LATEST NEWS
Strong Challengers at the Scottish Youth and Open Solos
The Scottish Youth solos and ensembles took place on Saturday 2nd February 2008 and a strong challenge for the prizes at the Scottish Youth competition was made by our two qualifying ensembles and soloist. Whilst both the Junior and Intermediate ensembles failed to be placed in the top three, both attained a silver award for their performances. Meanwhile, Frazer Kirk achieved a third prize in the highly contested Youth solo section behind Rachel Brown of Loanhead Brass Roots and Ailsa Russell of Carnoustie High.
At the Scottish Open solos and ensembles on Sunday 3rd February 2008, Euphonium soloist, Scott Findlater was placed 6th equal in the qualifying round along with David McKellar, Euphonium soloist of Dalmellington Band. Scott narrowly missed a place in the final.
Congratulations to all who took part.
January 29, 2008
In the Prizes at East of Scotland Youth
Two ensembles and two soloists from our junior band and younger players performed at the East of Scotland Youth Solos and Ensembles at the Levenhall Community Centre on 26th January 2008.
Our junior trio made up of Rebecca Smith, Niamh Glendinning and Beth Grant played a specially written arrangement of "Any Dream Will Do", and were highly praised for their ensemble and preparation. An intermediate quintet of Dean Glendinning, Sarah Spence, Katie Cunningham, Jack Wilson and Joseph Cunningham played another specially written selection of Disney themes, aptly titled "Dis Nae Shut Up" after the players' love of talking. Giving a fine performance, they were praised for their sense of unity and balance while retaining the sense of fun and enjoyment of music making.
With the juniors placing second and the intermediate quintet winning their section by five points clear of their nearest rivals, both ensembles have qualified for the Scottish Brass Band Youth Solos and Ensembles to be held at the Regal Theatre in Bathgate on 2nd February 2008.
Soloists Katie Cunningham and Frazer Kirk also performed well, with Katie placing 7th in the Intermediate solos and Frazer coming 2nd in the highly contested Youth section. Frazer has also qualified to represent the band next weekend at Bathgate.
Congratulations to all and good luck for next weekend.
January 7th, 2008
Successful Christmas Season with New Conductor
Following the band's favourable results at Brass in the Park and the Fife Charities Brass Band Competition, we have completed a successful Christmas Season with concerts at Mid Calder, Broxburn and Clermiston.
The concerts were a great introduction for new conductor, Andrew Holland, a former member of the Band.
Andrew began his brass band career at the tender age of 11 with Creetown Silver Band and developed a finely tuned interest in music into a career when he attended Salford University. Tutored in cornet playing by some of the best cornet players, Andrew continued his playing career with bands such as the Kennedy Swinton Band, Dalmellington and CWS (Glasgow) Band, and has also guested with the world famous YBS Band.
However, it is Andrew's training as a conductor which has made him a new and fresh force in conducting in Scotland. Andrew was trained in conducting by, amongst others, one of the most enigmatic conductors of our time, Professor David King and gained Chapeltown Band their sought after promotion to the Championship Section in the highly contested Yorkshire Area.
Currently working as a music teacher at Stranraer Academy, Andrew has brought a much needed breath of fresh air and enthusiasm to the band.
December 20th, 2007
Youth and Community Development Takes Off!
With brass bands disappearing all over the country due to lack of players, 2007 has seen a number of bands take matters into their own hands. Broxburn and Livingston Band has been no exception to this.
Building on our existing junior band led by Bill Smith, a team of players from the band have volunteered their time to teach beginners and developing players of all ages, and to assist the learning and development of the more junior members of the band. This has resulted in the rejuvination of our junior and training band system.
With experience varying from 6 weeks to 6 years, our junior and training band performed to a packed audience at our Christmas Concert in the Strathbrock Community Centre. Our junior band, currently of 8 players treated the audience to a Russian Theme "Czardas" and a slow haunting Hymn before playing an arrangement of Mancini's Baby Elephant Walk, specially written for them by one of the members of our training team. Joined by the members of our training band, the audience then sang along to arrangements of Away in a Manger, Jingle Bells and We wish you a Merry Christmas.
Looking forward to 2008, anyone interested in playing at any level is welcome to join. No experience necessary, as our training team will provide all the advice, expertise and tuition which will be required to get you started.
October 14th 2007
Fife Charities Band Association Open Competition Falkirk Town Hall
Hot on the heels of coming third at Brass in the Park comes another third placing, this time at the annual Fife Charities Band Association Open Competition held in Falkirk where twenty bands took to the stage, each playing a traditional march, hymn tune setting and test piece.
Expertly lead, in the absence of our regular conductor, by Michael Marzella through the march "The Australasian", hymn tune setting "In Perfect Peace" and test piece "Diversions on a Bass Theme", the band achieved the highest points of the day for their performance of the test-piece. A 4th placing for the March and Hymn gave an overall placing of third.
With the test piece focusing on the bass section, it was with great pride that our Bass Section of Bill Smith, Alan Weir, Mark Davis and Michael Wright won the prize for the best Bass Section.
The result is particularly satisfying because the band had been hit by holiday commitments and illness. Our thanks go to Caroline Tennant and Mark Haldane (both of Glasgow Co-op Band), Sarah Findlay and Michael Wright (both of Bo'ness and Carriden Band) who kindly stepped into the breach, each with an invaluable contribution to the performance.
Congratulations to Dalmellington Band who achieved first place overall with a consistency which was unmatched, and Clackmannan Band who narrowly beat us to second place.
October
1, 2006
The
British Brass Band Championship
Broxburn
& Livingston Band welcome soprano player, Gordon Jenkins
to their ranks, completing and strengthening the cornet section.
