Virtual youth festival was a feast of musical talent

The Scottish Virtual Youth Brass Band Festival yesterday provided a veritable feast of bright young talent showcasing their musical skills in a wide range of online presentations.

Twelve ensembles took to the virtual stage during the 100-minute broadcast on the SBBA YouTube channel, introduced by the familiar face and voice of Alasdair Hutton.

Chris Bradley, principal cornet of Whitburn Band and recently appointed Besson artist, gave feedback on each band’s performance and commented at the end of the programme how heartened he was to listen to and see the enthusiasm and commitment of the young people taking part.

The online event was organised in the wake of the postponement of the Scottish Festival of Brass because of the current COVID-19 restrictions on public gatherings.

First to take to the stage was Abbey Brass from Jedburgh whose programme was Eye of the Tiger, the hymn tune Deep Harmony and The Jethart Snail, a specially commissioned piece from Alan Fernie.

The other participating bands and ensembles were:

Coalburn Bronze

Silent Fall, written by euphonium player Malcolm Ormrod when he was 11; Bop du Wah! by Gareth Bowman

Loanhead Brass Roots

Good King Wenceslas arranged by Matt Kingston

Penicuik Youth Band

African Funk by Alan Fernie

King’s Park Junior Brass

Marching by C North; Medley of French Tunes arranged by C North; Auld Lang Syne arranged by J Robertson

King’s Park Youth Brass

Edinburgh Castle by J Pendleton; Can You Feel the Love Tonight arranged by Alan Fernie; Mamma Mia! arranged  by Alan Fernie

Whitburn Wee, Youth and Heartlands bands

Death or Glory, Amarillo, The Rose, Super Trooper – all arranged by Alan Fernie – and Prismatic Light by Alan Fernie

Perth and Kinross Percussion Ensemble

Can’t Stop the Feeling, Justin Timberlake number; Ye Banks and Braes o’ Bonnie Doon; upbeat piece Crazy Train

Irvine and Dreghorn Youth Band

Highland Cathedral; Can You Feel the Love Tonight from The Lion King; Gonna Fly Now from Rocky

Kirkintilloch Youth Band

Scotland the Brave; hymn tune Repton (Dear Lord and Father of Mankind); Frozen

Stranraer Junior Brass

In the Highlands, featuring Sophie Hall on cornet

Riverside Youth Band

Prismatic Light by Alan Fernie; Little Hymn by Simon Dobson, as a tribute to frontline workers; African Funk by Alan Fernie

The Perth and Kinross Percussion Ensemble was chosen by Chris Bradley for having the most entertaining programme and, for the best performance of a Scottish piece, he opted for The Jethart Snail by Abbey Brass (pictured).

Each band received a certificate of participation and a £35 voucher to purchase music for their band from Just Music, supported by business owner Nigel Durno, Creative Scotland and SBBA.