Perth all set for Scottish Festival of Brass

Excitement is building ahead of the 2018 Scottish Festival of Brass which gets underway this coming Saturday at the iconic Perth Concert Hall.

The Band Supplies Scottish Challenge Shield is the curtain raiser for the annual ‘dual weekend’ contest, the following week showcasing the Scottish Youth Festival and prestigious Scottish Open contest.

Nineteen bands, from 4th to 1st Sections, will take to the stage from 9.30am on Saturday, 17 November, all competing for the Band Supplies Scottish Challenge Shield, currently in the proud possession of Clackmannan District, 2017 winner thanks to its performance of Triumphant Rhapsody under Paul McKelvie.

Band Supplies' Ronnie Tennant presenting Challenge Shield to Clackmannan

Although there have been three bands which have won the contest more than once, the Scottish Challenge Shield has yet to be successfully defended in its brief 13-year history so Clackmannan District, this time under the baton of Ross Brotherston, will be attempting to buck the trend.

The own-choice format will see 16 different test-pieces on show from the 19, all-Scottish participants, promising a feast of music-making and a day that should keep the audience and adjudication team of Jim Davies and Kevin Wadsworth well entertained.

The following Saturday’s Scottish Open sees nine Scottish, one Welsh and eight English bands being joined by welcome American guests Atlantic Brass Band as the Championship Section protagonists get the ball rolling at 12.30pm, each tackling one of four iconic Edward Gregson works.

Connotations, Dances and Arias, Rococo Variations and Of Distant Memories make up the mouth-watering list of tests on offer as reigning champion Whitburn Band sets its sights on a fifth consecutive title. The Open crown has actually been shared by four different nations since its first running in 2003, including an American victory for Fountain City in 2009, however, from this year’s combatants, only Co-operative Funeralcare, Fishburn and Whitburn have enjoyed the sweet taste of success at the event.

 Once again, Black Dyke trombone virtuoso Brett Baker will present a performance from the Salford University Graduation Band prior to the Scottish Open results.

The ‘Open’ will be preceded by the first event in the Scottish Youth Festival, the Percussion Section, which sees four ensembles perform own-choice programmes from 9.30am onwards, all trying to impress adjudicator Alasdair Rankin and lift the Music Company Cup. In one of several workshops and performances throughout the second weekend, Sterling Artist and Fairey Band tenor horn star Rachel Neil will perform at the conclusion of the Percussion Section contest.

Percussion champions from Perth and Kinross Percussion Ensemble

The youth contests take centre stage on Sunday, 25 November, with 25 youth ensembles taking part in what is sure to be a fantastic celebration of music-making as bands compete in the Young Bands, Preparatory, Novice and Development Sections of the Festival. A further three bands will take part in the Senior Section later in the afternoon.

The Salford Graduation Band will again take to the stage half-way through the morning section while there are not-to-be-missed workshops from Yamaha artist and Black Dyke baritone soloist Katrina Marzella, members of the Salford ensemble and Rachel Neil who will perform again prior to the Scottish Youth Festival results.

Looking forward to the schedule of events over the two weekends, SBBA President Carrie Boax commented: “The inclusive and diverse nature of this festival reinforces how progressive and forward thinking the Scottish brass band movement is and truly does promote brass and percussion from ‘the cradle to the grave'."

“We are extremely grateful to our principal sponsors Band Supplies Glasgow and Ronnie Tennant for his support not only of this event, but his support to SBBA throughout the year. We are delighted that Perth Concert Hall has been able to facilitate the streaming of this year’s senior events and welcome BrassPass.tv during both weekends of the Festival. Special thanks must go to its company director Martin Gernon for his commitment and support of this initiative.”

“In a time when music provision is very much in the spotlight, I am always inspired and enthused by the young performers who participate in the Scottish Youth Brass Band events, performing on stage to proud family members and friends. Following a period of consultation and evaluation by our Education sub-committee, we see a new development in the Youth Championships; making the event more of an all-inclusive festival. We hope that you enjoy supporting our new young bands section, which truly offers something for everyone. Special thanks must go to the teachers, families and volunteers who tirelessly give of their time to ensure the success of this wonderful movement continues. Something we must all, wherever we are in the country, make a priority.”

The schedule of events, and competing bands, is as follows:

Band Supplies Scottish Challenge – Saturday, 17 November

First Band: 9.30am

Adjudicators: Jim Davies and Kevin Wadsworth

Arbroath Instrumental (Michael Robertson) 1

Barrhead Burgh (Alistair Gibson) 4

Buckhaven and Methil Miners (Andy Shaw) 3

Clackmannan District Brass (Ross Brotherston) 2

Coalburn Silver (Gareth Bowman) 1

Dunaskin Doon (Chris Bradley) 1

Dysart Colliery Silver (Kenneth Letham) 3

Granite City Brass (Bruce Wallace) 1

Johnstone (Martyn Ramsay) 1

Kilmarnock Concert Brass (Scott Walker) 4

Kingdom Brass (Paul Drury) 1

Langholm Town (Chris Shanks) 3

Newmains and District Brass (Michael Marzella) 3

Newmilns and Galston (Alan Cameron) 1

Penicuik Silver (Iain Fleming) 4

Perthshire Brass (George D Annan) 3

St. David’s Brass (John A Dickson) 2

St. Ronan's Silver (Kenneth Letham) 2

UNISON Kinneil (Raymond Tennant) 1

Scottish Youth Festival – Saturday, 24 November

Percussion Section

First ensemble: 9.30am

Adjudicator: Alasdair Rankin

1. Coalburn Percussion Academy (Gordon Millar)

2. Perth and Kinross Percussion Ensemble (Lynsey Paterson)

3. Midlothian Training Ensemble (Barbara-Jane Waddell)

4. Midlothian Percussion Ensemble (Barbara-Jane Waddell)

Performance from Rachel Neil (Sterling Artist)

Scottish Open – Saturday, 24 November

Draw: 11.30am First Band: 12.30pm

Adjudicators: Steve Sykes and Frank Renton

Atlantic Brass (Salvatore Scarpa)

Bathgate Band (David Thornton)

Bon Accord Silver (Stephen Malcolm)

Bo’ness and Carriden (Lee Skipsey)

Co-operative Funeralcare (Michael Fowles)

Dalmellington (Nigel Boddice MBE)

East London Brass (Jayne Murrill)

East Yorkshire Motor Services (Stig Maersk)

Elland Silver (Daniel Brooks)

Fishburn (David Hirst)

Kirkintilloch (Raymond Tennant)

Kirkintilloch Kelvin Brass (Charles Keenan)

Newtongrange Silver (Andrew Duncan)

Northop Silver (John Doyle)

Pemberton Old Wigan DW (Ben Dixon)

Rainford (Gareth Brindle)

Rothwell Temperance (David Roberts)

Wantage (Paul Holland)

Whitburn (Professor Nicholas Childs)

Performance from Salford University Graduation Band (Brett Baker) prior to results.

Scottish Youth Festival – Sunday, 25 November

Combined Young Bands, Preparatory, Novice and Development Sections

First Band: 9.30am

Adjudicators: Bryan Allen and David Thornton

1. Irvine and Dreghorn Community Youth (Preparatory)

2. Riverside Youth (Development)

3. Arbroath Instrumental Youth (Young Bands)

4. Bathgate Youth (Development)

5. St. Ronan's Future (Development)

6. Levern Valley Community Brass (Development)

7. Dalmellington Brass Academy (Preparatory)

8. Hazlehead Academy Brass (Young Bands)

9. Broxburn and Livingston Future Brass (Novice)

10. Brass Central Strathearn Development (Novice)

11. Bo'ness and Carriden (Young Bands)

12. Campbeltown Brass Juniors (Preparatory)

Adjudicators’ break

Performance from Salford University Graduation Band (Brett Baker)

13. Campbeltown Brass Intermediate (Development)

14. Penny Brass (Young Bands)

15. Abbey Brass (Novice)

16. Coalburn Bronze (Preparatory)

17. St. John's High School R.C. Brass (Novice)

18. Penicuik Junior (Novice)

19. Galashiels Junior (Development)

20. Perthshire Youth Brass (Novice)

21. Stranraer Brass Junior (Novice)

22. Galashiels Youth (Development)

23. St. David’s Youth (Novice)

24. Perth and Kinross Junior Brass (Preparatory)

25. Kirkintilloch Youth (Novice)

Scottish Youth Festival – Sunday, 25 November

Senior Section

First Band: 4.50pm (approx.)

Adjudicator: Katrina Marzella

1. Scottish Borders Youth (Alan Fernie)

2. Whitburn Youth (Caroline Farren)

3. Loanhead Brass Youth (Alan Fernie)

Performance from Rachel Neil (Sterling Artist) prior to results