New musical direction for Tullis Russell

Tullis Russell Mills Band.

THE Tullis Russell Mills Band has announced its conducting team ahead of the 2016 Scottish Championships.

Raymond Tennant will lead the Fife band on stage at the competition in March while Ross Brotherston takes up the role of resident bandmaster. The appointments follow the departure of former Musical Director, Paul Drury, at the end of 2015. It comes as Tullis Russell resumes rehearsals ahead of the Regionals, with concerts also scheduled to take place in Dunfermline Abbey and the Glen Pavilion.

A spokesman for Tullis Russell Mills Band said: "We are very pleased to have secured the services of Raymond who will bring a wealth of experience to the Tullis Band.

"Ross is a very talented musician and has worked with many of the country's top conductors as a player. With his enthusiasm and drive it is hoped this new partnership will pay dividends for the band."

Ross worked with the Tullis Russell Band during 2015 as well as being the resident at Newtongrange Silver and the MD at Dumfries Town. Reflecting on his appointment, Ross said: "I would like to thank all at Tullis Russell for giving me this opportunity to work with the band and other conductors. I can't wait to get started."

Raymond Tennant, meanwhile, began his musical career as a cornet player, having been taught to play by his father and as a member of Kirkintilloch Silver Band. In 1976 he took up the tuba, and one year later he gained entry to the Royal Scottish Academy of Music. After graduating in 1980 he continued with post-graduate studies at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and the National Centre for Orchestral Studies (University of London).

On returning to Scotland he became principal tuba with Scottish Ballet and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, and as a player also performed with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Opera, the Ulster Orchestra, and the National Theatre.

He was a founder member of the brass ensembles Caledonia Brass and First Brass!  He has featured as guest soloist with various bands and orchestras, has appeared in a number of films, and also in numerous television and radio broadcasts. He began his conducting career in 1983, with the Johnstone Band, and during his early years there the band gained promotion from the fourth to the first section. From 1987 until 1991 he was Eb bass player and associate conductor with the CWS (Glasgow) Band, and enjoyed many successes with them – which included playing in their first National Championships triumph at the Royal Albert Hall in 1990. Throughout the nineties, and into the new millennium, he continued his successes with various bands within Scotland and England, and won the 2000 National Championship 3rd Section as conductor of Kirkintilloch Kelvin Brass, again at the Royal Albert Hall.

A further period with the Johnstone Band in the position of Musical Director followed, and amongst the many highlights of this period was guiding the band into the Championship Section for the first time in its history. In 2003 Raymond took up the position of resident conductor of the Scottish Co-op Band, and latterly has been MD of the Johnstone Band and Kilmarnock Concert Brass.

Raymond is currently the resident conductor at the Kirkintilloch Band.