Scottish Youth Brass Band Championships 2022: Live

The Scottish Youth Brass Band Championships, part of the 2022 Scottish Festival of Brass, supported by Creative Scotland

November 27, 2022

Perth Concert Hall

Mark Good reporting

And here are the final results for the Preparatory and Development sections of the championships:

6.55pm

What a day it has been at the Scottish Youth Brass Band Championships! More results to follow soon. Watch live via the livestream below.

Development Section

Adjudicators: Glyn and Helen Williams

4) Scottish Borders Youth Brass Band | Alan Fernie

Returning to the Scottish Youth Championship for the first time since 2019, the Scottish Borders Youth Brass Band opens with Pedal Pusher, by Bruce Fraser. The infectious grooves are neatly played, with secure percussion keeping things ticking along nicely.

Alan Fernie has been a busy chap today, taking to the stage with several bands; his influence on the Scottish banding scene is quite considerable.

Fraser's Ground Pavane is a nicely-paced contrast, a reflective moment in this programme. The euphonium sounds are rich in their melody, with basses and soprano bringing further refinement.

Caribbean Holiday is deliciously rowdy to open, whoops and whistles aplenty. It’s full of fun - but the discipline remains in the playing, which is to members’ credit.

The Rolling Hills of Home is played to Alasdair Hutton, recently retired SBBA event presenter, and in memory of Scottish rugby legend Doddie Weir, following his death from MND. It’s an emotive work, lyrical melodies rising to the fore. While things don’t entirely gel, it settles into its stride as the piece progresses.

The Girl Who Sat on the Hill brings the band’s programme - and the weekend of performances - to a close with tasty harmonies, the rhythmic work positively bristling with energy. Bravo!

3) Whitburn Youth Band | Caroline Farren

The bold, majestic sounds of Alan Fernie's Prismatic Light open Whitburn Youth Band's programme. It's well-balanced and the young players capture the excitment of the music, which then becomes altogether more lyrical in outlook. Intonation is settled and the sounds are impressive from the second of Whitburn's bands to perform today (and the third this weekend).

Abide With Me grows from a sensitive opening to a sound of impressive breadth, the lines sustained and phrases shaped with elegance. Elegant horn sounds are among those to rise to the fore.

This is a steady Caribbean Holiday, Caroline Farren looking to ensure everything is in its place, before Whitburn Youth Band brings its programme to a close in Gold Rush, by Cameron Mabon.

Tuned percussion adds a further colour to the engaging sounds around the stand during a confident final offering from the West Lothian band.

2) Esk Valley Brass | Alan Fernie

This 37-strong band is an almagamation of Midlothian's four competing youth brass bands. It opens with a trip to the movies.

Eye of the Tiger enjoys strong momentum throughout, nimble cornet melodies underpinned by secure bass and percussion grooves.

It follows with music by John Williams from Jurassic Park. The soaring melodic lines are pure Hollywood and are treated with care and attention. Icing on the cake is a soprano cornet sound of considerable refinement.

Caribbean Holiday, the set work for the section, is steady and it gives the melodies time to breathe, an infectious groove emanating from the stage.

Changing gear, Esk Valley continues with Joplin's The Entertainer before it brings its programme to a close with Bach's Toccata in D Minor. A measured opening soon kicks into a heavy rock feel, driving kit underpinning the famous melodic lines - and Mr drummer is in his element, impressive fills bringing the piece to a rousing close.

1) Campbeltown Youth Brass | Katrina Barr

January February March, by Jamie McVicar, opens the programme from the second of today's outfits from Campbeltown. Tight snare drum rhythms pass to nicely understated intricate lines in cornets before the full band bursts into life. It's nicely poised, Katrina Barr ensuring a measured swagger remains throughout.

Sandon follows, an ensemble from the band performing the first verse. The sounds have a resonance, a maturity which really finds favour.

It is followed by a trip to warmer climes, in Caribbean Holiday. It's percussion aplenty in this piece, alluring grooves underpinning the melodies.

Flugelhorn player, Rona Campbell, takes centre stage in Under the Boardwalk, as a certain Helen Williams (Cory's flugel star, who is very familiar with this piece), watches on from the adjudicating table. The solo sound enchants the Perth audience while the band accompanies with some neat, light-hearted choreography.

A jazz-medley brings down the curtain on Campbeltown Youth Brass' performance, a melting pot of well-kent tunes weaving their way in and out of the texture. It closes a diverse programme, delivered with the panache audiences have long come to expect from one of Scotland's farthest travelled bands.

Preparatory Section

Adjudicators: Glyn and Helen Williams

15) Big Noise Fallin | Andrew Foden and Alastair Gibson

Big Noise Fallin files to the front of the stage, standing in a line, with Alastair Gibson conducting from the audience in a majestic opening fanfare. It is tight and controlled, the players performing from memory.

They take their seats for Ode to Joy, with Andrew Foden directing the band in the famous music from Beethoven.

Thor's Hammer is underpinned by industrial percussion sounds, with big, bold corners interspersed with lighter, more reflective passages. It's effective musical storytelling from Big Noise Fallin, whose players enjoy healthy support from the audience in Perth Concert Hall.

Alan Fernie's Growing Pains is committed from players all around the stand; it's proved to be a fine choice today.

It's time for another conductor swap, with Alastair Gibson re-taking the baton for When the Saints Go Marching In before an arrangement of Old Mcdonald Had a Farm. We Will Rock You transforms the concert hall into a rock venue, stomping and clapping aplenty to bring the programme - and the section - to a close.

14) Cupar Beginners Brass | Alison Milne

A warm welcome to Cupar Beginners Brass, sporting a splendid array of colourful tops as they take to the stage in Perth.

This fledgling group opens with set work Growing Pains, and the potential of the band is clear to hear, with many of the basics secure and in place.

Cheesy Feet Rock follows - it seems to be a favourite among several of the bands taking part in today's festival, cheery tunes emanting from the stage with enthusiasm.

Granny's Bike, meanwhile, features some cycling-related sounds which bring another dimension to an entertaining performance. Well done, folks.

13) Maroon Brass | Stuart Black 

Stuart Black returns with his second outfit of the day, in Maroon Brass. The band opens its programme with Alan Fernie’s Growing Pains, an engaging account featuring a fine contribution from a very hard working horn team.

Blue Cheese Crumble Blues, also by Fernie, swings with gusto before When the Saints receives a rendition which shows keen attention to the light and shade in the score.

Cheesy Feet Rock closes the programme from Maroon Brass, full of fun and youthful vigour in an entertaining set.

12) Coalburn Bronze Band | David Fehilly

It's straight into the set work, Growing Pains, for Coalburn Bronze Band, and there's a heavy rock feel to the band's interpretation of Alan Fernie's music. The percussion team, in particular, is revelling in the groove en route to a confident close.

The percussion section underpins the following piece, Djembe Funk, with similar assurance. This is a terrific piece, laced with catchy tunes and infectious beats and the band seems to enjoy bringing it to the stage in Perth.

Roads, by Ian Mundy, opens with good momentum; there's a confidence apparent throughout this performance from Coalburn Bronze Band, another fine banding organisation with pathways for players as they develop in experience. The second movement of the piece is more lyrical in outlook, a lightness of touch providing a nice contrast. After a quick hi-hat fix, it's straight on with the final movement, in which the energy and fervour returns in abundance. Well done, all.

11) Kirkintilloch Youth Band | Katherine Adams

Kirkintilloch Youth Band opens with the march Blaze Away and immediately finds a gentle swagger. As with several of the performances today, the East Dunbartonshire band is working hard to find the light and shade in the score of this famous march, which remains full of confidence throughout.

Set work Growing Pains follows and, while not immune from some challenges in ensemble, the players retain their composure and produce a spirited performance, full of energy and bravado.

In the Highlands, featuring Highland Cathedral, starts with very assured cornet playing from Ruaridh Prentice, before the sound of the full band bursts into life.

To conclude, Techno Pirate surges ahead, dance-infused melodies rising to the fore as Kirkintilloch Youth Band boogies its way to a fun-filled close.

10) Loanhead Brass Rootlets | Alan Fernie

Gorebridge Gallop motors along, the jaunty tunes underpinned by very secure drum kit playing throughout.

The programme continues with set work, Growing Pains, in which the Midlothian band demonstrates good balance and awareness of the key lines at any one time.

Bubblewrap Boogie sees Laura Carter take the baton, with maestro Fernie moving on tuba. The pieces fizzes and pops along gleefully.

Music from Gareth Bowman follows, in When a Pirate Met a Shark. There’s a Jaws influence to the opening and percussion make plenty people in the audience jump with some suitably dangerous sounds! Equally impressive are the band’s attempts to find the lighter moments in Bowman’s score in a well-tempered performance of this engaging piece.

To conclude is Alan Fernie’s African Funk, a staple of youth band programmes. It features confident solo cornet playing and again, the band works hard to find the light and shade in the music. It ends a fine programme - and a refined performance - of which the band could be proud.

9) Boundary Street Brass | Dianne Waugh

Boundary Street begins by taking us to a Brazilian carnival, full of energy and colour. It gives way to a stately march, which is treated with poise. There’s attention paid to the light and shade in the music, with the bigger moments of the score really leaping off the page in Boundary Street Brass’ performance.

An arrangement by John Gilmour of Kelvingrove sees the cornets darting around their instruments in their nimble tunes with ease before music from Alan Fernie brings the programme to a close. Growing Pains surges forward, retaining its composure, before Cheesy Feet Rock grooves its way to a close.

8) Irvine and Dreghorn Youth Band | John Boax

Very healthy numbers indeed in Irvine and Dreghorn Youth Band - and the sounds are equally impressive in Gonna Fly Now, which gets the band off to a super start.

Smoke on the Water begins with the famous riff in the low end before the band bursts into life. A special mention is due to percussion, which features young (and young at heart) members of the IDB organisation - and they are revelling in the groove!

Talking of grooves, Bandstand Boogie enjoys a fine swagger as the players of Irvine and Dreghorn Youth Band let their hair down - and in some cases, boogy away with glee! It warms the heart.

Growing Pains, the set work in this section, is performed with great enthusiasm before the Hungarian Dance Number Five is suitably fiery and earns a warm reception from the audience.

When the Saints brings to an end a well-balanced, engaging programme in a performance of which Irvine and Dreghorn Youth Band could be proud.

7) Whitburn Wee Band | Charlie Farren 

Whitburn Wee Band takes to the stage with Growing Pains, the set work in the Preparatory Section. Conductor Charlie Farren ensures a steady pace, with good ensemble. What these young players may lack in experience they make up for in discipline and commitment in a tight, controlled performance.

Pirate Adventures, by Gareth Bowman, takes us on a swashbuckling adventure, with good attention to the light and shade in the music. It closes a programme from a group bursting with potential; bravo.

6) Broxburn and Livingston Future Brass | Jim Bone

Broxburn and Livingston Future Brass opens its programme with Uptown Funk. Brass are grooving and, although it has its ensemble challenges, Jim Bone keeps his young players on board en route to the piece's conclusion.

Growing Pains, the set work, has some lovely sounds around the stands, the engaging tunes finding favour with the young players of Broxburn and Livingston Future Brass.

ABBA Gold showcases the music of one of the most famous pop bands of all time, a rip roaring journey through some of the super group's hits. The songs get toes tapping in the audience as the band brings the curtain down on a programme in which it will have gained so much experience to stand it in good stead.

5) Campbeltown Brass Juniors | Katrina Barr

The quality of the sound is apparent from the opening chords of Campbeltown Brass Juniors’ performance; it’s well balanced and energetic.

Abide With Me sees the programme take a reflective turn and the band works hard to find a smooth, legato feel to the sounds. Katrina Barr, a stalwart of Campbeltown Brass and a key figure in the band’s continued success, ensures a very well-disciplined, refined performance.

Growing Pains powers forward, with nothing overcooked. In the Highlands, featuring Highland Cathedral, features the band’s solo cornets, who provide the initial statement of the tune before their colleagues join them. There’s a warmth to the full band sounds, while percussion adds colour but doesn’t get in the way.

It’s to the pop world Campbeltown Brass Juniors takes the Perth audience, in Money, Money, Money. Horns rise to the fore before the melody passes elsewhere in this entertaining rendition. Music from Ghostbusters brings down the curtain on a finely crafted programme.

The maturity of the sounds defy the relative inexperience of the players around the stands with Campbeltown; well done, all.

4) Newtongrange Junior Band | Alan Fernie 

Knight Ride is bursting with enthusiasm as the band opens its programme with great energy - no doubt inspired by its musical director, as Alan Fernie guides the young players with vigour.

The Sixth Street Rag sees Alan Fernie pass the baton to music student, Laura Carter, who is clear and concise in her gesture in this jaunty number, which appears to find favour with the players around the stand.

Growing Pains, meanwhile, is well handled by a group which clearly relishes the music of its inspirational conductor.

Super Cali Fragilistic Expialidocious bounces along, the players relishing the Mary Poppins number, then Newtongrange Junior Band brings its performance to a close with Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, another piece handled with poise.

3) St Ronan’s Future Band | Keith Belleville

A Royal Parade has a suitably noble air, grand melodies nicely shaped and underpinned by well-disciplined percussion.

The Borders band continues with All Through the Night and the band’s sound really rises to the fore, with the key lines rising to prominence throughout.

A Bad Hair Day is neat and well executed before Growing Pains closes St Ronan’s Future Band’s programme with aplomb.

Bravo, maestro Belleville, whose considered programme notes knitted the programme together so effectively.

2) King's Park Junior Brass | Jordan Fairley

The familiar strains of Rimmer's march, Slaidburn, open King's Park's programme. It's spirited playing, as Jordan Fairley guides her young charges through every twist and turn.

It's to the theatre King's Park Brass takes the Perth audience next, in Bring Him Home, from Les Misérables. There's no shortage of commitment from this group, with every single person around the stand giving their all as they embrace their moment on stage.

Growing Pains, the set work, is tight and crisp, before King’s Park Junior Brass ends its programme with Chitty Chatty Bang Bang, a glint in the eye of its players as they romp to the close.

1) Kinneil Youth Band | Scott Gardner

Baggy Trousers provides an energetic opening to Kinneil Youth Band’s programme. There’s attention to detail and the music surges forward with purpose.

The band continues with A Whole New World, from Aladdin. It’s soft, understated playing and chimes with the style of the song.

Growing Pains, by Alan Fernie, is the set work in this section and is given a purposeful rendition by Kinneil Youth Band, which features among its ranks a plethora of young cornet players - great to see!

To conclude, 42nd Street is another bright, energetic piece from Kinneil Youth Band, which is played with confidence. A well-rehearsed, well-disciplined ensemble - thank you.

Novice and Percussion Section Results

Adjudicators: Chris Shanks and Ryan Borthwick*

*
(mentee)

Novice Section

1) GOLD Dalmellington Brass Academy | Cameron Paterson

SILVER Bathgate Youth Band | Stewart Brynes

SILVER Galashiels Youth Band | Stuart Black

Percussion Section

1) GOLD Coalburn Academy | Robbie Bremner

Novice Section

4) Bathgate Youth Band | Stewart Brynes 

Bathgate Youth Band brings gala day season to Perth Concert Hall, as it opens with march Morag’s Fairy Glen. The players work hard to bring the detail out of the music, from the dotted rhythms to the light and shade which is a familiar characteristic of good march playing.

Bandstand Boogie is suitably energetic, crisp and with tight ensemble - this is clearly a well-rehearsed group.

Ellers sees Bathgate Youth Band show a different side, in a nicely understated reading of the hymn tune. The West Lothian band finds a lightness of touch and is clearly working hard with many of the core elements of playing, including balance and intonation.

Bringing the band’s programme to a close is Portals, from Avengers: Endgame, a suitably dramatic close to an entertaining programme with great attention to detail.

3) Dalmellington Brass Academy | Cameron Paterson

Concert march, Walkabout, provides an engaging opening to Dalmellington Brass Academy's programme; sprightly and crisp. The toe-tapping tunes ring around the hall.

A Little Prayer sees the programme take a reflective turn before Bandstood Boogie, which remains under control throughout.

Bad Guy, by Billy Eilish, is laced with 'attitude', the band clearly relishing this piece - and every moment of its time on stage amid the grandeur of Perth Concert Hall. Well done.

2) Galashiels Youth Band | Stuart Black
 

The youngsters from Galashiels look incredibly smart and it’s a nicely balanced group - six trombones!

Eye of the Tiger surges forward with energy before Adele’s hit, Hello, provides a reflective moment in the programme.

Bandstand Boogie is measured as musical director, Stuart Black, guides his young charges through every twist and turn. Well done, Miss cornet player, who performs her solo with confidence!

The band brings down the curtain on its programme with Bon Jovi hit, Livin’ on a Prayer. It’s clean, well-balanced and, most importantly, the players look like they’re having a ball! Bravo.

Percussion Section

Coalburn Percussion Academy | Robbie Bremner

What better way to begin a Sunday morning than with the sweet sound of percussion!

Coalburn Percussion Academy features young performers on an array of instruments, from tuned to timps - and drum kit, of course. Speaking of kit, a special mention is due to the young lady at the drums - what a talent!

There was just one piece in the ensemble's programme but this about quality, not quantity. Well done, MD and ensemble, on a fun, well-organised performance which lit up the Perth Concert Hall stage!

9.40am

Good morning, and welcome back to Perth for day two of another busy weekend at the Scottish Festival of Brass.

Today, it's all about the stars of the future, as part of the Scottish Youth Brass Band Championships! There are 23 ensembles in today's events - good luck, everyone!