Delight for Bon-Accord
Saturday 4 June 2016
Bon-Accord Silver Band won the Northern Counties Brass Band Association Open Contest for the third time in a row.
HISTORY was made at the 2016 Northern Counties Brass Band Association Open Contest after Bon-Accord Silver Band came out on top for the third year in a row - for the first time in the band's history.
The result followed a day of contesting at Loch Leven Community Campus, in Kinross, on Saturday, May 28, which saw Bon-Accord and conductor Stephen Malcolm impress adjudicators John Boax and David Frame.
Bon-Accord opened its programme with an exciting rendition of Samuel Hazo’s Ride which was described by John Boax as 'a stunning opening piece' which was 'very well played'.
Mark Boyd was the featured trombone soloist in the exciting performance of Smile, written by Charlie Chaplin himself for his 1936 comedy Modern Times. The piece also featured flugel horn player Sarah Saum and helped Mark Boyd to win the Best Soloist award for the contest with his 'lovely sound'.
Eric Cree’s funky arrangement of Scarborough Fair followed, offering a showcase for the band’s award winning ‘Best Percussion’ section.
A rousing performance of Vision of Kolkhis by Tom Davoren closed the programme and helped the band secure the first hat trick of wins for the band in the history of the contest, which began in 1960, with a winning margin of two clear points from other competitors.
The band took home all but one of the prizes available to them at this contest including:
• Winning Band: 1st Place
• Winning Conductor: Stephen Malcolm
• Best NCBBA Member Band
• Best Percussion
• Best Soprano
• Best Soloist: Mark Boyd, Trombone
The Bon-Accord Silver 'B' Band also took part in the contest and came fifth, winning the prize for the best 4th section band.
