*
banner

Huge fields to head to Perth for Scottish Festival of Brass

74 bands and ensembles will head to Perth Concert Hall later this month for two weekends of brass band action at the Scottish Festival of Brass events.

Perth
  The events take place at Perth Concert Hall

The Scottish Brass Band Association will welcome 74 bands and ensembles to Perth as part of its 2023 Festival of Brass events.

Huge field

A huge field of 27 bands will perform in the Band Supplies Scottish Challenge Championship on Saturday 18th November.

The own-choice event is open to competitors in Sections 1 to 4 and will be judged by John Doyle and Owen Farr.

Championship challenge

On Saturday 25th November, a dozen Championship Section bands will compete for the Scottish Open title, supported by Besson. The set-work is 'Astralis' by Philip Wilby and will be adjudicated by Alan Fernie and Sheona Wade.

Youth Championships

The following day (Sunday 26th November) will see Perth Concert Hall host the Scottish Youth Championships in which four percussion ensembles and 31 brass bands will participate in four different sections; Novice, Development, Intermediate and Senior.

Sarah Naish will judge the percussion entries with Brett Baker, Helen Douthwaite-Teesdale, Scott Walker and Sheona Wade adjudicating the other sections.

Welcome

Speaking about the excellent take-up and the events, SBBA President Carrie Boax told 4BR: "It says a great deal for the quality and success of the Scottish Festival of Brass that it has attracted such numbers over the two weekends, making it a real cause for celebration.

We are all looking forward to a veritable feast of brass band music — from the finely honed skills of our elite bands to those young musicians who are just starting out on their banding journeys. So please come along and enjoy the music making."

Tickets

Tickets are available in advance from Perth Concert Hall at:

https://www.perththeatreandconcerthall.com/whats-on/festival-of-brass-249602 or can be purchased from the box office on the day.

Band Supplies Scottish Challenge:

Perth Concert Hall
Saturday 18 November
Adjudicators: John Doyle and Owen Farr

Arbroath & Carnoustie (Eoin Tonner)
Bathgate (Craig Anderson)
Brass Sounds Inverclyde (Joshua Parkhill)
Broxburn & Livingston (Andrew Duncan)
Buckhaven & Methil Miners (Steven Craig)
Campbeltown Brass (Andrew McMillan)
Clackmannan District (Paul Drury)
Coalburn Silver (Gareth Bowman)
Dunaskin Doon (Paul Drury)
Dundee Instrumental (Bob McDonald)
Dysart Colliery (Robert Fraser)
Forfar Instrumental (Donald Innes)
Granite City Brass (Bruce Wallace)
Kilmarnock Concert Brass (Scott Walker)
Lochgelly (Chris Shanks)
McTaggart Scott Loanhead (Peter Holmes)
Newmains & District (Paul McKelvie)
Newmilns & Galston (Alan Friel)
Newtongrange Silver (Anne Crookston)
Perthshire Brass (Willie McMullan)
Renfrew Burgh (Mark Good)
St David's Brass (John A Dickson)
Shotts St Patrick's (Andy Shaw)
The Kirkintilloch Band (Hedley Benson)
Tullis Russell Mills (George Cameron)
Turriff Silver (Matt Bailey)
Whitburn Heartlands (Paul Kiernan)


Scottish Open:

Perth Concert Hall
Saturday 25th November
Adjudicators: Alan Fernie and Sheona Wade

Bon-Accord Silver (Anne Crookston)
Dalkeith & Monktonhall (James Chamberlain)
Dalmellington (Gary J Williams)
Easington Colliery (Stephen Malcolm)
East London Brass (Jayne Murrill)
Fishburn (Duncan Beckley)
Hepworth (Ryan Watkins)
Kingdom Brass (Thomas Wyss)
Kirkintilloch Kelvin (Martyn Ramsay)
Rainford (Sarah Groarke-Booth)
the cooperation band (Michael Fowles)
Whitburn (Prof Nicholas Childs)


Scottish Youth Championships:

Perth Concert Hall
Sunday, 26th November
Adjudicator: Sarah Naish

Percussion Ensembles

Coalburn Percussion Academy (Robbie Bremner)
Perth & Kinross (Lynsey Paterson)
Midlothian Perc Training (Barbara-Jane Waddell)
Midlothian Perc Ensemble (Barbara-Jane Waddell)


Novice Section:

Adjudicators: Brett Baker, Helen Douthwaite-Teesdale, Scott Walker and Sheona Wade

Bathgate Youth Band (Stewart Byrnes)
Bo'ness & Carriden Junior Band (TBC)
Broxburn & Livingston Future Brass (Jim Bone)
Coalburn Bronze Band (David Fehilly)
Clackmannan District Beginners (Luci Lamb)
Hawick Saxhornettes (Stuart Black)
Irvine & Dreghorn Brasslets (John Boax)
Kingdom Brass Youth Band (Denise Crighton-Ward)
Kinneil Youth Band (Scott Gardner)
Maroon Brass (Stuart Black)
Perthshire Youth Brass (Willie McMullan)
Rhins School Cluster Band (Angela Miller)
Riverside Youth Band (Mark Good)
Whitburn Wee Band (Charlie Farren)


Intermediate Section:

Adjudicators: Brett Baker, Helen Douthwaite-Teesdale, Scott Walker and Sheona Wade

Galashiels Youth Band (Stuart Black)
Kings Park Junior Brass (Emily Stokes)
Kirkintilloch Youth Band (Katherine Adams)
Newtongrange Junior Band (Alan Fernie)
Peebles Burgh Youth Band (Keith Belleville)
St. Ronan's Future Band (Keith Belleville)
Stranraer Junior Brass (Angela Miller)
Wizzards & Cupar Brass Bandits (Denise Crighton-Ward & Alison Milne)


Development Section:

Adjudicators: Brett Baker, Helen Douthwaite-Teesdale, Scott Walker and Sheona Wade

Campbeltown Brass Juniors (Katrina Barr)
Irvine & Dreghorn Youth Band (John Boax)
West Lothian Schools Band (Caroline Farren)
Whitburn Youth Band (Caroline Farren)

Senior Section:

Adjudicators: Brett Baker, Helen Douthwaite-Teesdale, Scott Walker and Sheona Wade

Dalmellington Brass Academy (Cameron Paterson)
Esk Valley Brass (Alan Fernie / John Dickson)
Highlands Future Brass (Mark Bell)
Riverside Youth Band (Mark Good)
Scottish Borders Youth Band (Stuart Black)

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    


WhitFriday

Tameside confirms Whit Friday venues

April 27 • There will be 11 venues in Tameside for bands and supporters to try and visit to enjoy the unique Whit Friday contest battles.


the cooperation band

Result: 2025 Fife Brass Band Festival

April 27 • The cooperation band warms up for their forthcoming European challenge with an entertaining road trip to Fife.


Glossop Old

Glossop Old bring Sunday entertainment to Dobcross

April 27 • Glossop Old Band is the next Sunday afternoon musical attraction at Dobcross Band Club's 'Showcase Brass' series.


Abbey Brass

Abbey Birthday to you...

April 27 • One brass band fan had a wonderful musical surprise on the morning of his 80th birthday...


Regent Hall Concerts - The Central Band of the Royal Air Force

Friday 25 April • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London. . W1C2DJ


Newstead Brass - Under Gaia

Saturday 26 April • Mansfield Palace Theatre. Leeming Street . Mansfield. Nottinghamshire NG18 1NG


Newstead Brass - St George's Day Celebration

Sunday 27 April • St Wilfrid's Church, Church Street, Kirkby In Ashfield NG17 8LA


Regent Hall Concerts - Royal Greenwich Brass Band

Sunday 4 May • St Alfege Church. Greenwich Church Street SE10 9BJ


Contest: European Brass Band Championshiips

Friday 9 May • Konzerthaus, SandvigÃ¥ 1, 4007 Stavanger, Norway


Dobcross Silver Band

April 24 • Great opportunity for a PERCUSSIONIST to join this already talented section in what is already a band with a full brass section. We are looking to enhance our percussion section as we prepare for Nationals in September . Enjoyable playing and social band!


Hathersage Band

April 24 • SECOND TROMBONE. Hathersage Brass Band is a thriving non-contesting community band. We enjoy making music and have a comprehensive gig schedule. Are you the right person to join our happy band?


Chinnor Silver

April 22 • Our COMMUNITY BAND are recommencing rehearsals on 28th Monday at 11am in our bandroom and we would love you to join us.. We welcome players of all abilities who just fancy a friendly fun blow with cake and coffee thrown in.. Its all free so join us.


Stephen Tighe

ARCM, LDBBA, (Dip)PFS.
Adjudicator / Music Director / Arranger


               

 © 2025 4barsrest.com Ltd