Young percussion star signs for Whitburn

Amy Gray in action with Whitburn Band at the European Brass Band Championships in Lille (image courtesy of Ian Clowes, Goldy Solutions).

WHITBURN Band has announced the signing of Amy Gray on percussion.

The news is a big development for the Scottish Open champion, as the 15-year-old becomes the first player who has developed through the Whitburn Band pathway system to go on to sign with Whitburn.

The Whitburn pathway programme was introduced a few years ago by the band to nurture young players. Young performers who play their first notes with Whitburn Wee Band will hopefully progress to Whitburn Youth Band, then Whitburn Heartlands Band, before they eventually play with the main Whitburn Band in competitions like the European Championships and National Championships at the Royal Albert Hall.

Amy grew up surrounded by brass music. Her mum Heather is a music teacher and also plays percussion with Whitburn, while her dad Steven is a trumpet player and coordinator of instrumental music with West Lothian Council.

Amy took up trombone when she was in primary five, and joined Whitburn Youth Band in 2012. She has developed her brass playing through the youth band into Whitburn Heartlands, while continuing to progress on percussion with the West Lothian Schools Brass Band and Bathgate Band.

The signing of Amy to Whitburn is also an important moment for her family. Amy’s uncle David McMillan was a very promising member of the cornet section of Whitburn Band. He enjoyed many successes with the band, notably in the BBC Fanfare and Best of Brass competitions in the early 1980s. In 1981, his life was tragically cut short when he was killed in a car accident aged 19.

David McMillan, a cornet player who played with Whitburn Band in the early 1980s. His niece Amy Gray has now signed with the band.

Amy made her debut with Whitburn at the recent European Championships, where she was joined on stage by Ryan Bradley (percussion) and Mark Elwis (cornet) who are also making great progress in their brass band careers having started out with Whitburn Youth Band.

On signing with the band, Amy said: “I'm very excited to have this opportunity and really looking forward to playing alongside such experienced and talented players.”

Her mum Heather added: “I am delighted to have her in the band. It's a very exciting time for her and I'm very proud of what she has achieved so far. I better up my game!”

Amy's first competition with the band will be at the West Lothian Festival of Brass, where Whitburn will be aiming to defend its title.