Dreams really did come true in Perth on the weekend, when Fountain City Brass from the USA became the first overseas band to win a championship contest in Scotland for over 30 years, and a major UK based contest for over 50.

Select group

The Kansas City ensemble joins a very select group of foreign bands to leave Scotland with a championship title to its name, following the success of the National Band of New Zealand, who won the now long defunct Edinburgh International Contest in 1953 and 1962, and fellow compatriots, Skellerup Woolston Band who won the same event in 1975.

They also join an even more select group in winning a major UK based title for the first time since the New Zealanders won the British Open in 1953.

They also join an even more select group in winning a major UK based title for the first time since the New Zealanders won the British Open in 19534BR

Stunning

The Americans had come to the contest as one of the favourites this year after their performance at Brass in Concert at The Sage, but there was little doubt about the margin of their victory after they produced a stunning performance of Bertrand Moren’s fearsome ‘Dreams’.

It made the job of adjudicator’s Frank Renton and Philip Harper an easy one, as they placed the Americans a clear three points ahead of runner up, Pemberton Old Wigan DW, and third placed Whitburn.

Trek home

The only disappointment for the Americans was that they had to curtail their celebrations somewhat in Perth as they had to make an overnight trek to Manchester to catch an early flight back home the next day.

They left however after making a remarkable impression on the Scottish banding public, as well as taking with them the £3,000 first prize and the 4barsrest 'Best Instrumentalist' award which was picked up by the superb trombonist Will Hess.

Surprise and delight

There was also delight in Pemberton, even if it was a little more surprising, after Mark Bentham’s adherence to the detailed musical instructions in Philip Sparke’s ‘Music of Spheres’ outweighed the more obvious errors in execution.

There was also a long overdue smile of satisfaction on the face of Whitburn supporters too, after their rather error prone rendition of ‘Titan’s Progress’ saw them head the home challenge ahead of Co-operative Funeralcare and Kirkintilloch.

Aggrieved

All three Scots heavyweights chose the Pallhuber work, with the reigning champion Co-op perhaps left feeling a touch aggrieved that their compact and almost error free rendition under Russell Gray didn’t come higher than it did.

The band also had to overcome the loss of solo cornet player Gavin Lindsay just moments before they took to the stage. Gavin was taken ill and required medical supervision, but thankfully made a compete recovery.

Although Kirkintilloch won many admirers for a their rounded rendition, it wasn’t enough to get them any higher than fifth.

The final top six place was taken by Wire Brass, after their spirited performance of ‘Masquerade’ featured some outstanding euphonium playing from Kim Holly Thorp.

Challenge Shield

Earlier in the day, Campbeltown Brass directed by Craig Anderson won the Scottish Challenge Shield with an exciting performance of ‘Tallis Variations’, to head off the close attentions of second placed Granite City Brass, with Arbroath Instrumental in third.

Adjudicator’s Ian Porthouse and Andy Duncan were faced with a raft of ambitious choices from the nine competing bands, with Granite’s rendition of ‘Corpus Christi’ just falling a point behind the eventual winners with Arbroath’s ‘Triumphant Rhapsody’ a point further back.

Challenge Cup

The day started with the six bands in the Scottish Challenge Cup, which was eventually won by Coalburn Silver directed by Gareth Bowman.

Their confident performance of Goff Richards’ ‘Hollywood’ saw them claim a clear victory ahead of second placed St David’s Brass, who played Downie’s ‘St Austell Suite’, and third placed Renfrew Burgh who opted for Rieks Van der Velde’s ‘Crusade’.

Adjudicator’s Stan Lippeatt and Peter Robert’s were also faced with some ambitious choices from the bands, but it was Coalburn’s overall quality that clearly won out in the end.

Full retrospectives on each section of both the Scottish Open and Youth Championships will appear on 4BR as soon as possible.

Results:

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Scottish Open
Draw:c13.00hrs
Commence:c14.30hrs

Test Piece: Own Choice
Adjudicators: Philip Harper and Frank Renton

1. Fountain City, Dr Joseph Parisi, 5, 198
(Dreams)
2. Pemberton Old Wigan DW, Mark Bentham, 14, 195
(Music of the Spheres)
3. Whitburn, Steven Mead, 17, 194
(Titan's Progress)
4. Co-op Funeralcare, Russell Gray, 8, 193
(Titan's Progress)
5. Kirkintilloch, Selmer Simonsen, 11, 191
(Titan's Progress)
6. Wire Brass, Paul Andrews, 16, 190
(Masquerade)
7. Marsden Silver Prize, Glyn Williams, 13, 189
(Rococo Variations)
8. Fishburn, Alan Morrison, 9, 188
(Journey to the Centre of Earth)
9. Unison Kinniel, Alan Ramsay, 4, 187
(Whitsun Wakes)
10. Bon Accord Silver, John Maines, 15, 186
(Journey to the Centre of Earth)
11. Kingdom Brass, Andrew Duncan, 10, 185
(Extreme Make Over)
12. United Co-op Milnrow, John Ward, 3, 184
(Paganini Variations)
13. Dalmellington, Ian Porthouse, 6, 183
(Dances & Alleluias)
14. Newtongrange, Nigel Boddice MBE, 1, 179
(A Lowry Sketchbook)
15. Kirbymoorside Brass, John Woodward, 7, 178
(The Essence of Time)
16. Kirkintilloch Kelvin Brass, Charles Keenan, 177
(Rienzi)
17. Easington Colliery, Roy Curran, 12, 176
(Tristan Encounters)

4barsrest Instrumentalist: Will Hess, Trombone, Fountain City

Scottish Challenge Shield
Draw:Pre-drawn
Commence:c11.30hrs

Adjudicators:
Stan Lippeatt and Peter Roberts

1. Campbeltown Brass, Craig Anderson, 2, 186
(Tallis Variations)
2. Granite City Brass, Lt.Col(Retd) Robert Owen, 9, 185
(Corpus Christi)
3. Arbroath Instrumental, Michael Robertson, 1, 184
(Triumphant Rhapsody)
4. Newmilns & Galston, Alec McCutcheon, 6, 183
(Diversions on a Bass Theme)
5. Lochgelly, Paul Drury, 4, 182
(A London Overture)
6. Dunaskin Doon, John Boax, 5, 181
(Land of the Long White Cloud)
7. Shotts St Patrick's Band, Michael Marzella, 3, 180
(Royal Parks)
8. Bathgate Band, Eoin Tonner, 8, 179
(Festival Music)
9. Annan Town (Magnox North), David Hamilton, 7, 178
(The Plantagenets)

Scottish Challenge Cup
Draw:Pre-drawn
Commence:c9.00hrs

Adjudicators:
Andrew Duncan and Ian Porthouse

1.Coalburn, Gavin Bowman, 7, 182
(Hollywood)
2. St Davids Brass, John Dickson, 1, 180
(St Austell Suite)
3. Renfrew Burgh, David Hutchinson, 6, 177
(Crusade)
4. Brass Sounds Inverclyde, Gavin Bowman, 5, 176
(Dimensions)
5. Dunfermline Town, David Neil, 4, 175
(Purcell Variations)
6.Bon Accord 'B', Richard Kidd, 3, 173
(Dreamcatchers)

w, Peebles Burgh, Alan Fernie, 2