Whitburn band are best of brass
West Lothian hosts 2016 championships festival
Scotland’s top brass competed at a festival in West Lothian recently.
The West Lothian Festival of Brass spectacular took place at Livingston’s Howden Park Centre, organised by West Lothian Council’s Community Arts with The Scottish Brass Band Association (SBBA).
The Whitburn Band claimed the title of West Lothian Festival of Brass Champions 2016, ahead of Kingdom Brass, Kirkintilloch Kelvin Brass Band, Bon Accord, The Kirkintilloch Band, and the Lochghelly band. Whitburn Band also clinched the Best Performance of an Alan Fernie composition and best group feature for their trombone section which included Dan Eddison, Gerard Hennan and Charlie Farren.
Bon Accord Silver’s solo trombone player Mark Boyd received the Best Soloist award, while Kingdom brass clinched the Most Entertaining Performance and Best New Arrangement awards. Prizes were handed out by Councillor Lawrence Fitzpatrick.
He said: “The West Lothian Festival of Brass 2016 was a fantastic event showcasing the best brass bands in Scotland. Huge congratulations to local heroes Whitburn Band for clinching the West Lothian Festival of Brass Champions 2016, with superb performances from all the other bands. Thanks also to adjudicators, Alan Fernie, Marekia Gay and David Hamilton, who had the hardest job on the night to pick the winners.”
SBBA’s president Carrie Boax added: “SBBA was delighted by the standard of playing and by the work and effort that all of the bands had once again put in to their performances this year. This West Lothian Festival of Brass continues to thrive as Scotland’s premiere brass band entertainment contest, and we are grateful to our partners West Lothian Council for their continued support.”