2011
Kintyre Schools Pipe Band Concert
11th March 2011
To help celebrate 10 years of the Kintyre Schools Pipe Band, an ensemble group from Senior players were invited to play at their Friday and Saturday night concert. The group gave a delightful performance and once again, they have done us proud!
Mid-Argyll Music Festival
26th March 2011
Results
Brass Solo (Primary)
Iona McVicar - Second
Archie McVicar - Third
Instrumental Duel (Primary)
Catriona Lawrie & Iona McVicar - First
Ensemble (Primary)
Archie McVicar, Owen Pickering & Innes Roy - First
Brass Solo (Secondary 4 - 6)
Sally Chute - First
Sally also received the highest mark brass solo
for the day.
Brass and Voices
9th June 2011
An amazing evening of entertainment with the Castlehill Primary School Choirs! Beginners, Junior and Senior bands all took part and a special mention must be given to Rachel - the Beginners band newly recruited drummer! Thank you to everyone who took part, especially to Mrs Black for organising such a successful event. Last but not least, a big thank you to the large crowd that came and supported this event so enthusiastically...we couldn't have done it without your support.
Isle of Man
1st - 6th July 2011
Campbeltown Brass recently returned from a highly successful concert tour on the Isle of Man. The Band had been invited over by the Manx Parliament to play at Tynwald Day, which is the Isle of Man National day. The Band left Campbeltown on 1st of July and travelled overnight by coach and ferry to arrive on the Isle of Man in the early hours of Saturday morning. After a short rest it was back to work as usual with rehearsals followed by a social dinner with members of a local band by the name of Rushen Silver Band with whom several band members already have links.
The following day there was a joint concert with Rushen Silver which was very well received by an appreciative audience, especially the finale when the two bands combined to play together. Monday saw Campbeltown Brass playing a concert in Douglas at the Villa Marina Arcade which is a popular venue for all the Isle of Man brass bands to play at throughout the summer – there are at least 10 brass bands on the island.
The culmination of the tour was the concert that Campbeltown Brass gave at Tynwald Hill to complete the Tynwald Day celebrations. After a rainy morning the day cleared up to a beautiful sunny evening which was most fortunate as the concert was open air.
These few days on the Isle of Man were thoroughly enjoyable, giving Campbeltown Brass an opportunity to play in other venues and to showcase many of our younger players and their solo playing abilities. The band received a lot of positive comments and constantly impressed the audiences with their performances. The whole trip was made even better by the warmth and hospitality shown to us by our hosts on the Isle of Man and as ever the superb services of Jackie Morrison and West Coast Motors.
- LR
NYBBS Summer Course
1 - 6 August 2011, St Andrews, Fife
The NYBBS was formed in 1958 and has built up an excellent reputation for high quality tuition and performance. The main emphasis of the course is on education and improving overall standards, but this is done without detracting from the single most important element of music - enjoyment.
This year a number of Campbeltown Brass members will be attending this exciting course and we look forward to hearing their experiences.
MOK Music Festival
Saturday 20th August 2011
The coffee morning was held at the Kirk Street Hall, with performances by our Beginners Band, Junior Band and new recruits from the summer workshops. A big thank you to everyone who brought baking, items for the raffles and helped out during the coffee morning. A special thank you to Rhona O'May who raised more than £110 with the Guess the Birthday. Last but not least, our sincere thanks to the large crowd who came out in support of the band and helped to make it such a successful event!
Brass in the Park
10th September 2011
Campbeltown Junior Brass – Gold Award and Winners of the Development Section
As usual, it was an early morning start, with a 5 hour bus journey to the Scottish Mining Museum in Newtongrange. This year the band was entered into a higher section than last year. The Development Section has an upper age limit of 16 years on 1 January 2011 with one adult bass player permissible, so the pressure was on.
In the past, even before the last note was played, the bus home was ready and waiting in the car park to take the band home, without hearing whether they have won or not. This year, an overnight stay was planned and even though it was another 3 hours wait before the results, just hearing the name “Campbeltown Junior Brass” being announced as the overall winner made it all worth while. And the icing on the cake was to hear that our tenor horn player, Alison Campbell, won the best instrumentalist in this section. Erin Mclellan, at a tender age of 8, collected the trophy on behalf of the band.
With a bus load of ecstatic youngsters, the band headed to Glenrothes to join the Tullis Russell Mills Youth Band for an evening of fun and relaxation. A total of £800 was raised and all proceeds were shared between Tullis Russell and Campbeltown Brass. It was a perfect ending to a very perfect day.
Sunday morning the band headed back to Tullis Russell’s band hall for a morning workshop presented by Mr Hedley Benson, Principal trumpet player with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. The workshop was part funded by The Scottish Brass Band Association (SBBA). We wish to say a massive thank you to our hosts, especially Mr Alan Douglas, for organising such a successful social night and workshop, and for their hospitality.
Jimmy Taylor Memorial Concert
Saturday 12th November
We would like to say a massive thank you to our distinguished guests, family, friends, committee members and every single player, past and present, for making this evening so special.
We also wish to thank the Campbeltown folks, who are renowned for their generosity and support. On behalf of the band, we give you our sincere thanks.
The Memorial Concert for Jimmy Taylor was the culmination of many weeks of hard work by all the various band members, right through from the Beginners band to the Contest Band. A varied programme included Kintyre School’s Pipe Band, CGS Choir and guest soprano Rebecca Watson who gave a moving rendition of Lakme’s Flower Duet with Damaris Chalmers.
It was a lovely occasion, with ex players returning to play with the band and 2 pieces which allowed the Pipe Band and the Brass Band to play together. The finale was a massed band, which included brass players of all ages, to play “The Floral Dance” and “Young Amadeus” two pieces which the band are very well known for and which were most recently played at the band’s 25th anniversary concert and conducted by Gordon Evans.
Since the concert the band has received great praise from those who attended, saying how they enjoyed the concert greatly, and what a great tribute it was to Jimmy Taylor, whose amazing contribution to the band, and indeed the community could not have gone unacknowledged. Thanks must go to all those who made the evening possible, their sterling efforts made this concert a night that will be prominent in the band’s history for years to come.
- Sally Chute
Band Solo & Ensemble Contest
Sunday 4th December 2011
Results
Beginners Solo
Winner - Rhys Hart
Second - Kyle Paterson
Beginners Ensemble
Winner - Rhys Hart & Kyle Paterson
Second - Keryn Graham & Caius Walker
Junior Solo
Winner - Hannah Oman
Second - Amy Paterson
Junior Ensemble
Winner - Amy Paterson & Hannah Oman
Intermediate Solo
Winner - Iona McVicar
Second - Tanya McDonald
Intermediate Ensemble
Winner - Junior Quartet
Open Solo
Winner - Lindsey Armour
Second - Erin McSporran
Open Ensemble
Winner - Katrina Barr & Dorothy Ralston
Christmas Concert
22nd December 2011
Thank you to everyone who took part! There were great performances by the Beginners, Junior and Senior band...
and not forgetting the formidable Il Brasso! A big thank you to all the friends and family who came along in support of this event.
Scottish Youth Brass Band Championships
26th November 2011
The Scottish Brass Band Festival was held over the weekend of 26 – 27 November in Perth Concert Hall. Mr George Burt, President of SBBA wrote: “One of the most exciting parts of the event will be the Scottish Youth Championships, which showcase the best of Scotland’s youth bands…”
This year Campbeltown Juniors were entered into a higher section than the section they won last year – so the pressure was on. Competing against 7 other youth bands across Scotland, they knew they had to be on top form…and they did not disappoint!
From beginning to end, these youngsters conducted themselves and performed like seasoned pros. Credit must be given to their Musical Director, Jamie McVicar, for choosing such a varied and dynamic programme, and inspiring and instilling in the band the confidence to tackle these pieces.
“Adjudicators David Childs and Ian Porthouse were also very impressed by the overall standard on show, with the amazing Campbeltown Junior Band once again showing that there is an almost inexhaustible seam of young playing talent being unearthed in the remote West coast town – some six hours drive from Perth.” (4barsrest)
We commend each player for all their hard work. It is amazing to think that these are only children of primary and secondary school age, yet they exhibit such competence in their playing and a great attitude towards learning.
Many thanks to all the parents, friends and members of the band for the continued support, without which the band wouldn’t be the success it is today.
Scottish Youth Brass Band Championships
In November 2010, the Junior Band took part in the Youth Championships of the Scottish Brass Band Festival in Perth. Competing in the twenty-band strong Under 14 section, the band played early in the day and were on the bus on the way home when the results were finally announced. It was a delighted band who returned to Campbeltown as newly-crowned Scottish Youth Band Champions. The following review of our performance was taken from Brass Band World magazine: “…the splendid winner, Campbeltown Junior Brass…sounded strong, with musical soloists. The band’s youngest player, Erin McLellan, was celebrating her eighth birthday. The performance of Lead Kindly Light was beautifully blended and shaped – a touching performance that was a highlight of the whole day.”
Solo & Ensemble Competition
Sunday 28th November 2010
We were delighted to have Alison Bonnar as our adjudicator. Alison's musical career began aged 8 on the organ taught by her father. She progressed to brass, age 13 and as many brass players do, she started on the trumpet. Like many bands, South Side Brass was short of players and she progressed to euphonium aged 15 years. Alison's debut as solo euphonium was the British Championships, Imperial College, London, 1986. She continued her study of the euphonium giving her the opportunity to win various solo and instrumental awards.
Currently, she is principal euphonium of the Scottish Co-operative Funeral Care Band, based in Glasgow and has had the pleasure of working with and learning from top players and conductors.
She enjoys her lasting involvement with Naval Military Wind Bands, north and south of the border which over the years has given her invaluable experiences and the opportunity to raise funds for various charities. She is the euphonium and Eb tuba performance tutor at Strathclyde University in Glasgow which continues to fuel her passion for sharing, developing and encouraging the future of performance.
During the last 10 years, Alison has worked with the children's charity Dreamflight, for seriously ill children taking them to Disney World, Florida on an annual basis. In her own words - 'The Dreamflight children are truly special, some of which had a natural talent for the euphonium. Music is most definitely there to be shared and enjoyed by all.'
Congratulations to all the winners and runners up and well done to everyone who took part in the Band's Solo Competition
The winners of each section were:
Beginners Solo
Amy McGougan
Junior Solo
Archie McVicar
Intermediate Solo
Aimilia Chute
Open Solo
Claire McVicar
Beginners Ensemble
Amy Paterson and Hannah Oman
Junior Ensemble
Campbeltown Brass Junior Quartet