Campbeltown Brass is top of the wind charts
CAMPBELTOWN Brass has won best second section band in a national competition having only blown into the division this year.
Not only did the band win the top prize at the Fife Charities Contest in Kirkcaldy, but 21 band members took part in the West of Scotland solo and ensemble competition in Kilmarnock last weekend and came away with a haul of medals and silverware.
The band was ninth overall in the open contest but secured second place in the hymns competition with 96 points, just one short of winners Kingdom Brass, beating many championships and first section bands.
A spokeswoman for the band said: ‘We wish to thank Paul Kiernan, our guest conductor, for conducting and working with the band for this competition.
‘With only had a few weeks to prepare for Kilmarnock. It was down to the fact that these youngsters are playing in the band week in, week out that they could produce such amazing results in a short space of time.’
It was a clean sweep in the junior solo section with Kyle Paterson coming first followed by Jamie Colville and Scott Oman third.
Andrew McMillan came second in the intermediate solo with Amy Paterson in third place.
Former
Kirsten Souter came fourth in the youth solo with a mark of 94. This was won by former band member Gavin Johnson who, along with Owen Pickering, now plays for Kirkintilloch Band.
Gavin and Owen also came second in the youth ensembles.
Junior ensemble was won by Campbeltown Brass junior Quintet A, Hannah Campbell, McCaig, Jack Campbell, Rona Andrew Colville and Jamie Colville.
Intermediate ensemble was won by Suen Yee Walker, Hannah Oman, Rebecca Semple and Amy Paterson of Campbeltown Brass Quartet A.
Campbeltown Brass
Quintet B came third with Scott Oman, Caius McMillan Paterson. And Walker, Campbeltown Drew and Andrew Cunningham, Kyle Senior youth Quartet ensemble won with the Kirsten Souter, Lucy Kerr, Hannah Oman and Amy Paterson. The band came home with a staggering 10 golds, seven silvers and the top three places qualify for the Besson Scottish and solo and ensemble championships in February 2018. The spokeswoman added: ‘It is astonishing to think that 21 primary to secondary school age youngsters travelled for hours, some staying overnight, others travelling in the early hours of the morning, so that they could compete and represent not only the band, but their schools and the community.
‘They should all be very proud, and we are all very proud of what they have achieved.’
Defend
The next big competition for the band is the annual Scottish Youth Championships in Perth, where they hope to once again defend their championship titles.
Before then, the band will be having a fundraising coffee morning at Stronvaar Bowling Club tomorrow (Saturday) from 10am to 12pm where members will also perform.