Kingdom Brass took another step towards fulflling their ambitous plans to become the leading competitive force in Scottish banding at the Land O’ Burns Contest on the weekend.

Awesome playing

Conducted by newly appointed Scottish Development Officer Andy Duncan, they secured their first Troon title and £2,500 of prize money with a 20-minute entertainment programme described by adjudicator Kevin Wadsworth as containing, "…awesome playing."

It gave the Fife band a clear two-point winning margin over current Scottish champion and six time winner Exchange Communications Whitburn, who had to be content with the £1,000 runner up prize for the second successive year.

English honour

Fishburn upheld English honour as they travelled from the North East under Huw Thomas to claim the £500 on offer for coming third, whilst there was delight for Tullis Russell Mills, as the Second Section outfit conducted by Martyn Ramsay beat Scottish Championship podium finishers Lochgelly as well as First Section Coalburn to claim fourth place and boost their coffers by £700.

There was to be no repeat victory for Johnstone however, as the First Section reigning champion slumped to last place in the 11 band field.

Celebratory joy

In contrast there was nothing but celebratory joy for Kingdom, just a week after they secured a £30,000 Youth Music Initiative grant to help in the next phase of their long term youth development project, which they hope will see them develop into Scotland’s leading banding organisation.

Spokesperson, John Todd told 4BR that the victory was another solid indicator of Kingdom’s growing strength. "We are continuing to build for the future," he said. "This win comes on the back of victory at the Carnegie Invitation contest and reaching the final of the West Lothian Challenge, so our contesting progression is mirroring our long term aims and objectives for the organisation as a whole."

This win comes on the back of victory at the Carnegie Invitation contest and reaching the final of the West Lothian Challenge, so our contesting progression is mirroring our long term aims and objectives for the organisation as a wholeJohn Todd

Boosted

Boosted by the signings of Scottish National Opera trombonist Davur Magnusson and British Open Solo Champion, Harmen Vanhoorne from Brass Band Buizingen, Kingdom opened with the high tempo 'Coconut Champagne', featuring the European duo as well as the talents of tuba player Andrew Whitaker and screaming trumpeter Gavin Spowett.

The Belgian cornet star then delivered a stunning performance of ‘Fortune’s Fool’ to take the Philip McCann ‘Best Principal Cornet’ Award, before the band changed stylistic tack with Mark Freeh’s arrangement of ‘Tonight’, described by the adjudicator as, ‘…a great exercise in laid back playing…’

Individual awards

Kingdom rounded off with the ‘Dundonnell’ finale from ‘Hymn of the Highlands’ to take home the Knoweview Nursing Home Trophy as well as individual awards for best trombone, principal cornet, basses and percussion.

After the results Kevin Wadsworth took time to congratulate the winners, adding that he would have liked to been able to have seen their performance unfold before his eyes such was the ‘awesome playing’ that was clearly appreciated by a thoroughly entertained audience at Troon Concert Hall.

Intense

The victory celebrations went on long into the night at the Kingdom bandroom as the band let their hair down after an intensive period of rehearsal, contests and concerts, as John Todd explained.

"It’s been a very busy and this week Harmen has been teaching the children as part of our Youth Initiative, whilst Davur was our guest soloist at our recent annual concert. The win has rounded off a great few weeks in all senses."

Outstanding runner-up

Despite delivering one of the two ‘outstanding performances’ of the contest according to Kevin Wadsworth, Scottish champion Exchange Communications Whitburn was unable to claim its seventh Troon title under the baton of Anne Crookston.

Their high quality programme included prize-winning individual contributions from horn player Ian Fleming, soprano cornet Callum Tonner, who was featured in ‘Live and Let Die’, and Chris Bradley, who took the overall ‘Best Instrumentalist’ Award.

The set also included the premiere of Philip Wilby’s ‘The Wondrous Cross’ and Wagner’s ‘Entry of the Gods into Valhalla’ to close.

Encouraging boost

Meanwhile, Fishburn returned home with an encouraging boost of confidence ahead of their forthcoming appearance at the Doctor Martin contest, after delivering an Americana themed programme that started with the classic ‘Stars & Stripes’ and ended with a disco inspired version of Copland’s famous ‘Rodeo Hoedown’. Patrick Garner’s overall contribution saw him take the ‘Best Flugel’ Award.

Conductor Huw Thomas told 4BR: "Although we felt a little disappointed at not winning, there was plenty to build on for the immediate future. I was happy with many aspects of the performance and there is a real foundation of confidence in the band to work on for the Doctor Martin contest."

Appreciative audience

Land O’ Burns contest organiser Sandy McAughtrie told 4BR that despite the lower than usual turn out of bands this year, despite over £5,500 of prize money, he was pleased with the entertainment on offer for an appreciative audience at Troon Concert Hall.

"We’ve been going 17 years now and despite not quite getting the same number of entrants especially with the absence of any Third and Forth Section bands, it’s been another great day of brass band entertainment."

Results:
Adjudicator: Kevin Wadsworth

1. Kingdom Brass (Andrew Duncan) – 192
2. Exchange Communications Whitburn (Anne Crookston) – 190
3. Fishburn (Huw Thomas) – 189
4. Tullis Russell Mills (Martyn Ramsay) – 188
5. Lochgelly (Eoin Tonner) – 185
6. Shott’s St Patrick’s (Michael Marzella) – 182
7. Coalburn Silver (Gareth Bowman) – 181
8. Unison Kinneil (Paul Drury) – 180
9. Dunaskin Doon (John Boax) – 179
10. Kilmarnock Concert Brass (Ray Tennant) – 178
11. Johnstone (Paul Kiernan) – 177

Additional prizes:

Best 1st Section Band: £300 — Coalburn
Best 2nd Section Band: £300 — Tullis Russell
Highest Placed Ayrshire Band: Dunaskin Doon

Best Instrumentalist: Cornet (Exchange Communications Whitburn)
Best Principal Cornet: Harmen Vanhoorne (Kingdom Brass)
Best Soprano Cornet: Callum Tonner (Exchange Communications Whitburn)
Best Flugel Horn: Patrick Garner (Fishburn)
Best Horn: Ian Fleming (Exchange Communications Whitburn)
Best Trombone: Davur Magnusson (Kingdom Brass)
Best Euphonium: William Brown (Shotts St Patricks)
Best Bass Section: Kingdom Brass
Best Percusion Section Tom Park Memorial Trophy: Kingdom Brass