Bands prepare a feast of top quality music for the Scottish Open

Edward Gregson wins the popularity stakes when it comes to the choice of test pieces of the 19 bands taking part in Saturday’s Scottish Open, supported by Besson, in the second half of this year's Scottish Festival of Brass.

The composer’s music will be heard four times during the competition in the Perth Concert Hall with two of the contenders opting for The World Rejoicing and two selecting Roccoco Variations.

Simon Dobson’s Journey of the Lone Wolf is the choice of three bands and Peter Graham’s On the Shoulders of Giants and The Essence of Time is the music of choice for two more outfits. Two performances of George Lloyd’s English Heritage complete the multiple selections.

The remainder of test pieces that will be heard are (in alphabetical order):

Cloudcatcher Fells (John McCabe)

Fraternity (Thierry Deleruyelle)

Isaiah 40 (Robert Redhead)

Metamorphosis for Brass Band (Jan de Haan)

Pageantry (Herbert Howells)

Revelation (Philip Wilby)

Year of the Dragon (Philip Sparke)

Vita Aeterna Variations (Alexander Comitas)

Adjudicators for the competition will be John Doyle and Glyn Williams.

Championship Section bands taking part in the contest are:

1. Bon-Accord Silver (Stephen Malcolm)

2. City of Bradford (Jonathan Bates)

3. Dalmellington (Gary J Williams)

4. Easington Colliery (Stephen Malcolm)

5. East London Brass (Jayne Murrill)

6. Elland Silver (Daniel Brooks)

7. Fishburn (Duncan Beckley

8. Hepworth Band (Ryan Watkins)

9. Johnstone (Colin McKenzie)

10. Kingdom Brass (Paul Drury)

11. Kirkintilloch Kelvin Brass (Mareika Gray)

12. Newtongrange (Anne Crookston)

13. Pemberton Old Wigan DW (Chris Binns)

14. Rainford (David Thornton)

15. the cooperation band (Mike Fowles)

16. The Kirkintilloch Band (David Roberts

17. Unison Kinneil (Raymond Tennant)

18. Whitburn (Professor Nicholas Childs)

19. Wingates (Andrea Price)

On Sunday the Scottish Youth Championships will be featuring:

Percussion Section

1. Coalburn Percussion Academy (Robbie Bremner)

Preparatory Section

1. Big Noise Fallin (Andrew Foden / Alistair Gordon)

2. Boundary Street Brass (Dianne Waugh)

3. Broxburn & Livingston Future Brass (Jim Bone)

4. Campbeltown Brass Juniors (Katrina Barr)

5. Coalburn Bronze Band (David Fehilly)

6. Cupar Beginners Brass (Alison Milne)

7. Irvine & Dreghorn Youth Band (John Boax)

8. King’s Park Junior Brass (TBC

9. Kinneil Youth Band (Scott Gardner)

10. Kirkintilloch Youth Band (Katherine Adams)

11. Loanhead Brass Rootlets (Alan Fernie)

12. Maroon Brass (Stuart Black)

13. Newtongrange Junior Band (Alan Fernie)

14. St Ronan’s Future Band (Keith Belleville)

15. Whitburn Wee Band (Charlie Farren)

Novice Section

1. Bathgate Youth Band (Stewart Brynes)

2. Dalmellington Brass Academy (Cameron Paterson)

3. Galashiels Youth Band (Stuart Black)

4. Newmilns & Galston Brass Academy (Callum Kerr) [non-competing]

Development Section

1. Campbeltown Brass Youth (Katrina Barr)

2. Esk Valley Brass (Alan Fernie)

3. Scottish Borders Youth Band (Alan Fernie)

4. Whitburn Youth Band (Caroline Farren)

Adjudicators for the championships will be Glyn and Helen Williams and Les Neish at various points of the day. When they’re not in the box they will be taking brass workshops for the young players.

All band performances over the weekend will be recorded for release at a future date. Adjudicators’ remarks and results for the Scottish Open will be livestreamed here and for the Youth Championships here.