Kingdom Brass are celebrating success at the recent Fife Charities Band Association Solo & Ensemble competition.

Two day split

For the first time the competition was split over two days, with the youth events on the Saturday, a real indication of the success of the recent youth development work throughout the area.

Jim Chamberlain, flugel player with Whitburn Band, adjudicated an event that saw over 50 performers attending, split into three separate age groups.

Jim Chamberlain, flugel player with Whitburn Band, adjudicated an event that saw over 50 performers attending, split into three separate age groupsOrganisers

Results:

The Under 12 Section had a healthy entry of 17 soloists, with players from the Kingdom Brass Youth Band making up the majority of those.

When the results were announced, it was one of those Kingdom players, 11 year old trombonist Liam Mullan, who won first prize. Carol Ednie (cornet) of Buckhaven Brass was second and Michael McLaughlin (trombone) of Dunfermline Town took third place.

The Under 12 Ensembles was won by Dunfermline Town, with ensembles from Kingdom Brass taking the second and third places.

The 12 – 15 Section was won by baritone player Hannah Higgins from Balwearie High School, with Kate Cooper (cornet) of Dunfermline Town second and Ross Hutchison (baritone) of Buckhaven Brass in third place.

In the 12 – 15 Ensembles, Buckhaven Brass were placed first, with Kingdom Brass in second place.

The 16 – 21 Age Group was won by Murray McFarlane (cornet) of Lochgelly, with Rachel Neil (horn) of Dunfermline Town second and Mark McLauchlin (cornet) of Kingdom Brass third.

The top three in each section now qualify for the Scottish solo & ensemble finals over the weekend of February 6th/7th.

The Sunday event saw the Senior solo and ensemble competitions take place. Adjudicator for those was conductor and composer Andy Duncan.

The Senior Slow Melody Competition was won by Kingdom’s solo baritone player, Craig Herriot, playing ‘A Time for Peace’.

The Senior Air Varie Competition was won by Kingdom’s horn player, Nicky McLaughlin, playing ‘Variations on a Welsh Theme’.

Second and third places in both senior events went to Sarah Frowen (euphonium) of Tullis Russell and Rachel Neil (horn) of Dunfermline Town respectively.

The Senior ensemble competition was also won by Kingdom Brass.