Bon Accord Silver Band held off the challenge of local rivals and fellow National Final qualifiers Granite City Brass to claim victory in a closely fought Northern Counties Open contest on the weekend.

Thirteen bands took to the stage in Kinross, keeping the audience entertained with a wide variety of programmes and fine playing throughout the day.

Well judged

Under the baton of Stephen Malcolm, Bon Accord opened their ‘well judged’ programme, according to adjudicator Anne Crookston, with an exciting rendition of Peter Graham’s ‘Phoenix’.

Mark Boyd was the featured trombone soloist in the evocative ‘My Funny Valentine’ — eliciting rich praise from the box for playing that was, ‘so accomplished and musically phrased’ and ‘sensitively accompanied’.

Howard Snell’s exuberant arrangement of ‘Scaramouche Brasileira’ followed, offering a showcase for the band’s award winning ‘Best Percussion’ section — a trophy they have now claimed two years in a row.

A fine performance of ‘Zeibekikos’ from Philip Wilby’s ‘Euphonium Concerto’ (complete with plate-smashing finale) took the ‘Best Soloist’ prize for the outstanding Richard Kidd, before the set concluded with a rousing ‘MacArthur Park’.

Smiles

To add to the smiles on the trip back to Aberdeen, the band also took home the ‘Best NCBBA Band’ and ‘Best First Section’ trophies, while soprano player Mark James completed the impressive haul of silverware by scooping the ‘Best Soprano’ award.

Tables turned

In their previous meeting at this year’s Scottish First Section Championship, Granite City Brass had led home their rivals in an Aberdonian 1-2.

However, on this occasion the tables were turned, although conductor Bruce Wallace’s, ‘well thought through’ set saw them collect the ‘Most Entertaining Programme’ prize.

They certainly drew praise from Anne Crookston for their ‘excellent’ control during their opening items — both played without the MD at the helm, with the classic march ‘West Riding’ and euphonium solo ‘Reverend Archie Beaton’ expertly played by Lewis Catto.

With Bruce Wallace back in control they followed up with the fourth movement of Martin Ellerby’s ‘Evocations’ and the trombone trio ‘Blades of Toledo’ featuring Kenny Hamilton, Pauline Carroll and Martin Neale.

‘The Appian Way’ from Respighi’s ‘Pines of Rome’ provided a dramatic conclusion to what Anne Crookston described as a ‘great show’ offering ‘great variety’.

Blips and clips

Rounding off the podium positions and taking the ‘Best Non-NCBBA Band’ trophy back to Ayrshire were Alan Cameron and Newmilns & Galston, with Anne Crookston revealing that only a few blips, clips and minor intonation issues had eventually separated the top three placings.

The band opened with Tchaikovsky’s ‘Cossack Dance’, before principal cornet Douglas Cameron starred in the ‘Adagio’ from Rachmaninoff’s ‘Second Symphony’. Philip Sparke’s ‘Mountain Song’ and the second rendition of ‘Phoenix’ rounded off their solidly played set.

Impressive spirits

Fresh from their recent Europeans experience, the increasingly impressive Tullis Russell Mills under Paul Drury led home the pack in fourth place — just pipping a spirited Shotts St Patrick’s to the ‘Best Second Section’ award.

Mark Good’s Renfrew Burgh produced an encouraging performance to see off higher section opposition en route to the Third Section prize, while Buckhaven & Methil finished off the day’s awards as ‘Best Fourth Section’ band.

With thanks to Damien Martin
President NCBBA

To add to the smiles on the trip back to Aberdeen, Bon Accord also took home the ‘Best NCBBA Band’ and ‘Best First Section’ trophies4BR

Results:
Adjudicator: Anne Crookston

1. Bon Accord Silver (Stephen Malcolm) — 94
2. Granite City Brass (Bruce Wallace) — 93
3. Newmilns & Galston (Alan Cameron) — 92
4. Tullis Russell Mills (Paul Drury) — 90
5. Shotts St Patrick's (Michael Marzella) — 89
6. Renfrew Burgh (Mark Good) — 88
7. City of Discovery (Scott Findlater) — 87
8. Perthshire Brass (George D. Annan) — 86
9. Tullis Russell Intermediate (Steven Craig) — 85
10. Buckhaven & Methil (David Neil) — 83
11. Bon Accord B (Robert Fraser) — 82
12. Newland Concert (Paul McKelvie MBE) — 81
13. Highland Brass (Mark Bell) — 80

Withdrew: Kingdom B

Best First Section: Bon Accord Silver
Best Second Section: Tullis Russell
Best Third Section: Renfrew Burgh
Best Fourth Section: Buckhaven & Methil

Best NCBBA Member Band: Bon Accord Silver
Best Non-NCBBA Band: Newmilns & Galston

Most Entertaining Programme: Granite City Brass
Best Percussion: Bon Accord Silver
Best Soprano: Mark James (Bon Accord Silver)
Best Soloist: Richard Kidd (Bon Accord Silver)
Winning Conductor: Stephen Malcolm (Bon Accord Silver)