WLF meet the band: Lochgelly

Lochgelly Band on stage in Perth Concert Hall.

SIX of Scotland's top brass bands are gearing up to perform at the 2016 West Lothian Festival of Brass in Livingston's Howden Park Centre.

Ahead of the event, which takes place on Sunday, June 12, it's time to introduce the bands which will be taking to the stage for an afternoon of entertainment - beginning with Lochgelly Band and its Musical Director, Paul McKelvie OBE.

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Principal players

History

The first recorded mention of a brass band in Lochgelly appeared in a poster for a local event dated 1854, making it one of the oldest surviving bands in Scotland.

Like many bands in the UK, the Lochgelly Band has links with industry. With the advent of the industrial revolution in the early part of the 19th century and an influx of manpower into the town to work in new coal mines and iron works, it was recognised that various activities / pastimes were needed to meet the recreational needs of the growing town. Lochgelly Public Brass Band was soon formed.

Since those early days the band has had its ups and downs. Lochgelly won the Scottish Championships in 1973 and went on to gain a very creditable 6th place at the National Finals in the Royal Albert Hall. The band reached a low point in its recent history in 2001 with relegation to the 4th section. Following that, the band quite quickly fought through the sections, winning Scottish titles in 2002, 2003, and 2010.

On its return to the Championship section in 2011, the band finished 3rd on Paganini Variations. The band also gained an invitation to the Spring Festival in 2012 where it finished a creditable 4th in the Senior Trophy at their first attempt.

As well as being successful on the contest stage, Lochgelly continues to support their local community by staging concerts and providing music for community events such as the town gala day and the Remembrance Sunday service.

The band is pleased to be making its third appearance at the West Lothian Festival of Brass.

Conductor

Paul McKelvie OBE has enjoyed a long association with brass bands. He started playing trombone at the age of 10, and joined the Alva Band in 1974, playing continuously until 2011, when he decided to take up conducting.

He took Clackmannan District Brass Band to victory in the 2012 Scottish First Section Championships, followed by a 6th and 4th positions in the Scottish Championship Section in 2013 and 2014 respectfully.

Paul became Musical Director at Lochgelly in September 2015.