The Bon Accord Silver Band successfully defended its title at an emotional Northern Counties Open Contest on the weekend, as an excellent entry of fourteen bands kept the audience in Kinross thoroughly entertained with an enjoyable mix of genres and styles.
Adjudicator Nigel Boddice MBE certainly enjoyed himself, saying that he had come away 'inspired' — although he made it clear that he had no doubt picking the winners, as the reigning champion finished three points clear of second placed Granite City, despite being deducted a 1 point time penalty.
Impressive standard
Setting what he called, 'an impressive standard' from the number four draw, Bon Accord opened their 20 minute programme with the vibrant 'Postcard From Mexico', before creating 'a great Scandinavian atmosphere' with trombone soloist Mark Boyd starring in 'BombiBone BrassBit'.
The band drew praise for their 'cultured sound' in the haunting 'Hymn to Barossa', before the 'Fugue' from Philip Sparke's 'Graduation Day' closed a set summed up as being 'very disciplined' from a 'classy ensemble'.
Innovative Granite
Local rivals Granite City Brass once again completed an Aberdonian top two, thanks to MD Bruce Wallace's innovatively themed set.
They opened with the New Orleans-inspired 'Just A Closer Walk With Thee', before Alan Haggart's bravura performance of 'Live and Let Die' deservedly took the 'Best Soprano' award.
A crowd-pleasing 'Dem Bones' showcased the trombone section — complete with fantastic dancing skeletons, before Callum Booth impressed on the trumpet solo 'The Green Hornet', resplendent in blonde wig and 'Kill Bill' catsuit!
Their set closed with Bruce Wallace's arrangement of American composer John Paulson's idiosyncratic 'Epinicion', a choice described by the adjudicator as 'brave music-making...that made us all think'.
Delighted Dunaskin Doon
Rounding off the podium positions and taking the 'Best Non-NCBBA Band' trophy and 'Best Second Section' trophies to Ayrshire was Gary Williams and a delighted Dunaskin Doon.
Their choreographed standing set caught both the eye and ear of Nigel Boddice, who also awarded them the 'Most Entertaining Performance' prize.
Opening with the punchy pop number 'Bom Bom', they continued with 'Best Soloist' prize winner, xylophonist Marion Hutchison on 'Happy Mallets' — played by memory after an errant music stand dropped the music to the floor!
The march 'Honest Toil' led into principal cornet Lorna Dunn and flugel Wendy Williams on 'The Impossible Dream', before Queen's 'Don't Stop Me Now', rounded things off — and gave the band's impressive percussion team their section trophy.
Excellent performances
There were also excellent performances to enjoy in the battle for section honours, with the 'Best First Section' prize going to Coalburn Silver. Tayport Instrumental picked up the 'Best Third Section' trophy, while surely the most poignant moment of the day was provided with Dysart Colliery's well-earned Fourth Section victory.
Dysart closed their set with the sad announcement that the empty seat in their front row during the performance had been as a tribute to one of their planned guests, a popular local player who had tragically passed away suddenly two days before the contest.
The warm applause with which their trophy award was greeted said much about a day where contesting rivalries were put aside and the true spirit of brass banding came admirably to the fore.
Adjudicator Nigel Boddice MBE certainly enjoyed himself, saying that he had come away 'inspired' — although he made it clear that he had no doubt picking the winners4BR
Results:
1. Bon Accord Silver (Steve Malcolm) — 195pts*
2. Granite City Brass (Bruce Wallace) — 192
3. Dunaskin Doon (Gary Williams) — 191
4. Coalburn Silver (Gareth Bowman) — 188
5. Bathgate (Anne Crookston) — 187
6. Tullis Russell Mills (Paul Drury) — 186
7. Shotts St Patrick's (Kenny Letham) — 184*
8. Dysart Colliery (Bruce Fraser) — 179
9= Bon Accord Silver 'B' (Jennifer Cook) — 178
9= Queensferry Community (James Anderson) — 178
11. Perthshire Brass (George D. Annan) — 177
12. Tullis Russell Intermediate (Steven Craig) — 176
13. Tayport Instrumental (Frank Culross) — 175
14. Forfar Instrumental (Terence Jackson) — 174
* 1 point time penalty
Best First Section Band: Coalburn Silver
Best Second Section Band: Dunaskin Doon
Best Third Section Band: Tayport Instrumental
Best Fourth Section Band: Dysart Colliery
Best NCBBA Member Band: Bon Accord Silver
Best Non-NCBBA Band: Dunaskin Doon
Most Entertaining Programme: Dunaskin Doon
Best Soloist: Marion Hutchison (xylophone) — Dunaskin Doon
Best Percussion: Dunaskin Doon
Best Soprano: Alan Haggart (Granite City Brass)
