On Tuesday, 2nd December, the recently crowned Scottish Open champion, Scottish Co-op Band shared the stage with young brass players from the East Lothian area in a Christmas concert in Ross High School, Tranent.

Rubbing shoulders

In what has become a regular event in recent years, members of the band rubbed shoulders with young brass players who ranged in age from eight years to eighteen years and who were drawn from a variety of schools in the Dunbar and Tranent areas to form the East Lothian Schools' Brass Band.

The young players were under the direction of Charles Farren who is a brass instructor in East Lothian and is also bass trombonist with the Scottish Co-op Band.

Mini concert

The first half of the programme consisted of music played by the schools' band assisted by a number of Scottish Co-op players.

Thereafter, the second half took the form of a mini concert given by the new champions under the direction of Raymond Tennant.

It is hoped that this format will encourage youthful players to develop their brass playing skillsRobert McCorkell

Encouraging young people

Robert McCorkell from Scottish Co-op told 4BR: "It is hoped that this format will encourage youthful players to develop their brass playing skills. It lets them see what can be achieved in terms of musical excellence and the involvement of the band in this manner is part of its current policy of encouraging young people in this area of endeavour."

Mixture

The programme which was made up of a mixture of traditional Christmas music and other light concert pieces was enjoyed by a sizeable audience made up, principally, of relatives and friends of many of the young participants.