Brass Spectacular was an all day feast of brass, featuring local, national and international stars filling the concert halls and foyers of the RSAMD from noon to midnight. West Lothian Schools Brass Band featured in the evening gala concert in conjunction with the Intercollegiate Ensemble, Fine Arts Brass, the Rylo Ensemble and the RSAMD Big Band. The evening also featured guest solo appearances from Ryan Quigley, Angela Whelan, Oystein Baadsvik, Simon Johnson and Derek Watkins. The Gala Concert was compered by Richard Evans.
The Intercollegiate Ensemble under the direction of Bryan Allen kicked off the concert with ‘Fanfare for Glasgow’ by John Wallace.
Then the WLSBB’s contribution, soon after being crowned British Youth Champions for the third consecutive year, began with ‘Amazonia’ from Windows of the World by Peter Graham.
They were then joined by Oystein Baadsvik on Tuba for a magnificent performance of ‘Gabriel’s Oboe by Ennio Morricone, arranged by Oystein Baadsvick.
Oystein as then joined by Matthew Chinn and Jonathon Gawn - all on Tubas, for an unusual piece composed by himself called ‘Fnugg Blue’, which was tuba playing as I had never heard it before, involving modulating the sound through the instrument - quite remarkable!
The band were then joined by Anjela Whelan on Flugel Horn for a second piece from Windows of the World entitled ‘The Rising Sun’.
Staying with Peter Graham, the band then performed ‘Victory’ from Cry of the Celts, featuring Simon Lenton on Piccolo Trumpet and Richard Kidd on Euphonium. For this piece, Nigel Boddice gave up his baton to the winning conductor from the NABBC Conducting Competition.
Returning to Windows of the World, the band’s final contribution to the evening’s entertainment was ‘Celtic Dream’ again featuring Simon Lenton on Piccolo Trumpet and Richard Kidd on Euphonium.
Fine Arts Brass consisting of Simon Lenton & Angela Whelan on Trumpet, Chris Parkes on Horn, Katy Pryce on Trombone and Sam Elliot on Tuba took the concert to a later than intended interval, so much so that the Rylo Ensemble had to drastacally cut the length of their programme after the interval, and the RSAMD Big Band didn’t even get to perform. However, all was not lost, the musical evening was young, and the performances were to continue in the local hostelries into the early hours of the morning!
