was extremely impressed with all of the performances.”
The Intermediate (16 and under) section was won by trombonist Alix Bailey’s energetic rendition of Gareth Wood’s Dance Sequence, while young cornet star Gavin Lee took home the Youth (21 and under) title on Henri Büsser’s Andante and Scherzo.
All six competitors go on to represent the region in the Besson Scottish Solo and Ensembles championship finals on Saturday 8th February.
NCBBA Solos and Ensembles Contest 2019-20, RESULTS:
Sunday 19th January 2020
Adjudicator – Robert Fraser
Intermediate Solo (under 16 years)
1 – Alix Bailey (trombone) - Gold Award: Dance Sequence – Gareth Wood
2 – Elita McFarlane (trombone) - Gold Award: Fantasy for Trombone – James Curnow
3 – Thomas Kobine (Eb horn) - Gold Award: Variations on a Welsh Theme – Peter Kneale
Youth Solo (under 21 years)
1 – Gavin Lee (cornet), Gold Award: Andante and Scherzo – Henri Büsser
2 – Holly Bennett (baritone), Gold Award: Zelda – Percy Code
3 – Iona McFarlane (cornet), Gold Award: The Debutante – Herbert Clarke
