Return of Ross to Whitburn marks milestone move
Wednesday 5 February 2025Whitburn Band has announced the signing of cornetist Ross Gilchrist in a milestone move.
The arrival of Ross at Whitburn marks an significant moment as he is the first brass player to sign for the senior band after being a beneficiary of the organisation’s youth development pathway.
The Whitburn Band pathway, which began life in 2013, was designed to enable a player to start out playing their very first notes with the Wee Band or Youth Band, and then continue progressing their banding career through the Heartlands Band, other local bands in the area, and then eventually Whitburn Band.
Only two players have achieved this since the project’s inception, and both are percussionists. Ryan Bradley and Amy Gray both enjoyed spells with Whitburn Band after starting out at the Youth Band, and are now both enjoying successful careers performing as professional musicians.
Ross, 19, started off playing at school when he was nine and he joined Whitburn Youth Band on third cornet. He went on to lead the cornet section before he progressed to Whitburn Heartlands and West Lothian Schools Brass Band, serving as principal cornet at both. In 2023, he joined Bathgate Band on solo cornet.
Ross studies music at the University of Glasgow under the tutelage of Mark O’Keefe, and has been a member of the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland for the past nine years.
Ross said: “I’m very excited to be part of Whitburn Band, and to be back in the organisation that I joined nearly 10 years ago.”
Caroline Farren, musical director of Whitburn’s development bands, added: “We are delighted to welcome Ross back after keeping in close contact during his time at Bathgate Band. He has grown in skill and confidence during his time there, and is an absolute asset to our cornet section.”
Whitburn chairman Charlie Farren commented: “The importance of this achievement should not be overlooked and it is a massive credit to Ross on his return to us as a senior band member. We are delighted in welcoming him back and wish him every success with the band.”