*
banner

Perth welcomes packed weekends for Festival of Brass

There are consecutive weekends of great brass band competition in Perth later this month with the Band Supplies Scottish Challenge, Scottish Open and Scottish Youth Championships at its Concert Hall.

Perth
  Perth Concert Hall will host the events over two November weekends

The Scottish Brass Band Association has confirmed the line-ups of bands that will take part in its Scottish Festival of Brass over the next two weekends at Perth Concert Hall.

Challenge

Saturday 12th November will see the Band Supplies Scottish Challenge Contest. 20 First, Second, Third and Fourth Section contenders will perform their own-choice selections to try and catch favour with adjudicators Sandy Smith and Alan Fernie.

A new trophy is to be awarded to the 'Best Principal Cornet Player'. The Paul Dornan Memorial Award carries the name of the former Clackmannan District Band principal who sadly passed away last year after a long battle against kidney cancer. It will be presented by Paul's wife Angela and his family.

Open and Youth

On Saturday 26th November, 19 Championship Section bands will compete in the Scottish Open supported by Besson, again playing their own choice test-pieces for comparison by the adjudication team of John Doyle and Glyn Williams.

The following day, the Scottish Youth Championships will return for the first time in three years with a healthy entry of one percussion ensemble and 23 bands in various sections reflecting their developing levels of skills and experience. The adjudicators are Les Neish alongside Helen Williams and Glyn Williams.

Throughout the day, visitors will be entertained by the NYBBS Principals ensemble, a group made up of principal players from the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland summer school in Strathallan earlier this year.

Led by Les Neish, it is made up of Callum Blair and Gregor Kozeil (cornet), Rona Campbell (flugel), Andrew McMillan (horn), Charlie Boax (baritone), Angus Ritchie (euphonium), Anna Biggart (trombone), Mark Gammon (bass trombone), Tomas Barnet (Eb bass), Adam Riddiough (Bb bass) and Daniel Patterson (percussion).

Host

Speaking about the events, SBBA President, Carrie Boax said: "In partnership with Creative Scotland, Besson, Band Supplies, Just Music and Perth & Kinross Council, SBBA is delighted to be hosting the Scottish Festival of Brass 2022.

This three-day event will see over 60 brass and percussion senior and youth organisations taking part in competition and concert programmes and it will be an occasion not to be missed!"

This three-day event will see over 60 brass and percussion senior and youth organisations taking part in competition and concert programmes and it will be an occasion not to be missed!Carrie Boax

Band Supplies Scottish Challenge

Saturday 12th November
Adjudicators: Sandy Smith and Alan Fernie

Annan Town (David McLeod)
Bathgate (Craig Anderson)
Bo'ness & Carriden (Charlie Farren)
Brass Sounds Inverclyde (Joshua Parkhill)
Buckhaven & Methil Miners (Steven Craig)
Clackmannan District Brass (Ross Brotherston)
Coalburn Intermediate Band (David Fehilly)
Coalburn Silver (Gareth Bowman)
Dunaskin Doon (Paul Drury)
Dysart Colliery (Kenny Letham)
Granite City Brass (Bruce Wallace)
Highland Brass (Mark Bell)
Kirkton Brass Bathgate (Simon Railton)
Lochgelly (Chris Shanks)
Newmains & District (Michael Marzella)
Newmilns & Galston (Alan Freil)
Perthshire Brass (Willie McMullan)
Shotts St Patrick's Brass (Andrew Shaw)
St. David's Brass (John A Dickson)
Whitburn Heartlands (Stephen Duncan)


Scottish Open (supported by Besson)

Saturday 26th November
Adjudicators: John Doyle and Glyn Williams

Bon-Accord Silver (Steven Malcolm)
City of Bradford (Johnathan Bates)
Dalmellington (Gary J Williams)
Easington Colliery (Stephen Malcolm)
East London Brass (Jayne Murrill)
Elland Silver (Daniel Brooks)
Fishburn (Duncan Beckley)
Hepworth (Ryan Watkins)
Johnstone (Mark Good)
Kingdom Brass (Paul Drury)
Kirkintilloch Kelvin (Mareika Gray)
Newtongrange (Anne Crookston)
Pemberton Old Wigan DW (Chris Binns)
Rainford (David Thornton)
the cooperation band (Mike Fowles)
The Kirkintilloch Band (David Roberts)
Unison Kinneil (Raymond Tennant)
Whitburn (Prof Nicholas Childs)
Wingates (Andrea Price)


Scottish Youth Championships


Sunday 27th November
Adjudicators: Glyn and Helen Williams and Les Neish

Big Noise Fallin Band (Andrew Foden/Alistair Gibson)
Bathgate Youth Band (Stewart Brynes)
Boundary Street Brass (Dianne Waugh)
Broxburn & Livingston Future Brass (Jim Bone)
Campbeltown Brass Juniors (Katrina Barr)
Campbeltown Brass Youth (Katrina Barr)
Coalburn Bronze Band (David Fehilly)
Coalburn Percussion Academy (Robbie Bremner)
Cupar Beginners Band (Alison Milne)
Dalmellington Brass Academy (Cameron Paterson)
Esk Valley Brass (Alan Fernie)
Galashiels Youth Band (Stuart Black)
Irvine & Dreghorn Youth Band (John Boax)
King's Park Junior Brass (TBC)
Kinneil Youth Band (Scott Gardner)
Kirkintilloch Youth Band (Katherine Adams)
Loanhead Brass Rootlets (Alan Fernie)
Maroon Brass (Stuart Black)
Newmilns & Galston Brass Academy (Callum Kerr) — non-competing
Newtongrange Junior Band (Alan Fernie)
St Ronan's Future Band (Keith Belleville)
Scottish Borders Youth Band (Alan Fernie)
Whitburn Wee Band (Charlie Farren)
Whitburn Youth Band (Caroline Farren)

Become a supporter and help make our future secure.

4barsrest continues to be a proudly independent voice. There are no paywalls to overcome to be able to enjoy what we do to keep our journalism at the heart of the brass banding world. Support us with a one-off donation or subscribe from just £2.50 per month.

Support us    


Chrsitmas Quiz

Last chance to enter the 4BR Christmas Quiz

December 31 • If you want to try and win a Prodige cornet and mutes for a young player in your band, then fire up your little grey banding brain cells one last time in 2025.


Yorkshire

Yorkshire youth to get generational boost of confidence

December 31 • The Next Generation of players from bands in the four counties of Yorkshire will be able to gain inspiration from Black Dyke Band star players.


Essence of Time

Nearly time to capture some of Tredegar's essence

December 30 • There is still time to win a workshop with Martyn Brabbins, Peter Moore, Gavin Higgins, Ian Porthouse, Dewi Griffiths, Sion Jones and more...


Roger

Webster and Rushworth to help life-long friend

December 30 • Roger Webster and Billy Rushworth will join forces with Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band to help raise urgent funds for the cancer treatment of a former colleague.


Newstead Brass - Brett Baker

Saturday 17 January • St Wilfrid's Church, . Kirkby-in-Ashfield NG17 8LA


The Hepworth Band - New Year Concert

Sunday 25 January • Christ Church, New Mill, Holmfirth HD9 7ER


Contest: Norwegian National Brass Band Championships

Friday 6 February • Grieghallen, Bergen, N-5015 N-5015


Contest: Norwegian National Brass Band Championships

Saturday 7 February • Grieghallen, Bergen, N-5015 N-5015


Contest: London & Southern Counties Regional Championships

Saturday 21 March • Arts & Leisure Centre, Lytton Way, Stevenage SG1 1LZ


Welwyn Garden City Band

December 30 • We are a friendly & sociable Second Section Band with an eye on the 2026 Areas. We have vacancies for a FRONT ROW CORNET player and PERCUSSIONISTS.. Our MD is Will Douglas and we rehearse in Welwyn Garden City on Sunday evenings from 7.00-9.00pm.


Oxted Band

December 30 • As we go into 2026, the band's 125th anniversary, we are seeking CORNET and TROMBONE players to fill our line-up. We are friendly and ambitious band with a wide variety of engagements, including three major concerts each year - check them out on YouTube.


Cambrian Brass

December 30 • We are a friendly, hard-working and inclusive brass band, and everyone is welcome. We currently have specific vacancies for Soprano Cornet, Solo Cornet, Flugelhorn and EEb Bass, but interest from players on any instrument is always very welcome.


Nigel Seaman

ARMCM ARNCM
Conductor, band trainer, teacher and adjudicator


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd