*
banner

Perth welcomes packed weekends for Festival of Brass

There are consecutive weekends of great brass band competition in Perth later this month with the Band Supplies Scottish Challenge, Scottish Open and Scottish Youth Championships at its Concert Hall.

Perth
  Perth Concert Hall will host the events over two November weekends

The Scottish Brass Band Association has confirmed the line-ups of bands that will take part in its Scottish Festival of Brass over the next two weekends at Perth Concert Hall.

Challenge

Saturday 12th November will see the Band Supplies Scottish Challenge Contest. 20 First, Second, Third and Fourth Section contenders will perform their own-choice selections to try and catch favour with adjudicators Sandy Smith and Alan Fernie.

A new trophy is to be awarded to the 'Best Principal Cornet Player'. The Paul Dornan Memorial Award carries the name of the former Clackmannan District Band principal who sadly passed away last year after a long battle against kidney cancer. It will be presented by Paul's wife Angela and his family.

Open and Youth

On Saturday 26th November, 19 Championship Section bands will compete in the Scottish Open supported by Besson, again playing their own choice test-pieces for comparison by the adjudication team of John Doyle and Glyn Williams.

The following day, the Scottish Youth Championships will return for the first time in three years with a healthy entry of one percussion ensemble and 23 bands in various sections reflecting their developing levels of skills and experience. The adjudicators are Les Neish alongside Helen Williams and Glyn Williams.

Throughout the day, visitors will be entertained by the NYBBS Principals ensemble, a group made up of principal players from the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland summer school in Strathallan earlier this year.

Led by Les Neish, it is made up of Callum Blair and Gregor Kozeil (cornet), Rona Campbell (flugel), Andrew McMillan (horn), Charlie Boax (baritone), Angus Ritchie (euphonium), Anna Biggart (trombone), Mark Gammon (bass trombone), Tomas Barnet (Eb bass), Adam Riddiough (Bb bass) and Daniel Patterson (percussion).

Host

Speaking about the events, SBBA President, Carrie Boax said: "In partnership with Creative Scotland, Besson, Band Supplies, Just Music and Perth & Kinross Council, SBBA is delighted to be hosting the Scottish Festival of Brass 2022.

This three-day event will see over 60 brass and percussion senior and youth organisations taking part in competition and concert programmes and it will be an occasion not to be missed!"

This three-day event will see over 60 brass and percussion senior and youth organisations taking part in competition and concert programmes and it will be an occasion not to be missed!Carrie Boax

Band Supplies Scottish Challenge

Saturday 12th November
Adjudicators: Sandy Smith and Alan Fernie

Annan Town (David McLeod)
Bathgate (Craig Anderson)
Bo'ness & Carriden (Charlie Farren)
Brass Sounds Inverclyde (Joshua Parkhill)
Buckhaven & Methil Miners (Steven Craig)
Clackmannan District Brass (Ross Brotherston)
Coalburn Intermediate Band (David Fehilly)
Coalburn Silver (Gareth Bowman)
Dunaskin Doon (Paul Drury)
Dysart Colliery (Kenny Letham)
Granite City Brass (Bruce Wallace)
Highland Brass (Mark Bell)
Kirkton Brass Bathgate (Simon Railton)
Lochgelly (Chris Shanks)
Newmains & District (Michael Marzella)
Newmilns & Galston (Alan Freil)
Perthshire Brass (Willie McMullan)
Shotts St Patrick's Brass (Andrew Shaw)
St. David's Brass (John A Dickson)
Whitburn Heartlands (Stephen Duncan)


Scottish Open (supported by Besson)

Saturday 26th November
Adjudicators: John Doyle and Glyn Williams

Bon-Accord Silver (Steven Malcolm)
City of Bradford (Johnathan Bates)
Dalmellington (Gary J Williams)
Easington Colliery (Stephen Malcolm)
East London Brass (Jayne Murrill)
Elland Silver (Daniel Brooks)
Fishburn (Duncan Beckley)
Hepworth (Ryan Watkins)
Johnstone (Mark Good)
Kingdom Brass (Paul Drury)
Kirkintilloch Kelvin (Mareika Gray)
Newtongrange (Anne Crookston)
Pemberton Old Wigan DW (Chris Binns)
Rainford (David Thornton)
the cooperation band (Mike Fowles)
The Kirkintilloch Band (David Roberts)
Unison Kinneil (Raymond Tennant)
Whitburn (Prof Nicholas Childs)
Wingates (Andrea Price)


Scottish Youth Championships


Sunday 27th November
Adjudicators: Glyn and Helen Williams and Les Neish

Big Noise Fallin Band (Andrew Foden/Alistair Gibson)
Bathgate Youth Band (Stewart Brynes)
Boundary Street Brass (Dianne Waugh)
Broxburn & Livingston Future Brass (Jim Bone)
Campbeltown Brass Juniors (Katrina Barr)
Campbeltown Brass Youth (Katrina Barr)
Coalburn Bronze Band (David Fehilly)
Coalburn Percussion Academy (Robbie Bremner)
Cupar Beginners Band (Alison Milne)
Dalmellington Brass Academy (Cameron Paterson)
Esk Valley Brass (Alan Fernie)
Galashiels Youth Band (Stuart Black)
Irvine & Dreghorn Youth Band (John Boax)
King's Park Junior Brass (TBC)
Kinneil Youth Band (Scott Gardner)
Kirkintilloch Youth Band (Katherine Adams)
Loanhead Brass Rootlets (Alan Fernie)
Maroon Brass (Stuart Black)
Newmilns & Galston Brass Academy (Callum Kerr) — non-competing
Newtongrange Junior Band (Alan Fernie)
St Ronan's Future Band (Keith Belleville)
Scottish Borders Youth Band (Alan Fernie)
Whitburn Wee Band (Charlie Farren)
Whitburn Youth Band (Caroline Farren)

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    


Winter Gardens, Blackpool

Results: 2025 North West Regional Championshipships

February 23 • It's 9 Caret golden wins on the trot from Foden's whilst victories go to Tyldesley, Middleton, Doncross and Darwen Brass at the Winter Gardens.


Test Pieces

4BR Area coverage

February 22 • 4BR Editor Iwan Fox has confirmed a different approach to coverage of the Regional Championship events.


Blackpool

North West Area line-ups

February 21 • The bands will put their final preparations in place ahead of their performances in Blackpool on Sunday.


John Wallace

Wallace presented with SBBA Outstanding Achievement Award

February 21 • John Wallace CBE has been presented with the 'Outstanding Achievement Award' by the Scottish Brass Band Association.


Regent Hall Concerts - Royal College of Music Sackbut Ensemble

Friday 21 February • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - The Band of the Welsh Guards

Friday 21 February • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Newstead Brass - Midlands Championships Preview Evening

Sunday 23 February • Summit Centre . Kirkby in Ashfield . Nottinghamshire NG17 7LL


Contest: North West Regional Championships

Sunday 23 February • Winter Gardens Complex, Church Street, Blackpool FY1 1HU


Regent Hall Concerts - Royal Greenwich Brass Band

Friday 28 February • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Reading Spring Gardens Brass Band

February 20 • Reading Band still needs LOWER BRASS for the 4th section contest at Stevenage on Saturday 15th March! Rehearsals in Woodley (RG5) on Thursday evenings.


Boarshurst Silver Band

February 17 • Boarshurst Silver Band, NW Championship Section, requires a BBb player, flugel, and front row cornet player. Under MD Jamie Prophet, the band have an ambitious and varied calendar for 2025, including NW Area, Spring Festival and Whit Friday.


Mid Rhondda Band

February 14 • Mid Rhondda Band are looking for the following players : Front Row Cornet, Solo Trombone, Eb Bass, Kit and Tuned Percussionists. The band will be competing in the 3rd Section at the Welsh Area. Contest & concert engagements in the diary for 2025


Duncan A. Beckley

BA, MA
Conductor, adjudicator, band trainer and teacher


               

 © 2025 4barsrest.com Ltd