SBBA young composer was theatre show orchestrator

Now that the final curtain has come down on the run of theatre performances of Keli in Edinburgh, Dundee, Perth and Glasgow, it is worth pointing out that the orchestrator of the National Theatre of Scotland production was Fergus Hall, a former winner of the Scottish Brass Band Association young composer of the year competition.

It was at the 2017 National Youth Brass Band of Scotland (NYBBS) Easter course that three competition finalists were judged by the panel of Paul Drury, Richard Evans and Franner Otter.

The winner, in what the judges confirmed was a very close contest, was Fergus Hall whose upbeat Those Who Were Seen Dancing earned him the title and £1500 first prize.

Keli, which toured the four Scottish cities during May and June, featured the Whitburn Band and Kingdom Brass in various performances. It told the story of a fiery, sharp witted 17-year-old in a former mining town.

Whitburn solo horn Andrew McMillan starred as the main soloist in all the stage shows between 10 May and 14 June.

Fergus was the production’s orchestrator of the live brass score composed by Ivor Novello winner Martin Green.

Fergus Hall receives his 2017 SBBA young composer of the year winner's prize from the former NYBBS conductor emeritus Richard Evans