The largest number of bands since before the Covid pandemic have signed up to take part in this year’s Scottish Festival of Brass which showcases a trio of competitions in Perth Concert Hall over two weekends.
On Saturday 21 November, 25 bands from sections 1-4 will take to the stage for the Band Supplies Scottish Challenge contest in which own-choice test pieces will be considered by adjudicators Andrea Price and Stephanie Binns.
The following Saturday (28 November) will see 18 championship bands compete in the Scottish Open, supported by Besson. Again this contest features own choices of music to be judged by Leigh Baker and Ian Porthouse.
The next day the Scottish Youth Championships take place with 25 brass bands participating in five sections – Novice, Non-competitive, Intermediate, Development and Senior. Leigh Baker, Vanessa Baker and Ryan Richards will share the adjudication in this event.
Commented a delighted Carrie Boax, president of the Scottish Brass Band Association: “During the past five years, Scottish banding has been making a slow recovery from the lingering effects of the Covid pandemic. The number of bands taking part in our festival this year shows that our healing process is virtually complete and that we are now back with a vengeance!”
She added: “We’re very grateful to the sponsors and supporters of our festival without whom it would not be the annual success it has become year after year.”
Among the numerous programme advertisers are SN Percussion, Brass Reconstruction, RAF Recruitment, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and The Wind Section, to whom SBBA is very grateful for their continuing support.
Tickets for the Scottish Festival of Brass are available on the day at the entrance to Perth Concert Hall, priced at £17 (and £13 for concessions) or from the online box office.
The full line-up for the two weekends is:
Scottish Challenge, Perth Concert Hall, Saturday 21 November
Adjudicators: Andrea Price and Stephanie Binns
Arbroath & Carnoustie (Neill McDonald, 3rd section)
Barrhead Burgh (Alan Friel, 4th)
Bathgate (Craig Anderson, 1st)
Bon-Accord B (Harry Marshall, 4th)
Brass Sounds Inverclyde (Caroline Tennant, 3rd)
Broxburn & Livingston (Caroline Farren, 2nd)
Buckhaven & Methil Miners (Steven Craig, 3rd)
Clackmannan District (Paul Drury, 2nd)
Croy Silver (Kenneth Blackwood, 2nd)
Dalkeith & Monktonhall (James Chamberlain, 1st)
Dunaskin Doon (Chris Bradley, 1st)
Dundee Instrumental (Kenneth Blackwood, 4th)
Dysart Colliery Silver (Robert Fraser, 4th)
Irvine & Dreghorn (Joshua Parkhill, 2nd)
Johnstone (Raymond Tennant, 2nd)
Kilmarnock Concert Brass (Lynca Nicholson, 2nd)
Kirkintilloch Kelvin Brass (Danny Brooks, 1st)
Lochgelly (Chris Shanks, 1st)
Newmains & District (Robert W Fraser, 1st)
Newmilns & Galston (Hedley Benson, 1st)
North Lakes Brass (Denis Hadfield, 3rd)
Perthshire Brass (Willie McMullan, 1st)
Shotts St Patrick's (Charlie Farren, 2nd)
St David’s Brass (John A Dickson, 3rd)
Turriff Silver (Matt Bailey, 4th)
Unite Scotland Kinneil (Allan Ramsay, 1st)
Scottish Open, Perth Concert Hall, Saturday 28 November
Adjudicators: Leigh Baker and Ian Porthouse
Bon-Accord Silver (Adam Cooke)
Bo’ness & Carriden (Paul McKelvie OBE)
Coalburn Silver (Gareth Bowman)
Dalmellington (Allan Ramsay)
Easington Colliery (Graeme Tindall)
East London Brass (Jayne Murrill)
Ebbw Valley Brass (Matthew Rowe)
Fishburn (Andrew Hunter)
Freckleton (Mareika Gray)
Granite City Brass (Adam Glynn)
Hammonds (Morgan Griffiths)
Kingdom Brass (Bruce Wallace)
Newtongrange Silver (Russell Gray)
Rainford (Adam DJ Taylor)
Regent Brass (Alan Duguid)
Tewit Silver (Martin Hall)
The Kirkintilloch Band (Christopher Binns)
Whitburn (Prof Nicholas Childs)
Scottish Youth Championships, Perth Concert Hall, Sunday 29 November
Adjudicators: Leigh Baker, Vanessa Baker and Ryan Richards
Novice Section
Annan Town Youth (Ross Bahlaj)
Bathgate Youth (Stuart Brynes)
Clackmannan District Brass Beginners (Luci Lamb)
Coalburn Bronze (Stuart Black)
Hawick Saxhornettes (Stuart Black)
Maroon Brass (Stuart Black)
Newtongrange Wee Band (Alan Fernie)
Perth & Kinross Brass (Elaine Blackwood)
Non-competitive Section
St David’s & Penicuik Joint Training (John A Dickson)
Intermediate Section
Bon-Accord Youth (Jennifer Cook)
Campbeltown Brass Intermediate (David Cosgrove)
Cupar Brass Bandits & Tullis Wizards (Alison Milne)
Galashiels Youth (Stuart Black)
Katherine Dewar Youth (Katherine Dewar)
King’s Park Junior Brass (Emily Stokes)
Kinneil Youth (Scott Gardner)
Stranraer Junior Brass (Angela Miller)
Tweed Valley Youth (KJ Belleville)
Development Section
Irvine & Dreghorn Youth (John Boax)
Newtongrange Junior (Alan Fernie)
St David’s & Penicuik Joint Youth (John A Dickson)
Whitburn Youth (Caroline Farren)
Senior Section
Campbeltown Brass Senior (Katrina Barr)
Perthshire Youth Brass (Willie McMullan)
Scottish Borders Youth (Stuart Black)