Scottish brass banding has received a major boost in strengthening its nationwide activities, with the announcement that an area association that has been inactive for the past five years has been resurrected.

Attendees at a speacil EGM voted in favour of reviving the former Mid Scotland and Lothian Brass Band Association under a new identity as the East of Scotland Brass Band Association (EoSBBA).

The first meeting of the EoSBBA will now be held virtually on 25th June (2.30pm) and follows the appointment of officers into various posts.

Roles

Derek Brown of Bathgate Band is the association's new President, with the Vice President role taken Chris Ludwig of Newtongrange Silver Band. The interim Secretary is Ann Murray from the Scottish Brass Band Association with the treasurer, Graham Adam also of Newtongrange Silver.

"SBBA are delighted that the East of Scotland Brass Band Association has reformed, and we look forward to working with them," Ann Murray, who has been liaising with area band representatives to get the association re-established, told 4BR.

"It's exciting to get things going again after quite a long dormant period and we are hoping that our first event will be a Youth Solo & Ensemble Championships around January 2024 which will qualify players for the SBBA youth finals. This is an event which has been missing from the East of Scotland calendar for several years."

Potential band membees

4BR was informed that bands who now qualify for membership of the association include Bathgate, Bo'ness & Carriden, Kirkton Brass, Queensferry Community Brass, Unison Kinneil, Whitburn and Whitburn Heartlands, Dalkeith & Monktonhall, MacTaggart Scott Loanhead, St David's Brass, Newtongrange Silver, Penicuik Silver, Broxburn & Luvingston, Edinburgh University Brass Band, Musselburgh Fisherrow and Bonnyrigg & Lasswade Brass.

After five or so years of inactivity, we felt it was important to get the East of Scotland Association back up and runningEoSBBA President, Derek Brown

Primary objective

Association President Derek Brown added: "After five or so years of inactivity, we felt it was important to get the East of Scotland Association back up and running.

Our primary objective is to ensure our young people have the opportunity to compete in the Scottish Youth Solo and Ensemble Championships, and the East of Scotland area finals will provide a platform for qualification for this. Ideally, we will have the resource available to commit to running a regional contest in January 2024.

Alongside opportunities for young people, we are keen to investigate options for a regional adult contest, providing a platform to demonstrate the merits and quality of the brass banding movement in the East of Scotland."