Kinneil’s winning performance brings curtain down on great day of banding

It was a case of saving the best until last at today’s Band Supplies Scottish Challenge when Unite Scotland Kinneil Band, as the 20th and final contestant of the day, took to the stage in the Perth Concert Hall.

And, having waited all day to present their winning performance, it was fitting that the band’s choice of test piece was Peter Graham’s Essence of Time!

Expertly guided through the music by Allan Ramsay, the band put on a convincing show which captured the full attention of adjudicators Simon Gresswell and Leigh Baker.

And the outstanding performance of principal cornet Dhani Miller won him the 4barsrest soloist award.

Taking the runner-up spot was Newmains & District, led by Paul McKelvie OBE, playing Un Vie de Matelot by Robert Farnon and in third place was Dalkeith & Monktonhall (James Chamberlain) with its rendition of St James – A New Beginning by Philip Harper.

Before the adjudicators’ remarks and announcement of the results, Scottish Brass Band Association president Carrie Boax led a minute’s applause for the organisation’s honorary vice president and Scottish Challenge contest controller Peter Fraser and treasurer Julie Nicoll who had both passed away in the space of two days earlier this month.

Simon Gresswell and Leigh Baker both agreed that they had listened to some very good bands and thoroughly enjoyed their day in Scotland.

Simon commented that the overall standard of the bands had been “really good” but offered some pearls of advice on how a slight oscillation can add colour to otherwise  straight notes, particularly from soloists. Dynamics too, played correctly, can create “a magical and musical picture”.

Finally, he remarked that in an own choice contest his expectation is that each band will have mastered the piece because they had picked it and in some cases this hadn’t been so.

Leigh said that he and Simon had been ‘like kids in a sweet shop” listening to such a fabulous choice of music and playing. He urged more quiet playing, especially when accompanying soloists. Furthermore, when playing quavers and semi-quavers, give the notes space, he added.

The full results of the contest are:

1. Unite Scotland Kinneil (Allan Ramsay) 196pts
2. Newmains & District (Paul McKelvie OBE) 194pts
3. Dalkeith & Monktonhall (James Chamberlain) 193pts
4. Dunaskin Doon (Chris Bradley) 192pts
5. North Lakes Brass (Denis Hadfield) 191pts
6. Newmilns & Galston (Alan Friel) 190pts
7. Johnstone (Raymond Tennant) 188pts
8. Lochgelly (Chris Shanks) 187pts
9. Dysart Colliery Silver (Robert Fraser) 186pts
10. Selkirk Silver (Stuart Black) 184pts
11. Arbroath & Carnoustie (Neill McDonald) 183pts
12. Perthshire Brass (Willie McMullan) 181pts
13. Barrhead Burgh (Alan Friel) 179pts
14. Broxburn & Livingston (Raymond Tennant) 176pts
15. Campbeltown Brass (Owen Pickering) 174pts
16. Bon-Accord B (Harry Marshall) 173pts
17. Dundee Instrumental (Bob McDonald) 172pts
18. Kilmarnock Concert Brass (Rebecca Wilson Paterson) 171pts
19. Buckhaven & Methil Miners (Steven Craig) 170pts
20. Shotts St Patrick's (Charlie Farren) 168pts

Best First Section band: Unite Scotland Kinneil
Best Second Section band: Perthshire Brass
Best Third Section band: North Lakes Brass
Best Fourth Section band: Arbroath & Carnoustie

4Barsrest Award for best soloist: Dhani Miller (cornet) Unite Scotland Kinneil
Paul Dornan Memorial Award for best principal cornet: Clare Letham (Dysart Colliery)
Anthony Hope Memorial Trophy for best horn section: Dunaskin Doon