Midlothian brass workshop attracts players from four bands

Some 50 young and not-so-young brass and percussion players from four Midlothian bands – Penicuik, St David’s, Newtongrange and the hosts, MacTaggart’s Loanhead – gathered at Loanhead Miners Club earlier last month to take part in a very successful workshop under the baton of Stuart Black.

At the end of the day, a short informal concert was given to a large appreciative audience which included music from the pen of, among others, Mike Denny, Cameron Mabon and Midlothian’s very own Iain Mundy and Alan Fernie.

Also making their performing debut were Class Brass, a beginners’ band funded by the Scottish government’s Youth Music Initiative scheme.

A spokesman said: “It was great to get all these musicians, aged from six to 80, playing as a team and enjoying the learning experience.

“There is a great heritage of brass bands in our county and it’s hoped that this inspiring day will encourage us all to maintain and develop that.”

There are plans to repeat the event later in the year with the potential aim of establishing a county youth brass band.