West Lothian Schools Brass Band
Report on the SBBA Scottish Youth Brass Band Championships 2005
Congratulations to everyone involved with West Lothian Schools Brass Band, who achieved a Gold award and took home the David Hughes Memorial Trophy after winning the premier section of the Scottish Youth Brass Band Championships held at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on Sunday 27th November 2005.
The band faced some stiff competition from last years winners, Aberdeen City Youth Band, who were also awarded a Gold award, but on the day, West Lothian produced a fantastic performance which really warranted their first place. Moray Concert Brass were in third place and gained a Silver Award.
WLSBB produced one of their finest performances to date, starting off with an old favourite, ‘Star Wars’ arr by Adrian Glover. This was followed by ‘The Children of Sanchez’ featuring an excellent trumpet solo from the band’s principal cornet, Vicky Blair. Another favourite followed - ‘The Flight of the Bumble Bee’, featuring the band’s virtuoso percussionist ‘King’ Kenny Carlisle on Xylophone - and Soprano Cornet Johan Henzte playing a
supporting role, minus instrument, in a Bee costume, injecting a little humour into the proceedings. Back to the serious business, it was ‘For the Love of a Princess’ from the soundtrack of Braveheart, arr by Andrew Duncan. The band’s penultimate piece was ‘Thats A Plenty’, arr by Goff Richards. So to the finale, and ‘The Conquest of Paradise’ by Vangelis, arr by Alan fernie, and featuring the band’s Isla Cameron on Euphonium.
The audience were almost on their feet at the end of a magnificent performance. The band were on top form, and thoroughly deserved their first place. Well done, and again congratulations to all - musicians, support staff, and of course to Nigel Boddice MBE!
