*
banner

Huge fields to head to Perth for Scottish Festival of Brass

74 bands and ensembles will head to Perth Concert Hall later this month for two weekends of brass band action at the Scottish Festival of Brass events.

Perth
  The events take place at Perth Concert Hall

The Scottish Brass Band Association will welcome 74 bands and ensembles to Perth as part of its 2023 Festival of Brass events.

Huge field

A huge field of 27 bands will perform in the Band Supplies Scottish Challenge Championship on Saturday 18th November.

The own-choice event is open to competitors in Sections 1 to 4 and will be judged by John Doyle and Owen Farr.

Championship challenge

On Saturday 25th November, a dozen Championship Section bands will compete for the Scottish Open title, supported by Besson. The set-work is 'Astralis' by Philip Wilby and will be adjudicated by Alan Fernie and Sheona Wade.

Youth Championships

The following day (Sunday 26th November) will see Perth Concert Hall host the Scottish Youth Championships in which four percussion ensembles and 31 brass bands will participate in four different sections; Novice, Development, Intermediate and Senior.

Sarah Naish will judge the percussion entries with Brett Baker, Helen Douthwaite-Teesdale, Scott Walker and Sheona Wade adjudicating the other sections.

Welcome

Speaking about the excellent take-up and the events, SBBA President Carrie Boax told 4BR: "It says a great deal for the quality and success of the Scottish Festival of Brass that it has attracted such numbers over the two weekends, making it a real cause for celebration.

We are all looking forward to a veritable feast of brass band music — from the finely honed skills of our elite bands to those young musicians who are just starting out on their banding journeys. So please come along and enjoy the music making."

Tickets

Tickets are available in advance from Perth Concert Hall at:

https://www.perththeatreandconcerthall.com/whats-on/festival-of-brass-249602 or can be purchased from the box office on the day.

Band Supplies Scottish Challenge:

Perth Concert Hall
Saturday 18 November
Adjudicators: John Doyle and Owen Farr

Arbroath & Carnoustie (Eoin Tonner)
Bathgate (Craig Anderson)
Brass Sounds Inverclyde (Joshua Parkhill)
Broxburn & Livingston (Andrew Duncan)
Buckhaven & Methil Miners (Steven Craig)
Campbeltown Brass (Andrew McMillan)
Clackmannan District (Paul Drury)
Coalburn Silver (Gareth Bowman)
Dunaskin Doon (Paul Drury)
Dundee Instrumental (Bob McDonald)
Dysart Colliery (Robert Fraser)
Forfar Instrumental (Donald Innes)
Granite City Brass (Bruce Wallace)
Kilmarnock Concert Brass (Scott Walker)
Lochgelly (Chris Shanks)
McTaggart Scott Loanhead (Peter Holmes)
Newmains & District (Paul McKelvie)
Newmilns & Galston (Alan Friel)
Newtongrange Silver (Anne Crookston)
Perthshire Brass (Willie McMullan)
Renfrew Burgh (Mark Good)
St David's Brass (John A Dickson)
Shotts St Patrick's (Andy Shaw)
The Kirkintilloch Band (Hedley Benson)
Tullis Russell Mills (George Cameron)
Turriff Silver (Matt Bailey)
Whitburn Heartlands (Paul Kiernan)


Scottish Open:

Perth Concert Hall
Saturday 25th November
Adjudicators: Alan Fernie and Sheona Wade

Bon-Accord Silver (Anne Crookston)
Dalkeith & Monktonhall (James Chamberlain)
Dalmellington (Gary J Williams)
Easington Colliery (Stephen Malcolm)
East London Brass (Jayne Murrill)
Fishburn (Duncan Beckley)
Hepworth (Ryan Watkins)
Kingdom Brass (Thomas Wyss)
Kirkintilloch Kelvin (Martyn Ramsay)
Rainford (Sarah Groarke-Booth)
the cooperation band (Michael Fowles)
Whitburn (Prof Nicholas Childs)


Scottish Youth Championships:

Perth Concert Hall
Sunday, 26th November
Adjudicator: Sarah Naish

Percussion Ensembles

Coalburn Percussion Academy (Robbie Bremner)
Perth & Kinross (Lynsey Paterson)
Midlothian Perc Training (Barbara-Jane Waddell)
Midlothian Perc Ensemble (Barbara-Jane Waddell)


Novice Section:

Adjudicators: Brett Baker, Helen Douthwaite-Teesdale, Scott Walker and Sheona Wade

Bathgate Youth Band (Stewart Byrnes)
Bo'ness & Carriden Junior Band (TBC)
Broxburn & Livingston Future Brass (Jim Bone)
Coalburn Bronze Band (David Fehilly)
Clackmannan District Beginners (Luci Lamb)
Hawick Saxhornettes (Stuart Black)
Irvine & Dreghorn Brasslets (John Boax)
Kingdom Brass Youth Band (Denise Crighton-Ward)
Kinneil Youth Band (Scott Gardner)
Maroon Brass (Stuart Black)
Perthshire Youth Brass (Willie McMullan)
Rhins School Cluster Band (Angela Miller)
Riverside Youth Band (Mark Good)
Whitburn Wee Band (Charlie Farren)


Intermediate Section:

Adjudicators: Brett Baker, Helen Douthwaite-Teesdale, Scott Walker and Sheona Wade

Galashiels Youth Band (Stuart Black)
Kings Park Junior Brass (Emily Stokes)
Kirkintilloch Youth Band (Katherine Adams)
Newtongrange Junior Band (Alan Fernie)
Peebles Burgh Youth Band (Keith Belleville)
St. Ronan's Future Band (Keith Belleville)
Stranraer Junior Brass (Angela Miller)
Wizzards & Cupar Brass Bandits (Denise Crighton-Ward & Alison Milne)


Development Section:

Adjudicators: Brett Baker, Helen Douthwaite-Teesdale, Scott Walker and Sheona Wade

Campbeltown Brass Juniors (Katrina Barr)
Irvine & Dreghorn Youth Band (John Boax)
West Lothian Schools Band (Caroline Farren)
Whitburn Youth Band (Caroline Farren)

Senior Section:

Adjudicators: Brett Baker, Helen Douthwaite-Teesdale, Scott Walker and Sheona Wade

Dalmellington Brass Academy (Cameron Paterson)
Esk Valley Brass (Alan Fernie / John Dickson)
Highlands Future Brass (Mark Bell)
Riverside Youth Band (Mark Good)
Scottish Borders Youth Band (Stuart Black)

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


Andreas Kratz

Mus.B (hons)
Conductor, Adjudicator, Teacher


               

 © 2025 4barsrest.com Ltd