In a magnificent display of young musical might and flourishing talent, Perth Concert Hall played host to 45 youth bands and ensembles over the course of two days during the Scottish Festival of Brass.
Results
It also provided further affirmation of the magnificent results that SBBA continues to achieve through its innovative youth development policy north of the border.
The overall standard of the playing drew warm praise from adjudicators Raymond Tenant, Alastair Orr, Ray Farr, John Wallace, Tom Brevik and Steven Mead, with Alastair speaking to the audience in moving terms of the pride the whole Scottish nation could take from the success of SBBA’s work.
Minister
The event kicked off in the early contesting hours of Saturday morning as the Development Section led the way in the presence of Fiona Hyslop, Minister for Culture & Arts, whose enthusiastic tweeting spoke volumes for the support, both financially and culturally, that SBBA continues to receive from the Scottish Government.
With the five sections of the Youth Championships representing a 22% increase in numbers from 2011, numerous ensembles performed at the Festival for the first time, whilst SBBA’s percussion initiative saw a new section specifically for the ensembles on Sunday afternoon.
Development Section:
11 bands competed in the Development Section with Gold Awards presented to runner up Arbroath Instrumental Youth Band under Ann Ness, and winners Campbeltown Junior Band.
Even an arduous six-hour bus journey from the westerly reaches couldn’t put a dent in some wonderfully confident playing under Katrina Barr to be rewarded with a deserved first prize.
Opening with a funky bass solo that led into ‘Come Follow the Band’, the reflective contrasts of ‘The Wye at Hereford’ and the Herbie Flowers ‘Carillon’ prefaced a change of mood as they let their hair down for a finale from ‘Austin Powers’, including a superb jazz solo from the band’s ten year old flugel player.
Kirkintilloch Youth, Peebles Burgh Development, Perth & Kinross Senior Schools and Perthshire Youth were presented with Silver Awards, including Hawick Schools Youth Band for a quite remarkable performance of movements from ‘Pictures at an Exhibition’, arranged by conductor Rob Hume which demonstrated musicality of startling maturity.
Bronze Awards were presented to the developing talents of Irvine & Dreghorn Youth, Kingdom Brass Youth, King’s Park Youth Brass and St John’s Secondary School.
Preparatory Section:
Sunday kicked off with 9 bands taking part in the Preparatory Section, with children as young as six cutting their teeth on the contest stage.
St David’s Budding Brass and the 90 strong runner up Perth & Kinross Junior Schools under Elaine P Stewart gained deserved Gold Awards, whilst overall winner Coalburn Bronze Band (who should now surely be called ‘Gold’) under Jayne Brownlee delivered a magnificent winning programme that was notable for its tight ensemble and infectious style.
They simply blazed through ‘Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho’ and a mammoth selection of songs from the movie ‘Grease’, delivered in toe tapping fashion.
A Silver Award went to Galashiels Youth, whilst Bronze Awards were claimed by the excellent ensembles of Dynamica Intermediate, Gorbals Youth, Kirkintilloch Junior, Penicuik Youth and Tullis Russell Youth.
Novice Section:
The wonderful Novice Section saw the largest number of entrants all weekend, with 13 enthusiastic ensembles delighting the substantial audience with programmes of wide ranging variety and amazing flair.
With Gold Awards going to the excellent Levern Valley Community Brass and Whitburn Youth Band, it was Alan Fernie and Loanhead Brass Roots that took top honours with a finely balanced, stylishly played programme.
It ranged from the march ‘Slaidburn’, via a cheeky performance of ‘Singing in the Rain’, to finish with the conductor’s own cracking ‘African Funk’, complete with a superb cornet solo from Michael Watson and audience participation.
Silver Awards went to Argyll Brass, James Young High School Cluster Band, Kingdom Brass Youth, South Ayrshire Youth and St David’s Youth, with Bronze Awards to Abbey Brass, Dunfermline Juniors, Dynamica Juniors, St Ronan’s Future Band and The Big Noise Brass Band.
Percussion Section:
Midlothian Schools Percussion Academy had the honour of being the first winner of the new Percussion Section, with the 15 players giving a breathtakingly polished account under Barbara-Jane Waddell that opened with ‘Pop Looks Bach’ and concluded with ‘Winter’ from ‘The Four Seasons’.
However, it was the intriguing arrangement of ‘Rainforest’ from Peter Graham’s ‘Windows on the World’ that provided the most interest, whilst runner up Tullis Russell Purely Percussion under Glyn Forrest also picked up a deserved Gold Award for their fine efforts.
Silver Awards went to Kingdom Percussion Academy and Tullis Russell Percussion Group with a Bronze Award to The Big Noise Percussion Ensemble.
Senior Section:
With Tom Brevik and Steven Mead presiding over the Senior and Premier Sections, it was Alan Fernie conducting Scottish Borders Youth and Dalmellington Junior Band under an inspirational Ian Taylor that secured Gold Awards in the Senior Section.
Dalmellington eventually claimed first place for their bracingly delivered programme, with Paul Lovatt-Cooper’s ‘Pound the Streets’ followed by ‘Bugler’s Holiday’, a glowing reading of ‘In Perfect Peace’ and a rousing finisher of Bizet’s ‘Farandole’.
Silver Awards were claimed by Loanhead Brass and Riverside Youth, with a Bronze Award going to the emerging Kinneil Youth.
Premier Section:
Two of the very youth bands in the whole of Europe fought it out once again in the Premier Section, where Carnoustie & District Youth and West Lothian Schools rounded off the weekend’s music making in superb style.
In a close run battle, both bands deservedly gained Gold Awards, with ultimate victory going to Carnoustie under the baton of Michael Robertson.
In a performance of an exceptionally high standard, the star performer was undoubtedly Callum Tonner, who was a virtuosic trumpet soloist in the ‘Harry James Concerto’.
The band opened their programme with ‘Enter the Galaxies’, before ‘In Perfect Peace’ and the ‘Finale’ from Peter Graham’s ‘Day of the Dragon’ rounded off an extraordinary day of young music making.
It also provided further affirmation of the magnificent results that SBBA continues to achieve through its innovative youth development policy north of the border4BR
2012 Scottish Youth Championship:
Results:
Premier Section:
Adjudicators: Steven Mead & Tom Brevik
1. Carnoustie & District Youth (Michael Robertson) – Gold
2. West Lothian Schools (Njgel Boddice MBE) – Gold
Senior Section:
Adjudicators: Tom Brevik & Steven Mead
1. Dalmellington Junior Band (Ian Taylor) – Gold
2. Scottish Borders Youth (Alan Fernie) – Gold
Silver Award:
Loanhead Brass Youth (Alan Fernie)
Riverside Youth (Lynda Nicholson)
Bronze Award:
Kinneil Youth (Scott Gardner)
Development Section:
Adjudicators Alistair Orr & Raymond Tennant
1. Campbeltown Junior Band (Katrina Barr) — Gold
2. Arbroath Instrumental Youth (Ann Ness) — Gold
Silver Award:
Hawick Schools Youth (Rob Hume)
Kirkintilloch Youth Band (Neil Robertson)
Peebles Burgh Development Band (Daniel Williamson)
Perth & Kinross Senior Schools (Robert McDonald)
Perthshire Youth (Jason Blyth)
Bronze Award:
Irvine & Dreghorn Youth (John Boax)
Kingdom Brass Youth (Kenneth Blackwood)
Kings Park Youth Brass (Alan Pratt)
St John’s Secondary School (Gordon Evans MBE)
Preparatory Section:
1. Coalburn Bronze Band (Jayne Brownlie) – Gold
2. Perth & Kinross Junior Schools (Elaine P Stewart) – Gold
Gold Award:
St David's Budding Brass (John A Dickson)
Silver Award:
Galashiels Youth Band (Stuart Black)
Bronze Award:
Dynamica (Intermediate) (Matthew Chinn)
Gorbals Youth Band (Lauren McCormick)
Kirkintilloch Junior Band (Andrew Foden)
Penicuik Youth Band (Stuart Black)
Tullis Russell Youth (Steven Craig)
Novice Section:
Adjudicators John Wallace & Raymond Tennant
1. Loanhead Brass Roots (Alan Fernie) – Gold
2. Whitburn Youth Band (Stewart Brynes) — Gold
Gold Award:
Levern Valley Community Brass (Brian Deans)
Silver Award:
Argyll Brass (Darren Tarn)
James Young HS Cluster Band (Barbara J Poynter)
Kingdom Brass Youth (Kenneth Blackwood)
South Ayrshire Youth Band (Scott Walker)
St David's Youth (John A Dickson)
Bronze Award:
Abbey Brass (Jedforest) (Rob Hume)
Dunfermline Juniors (Danny Harrison)
Dynamica (Senior) (Matthew Chinn)
St Ronan's Future Band (David Robb)
The Big Noise Brass Band (John Paul O'Hagan)
Percussion Section:
Adjudicators John Wallace & Alasdair Rankin
1. Midlothian Schools Percussion Ensemble (Barbara-Jane Waddell) — Gold
2. Tullis Russell Purely Percussion (Glyn Forrest) — Gold
Silver Award:
Kingdom Percussion Academy (Lynsey Paterson)
Tullis Russell Percussion Group (Alan Douglas)
Bronze Award:
Big Noise Percussion Ensemble (Ian Sandilands)
