Lockdown may have brought face-to-face music making to a temporary halt but members of Port Glasgow-based Riverside Youth Band have been busier than ever after taking the band online for a host of fun activities.

Zoom celebrations

In recent years, the four-time Scottish youth champion has held a glitzy, end-of-term awards night, so in 2020, the celebrations took place via Zoom.

Band Chairman, Duncan Galbraith told 4BR: "The past year has been another busy one, even once lockdown started and our activities went online.

Members now come to us from all over Inverclyde, as well as Renfrewshire and West Dunbartonshire, so it was a pleasure to bring young people and their families together for this special evening."

awards and prizes

A wide range of prizes were presented to players, with the joint recipients of Riverside's 'Major Minute Challenge Award' for special musical lockdown activity, were brothers and trombone players Scott and Andrew Smith. The 'Sight-reading Award' was presented to solo horn Andrea Crumlish.

The 'Most Improved Player in the Training Band' accolade went to trombonist Struan Hewitt, whilst fellow trombonist Hannah McInnes was the inaugural recipient of the 'Training Band Bandsperson of the Year'.

Section of the Year in the Youth Band went to the percussionist Scott Crumlish, Abbie Murphy, Mitchell Gardner and Karis Kitchen, with the 'Most Improved Player in the Youth Band' won by baritone player Rachel O'Connor. Solo cornet Gregor Hewitt won the 'Youth Band Bandsperson of the Year'.

Kept busy

The awards night comes as Riverside continues a busy series of lockdown musical activities, part of which has seen them receive online masterclasses with players from Black Dyke and Cory.

Meanwhile, they have also been taking part in a series of musical challenges and virtual ensembles, as well as enjoying regular quizzes. Several players will also be performing in an online course delivered by the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland.

The past year has been another busy one, even once lockdown started and our activities went onlineBand Chairman, Duncan Galbraith

Ethos

Speaking about the occasion and the band, Musial Director Mark Good told 4BR: "The ethos of Riverside Youth is to offer opportunities through music.

If anything, those have increased during lockdown as we've found new ways of connecting with our members, enabling them to develop their music making despite the severe disruptions.

Their performances, dedication and willingness to learn show that our young people are a credit to their families and a shining example of the benefits of learning to play a musical instrument."