Best wishes to our Scottish representatives in the British Open

Good luck to our Scottish representatives who will be making the long journey down the M6 motorway to Birmingham later this week to take part in the 169th British Open Brass Band Championships on Saturday.

Current Scottish champions and Grand Shield title holders Whitburn Band and the cooperation band, Scottish Open champions, will be taking to the stage in the Symphony Hall with the hopes and best wishes of Scotland’s banding community behind them.

Whitburn has added to its player line-up in preparation for the challenge. The arrival of Leighton Griffin from Newtongrange on euphonium has enabled Chris Shanks to move up to the permanent position of principal euph and Hannah McInnes, a product of the Riverside Youth Band, joins on percussion.

Charlie Farren, Whitburn chairman, said: “Everyone would like to congratulate Chris, and we are delighted Leighton and Hannah have joined the band.

“We have really enjoyed preparing for the British Open and are we are all looking forward to our performance under the baton of Luc Vertommen.”

the cooperation band will be performing the set test piece Sand and Stars by Thierry Deleruyelle under the musical directorship of David Morton.

The music chosen for this year’s British Open – the oldest music contest in the world, supported by Besson – is an exciting and imaginative new work by the acclaimed French composer. The piece is the fourth in a chronological series marking each decade of the 20th century, following Fraternity (1906), No Man’s Land (First World War) and Crazy Twenties.

The British Open will also be a memorable occasion for SBBA education officer John Boax (below). Not only will he be the proud father watching his daughter Charlie Boax playing solo baritone with Whitburn, but he will also be presented with this year’s Mortimer Medal by the Worshipful Company of Musicians for his exceptional work with young people in Scotland for more than 40 years.

Limited tickets for the contest are still available from B:Music here.