The cream of north-east Scotland's young brass talent was in action last weekend, at the Northern Counties Brass Band Association's annual Solo & Ensemble contest.

Final qualification

As well as vying for the title of Northern Counties champions, there was also the chance to challenge for the national crown, with successful qualifiers heading for the Besson Scottish Solos & Ensembles Championships to be held in Livingstone in February.

The Junior Solos (12 and under) kicked the contest off in fine style, with adjudicator Glenn Munro praising the impressive level of technical ability on show.

Lucy Crabb's spirited tenor horn performance of 'The Carousel' took home the silverware, with Christopher Yeaman joining her thanks to a super cornet rendition of 'The Lazy Trumpeter' which had audience toes tapping. Thomas Kobine filled the final qualification spot with a fine horn account of 'Shepherd of Israel'.

The Carnoustie-based quintet of Struan Corrie, Sarah Smart, Abbie Napier, Katie Chapman and Raghnall Simmons took the Junior Ensemble trophy, with Stuart Johnson's 'Old Castle Suite' followed by a fantastic smile-inducing version of the 'Postman Pat', complete with car horn!

Upper age groups

The standard of playing in the upper age groups was also very good. In what was a hotly contested Intermediate Solos (16 and under), rising euph star Chris Flynn's stunning performance of 'Napoli' pipped trombonist Jordan Robertson's inventive 'James Brown in the Twilight Zone'. Finlay McGhee's well-rounded euphonium account of 'Concert Etude' took the final qualification slot.

Further success followed for Chris and Finlay in the Intermediate Ensembles class, as their Carnoustie quintet (joined by Ethan Doherty, Marcello Rufo and Aiden Robertson) scooped first prize with 'Frère Jacques', followed by an opportunity to show off their impromptu percussion skills in 'Hiplips II'.

They will be joined in the finals by the Carnoustie quartet of Iona McFarlane, Lucy Mineard, Marcello Rufo and Jordan Robertson who regaled the Forfar crowd with Christopher Norton's 'Jazz Quartet'.

Youth solos

In the Youth Solos (21 and under) it was euph player Sarah Knight who took the honours on 'Slavische Fantasie', closely followed by Rhegan Fraser on horn, playing 'Variations on a Welsh Theme'.

The Open Slow Melody competition brought a number of evocative performances. Jordan Robertson won with an expressive 'Londonderry Air', just ahead of Rhegan Fraser's well-crafted 'An Untold Story', with Chris Flynn in third playing the second movement of Haydn's 'Trumpet Concerto'.

It was left to the horn quartet from the Bon Accord Silver 'B' Band to round off a great day's music-making, as their arrangement of 'Loch Lomond' provided a suitably valedictory note on their way to the Open Ensemble prize.

Impressed judge

Adjudicator Glenn Munro was clearly impressed by the overall standard of entry, commenting that he had 'a very enjoyable day listening to some fantastic young musicians'.

Exceptional playing

NCBBA President Damian Martin told 4BR: "To see the exceptional playing on display was testament to the hard work put in by pupils and their teachers, and further proof of how fortunate we are to have some of the country's finest young brass musicians on our own doorstep.

Every year the level of playing seems to get higher, and it's great to be able to send such a strong representation to the finals. The NCBBA wish all the qualifiers the best of luck in their efforts to claim the Scottish titles."

The NCBBA wish all the qualifiers the best of luck in their efforts to claim the Scottish titlesNCBBA President Damian Martin

Results:

Junior Solos: (12 and under)
1. Lucy Crabb (Gold)*
2. Christopher Yeaman (Gold)*
3. Thomas Kobine (Gold)*

Emily McGhee (Gold)
Molly Crompton (Silver)
Ailish Gracie (Silver)

Junior Ensembles:
1. Carnoustie (Gold)*

Intermediate Solos: (16 and under)
1. Chris Flynn (Gold)*
2. Jordan Robertson (Gold)*
3. Finlay McGhee (Gold)*

Holly Bennett (Gold)
Marcello Rufo (Gold)
Iona McFarlane (Gold)
Ethan Doherty (Gold)
Nick D'Arcy-Evans (Silver)
Rosie Martin (Silver)

Intermediate Ensembles:
1. Carnoustie 'A' (Gold)*
2. Carnoustie 'B' (Silver)*

Youth Solos: (21 and under)
1. Sarah Knight (Gold)*
2. Rhegan Fraser (Silver)*

Open Slow Melody:
1. Jordan Robertson — 95
2. Rhegan Fraser — 94
3. Chris Flynn — 93
4= Elizabeth Ogilvie — 92
4= Finlay McGhee — 92
6. Heather Hughes — 91
7. Nick D'Arcy-Evans — 89
8. Lucy Crabb — 86
9. Karen Stewart — 84

Open Ensembles:
1. Bon Accord 'B' Band — 90

* Qualifiers for Besson Scottish Solos & Ensembles Championships on Saturday 6th February, at Howden Park Centre, Livingstone.