Christmas Concert 2006

The West Lothian Schools Brass Band Christmas Concert always guarantees to get you into the spirit of Christmas, and this year was no exception. The band, conducted as ever by Nigel Boddice MBE, played a selection of Christmas favourites, punctuated by more amusing and light-hearted events and some community carol singing from the capacity audience.

A longstanding tradition at the Christmas Concert is that the youngest cornet player has the honour of playing the solo of “Mary’s Boy Child”, and this year it was the turn of Tyler Morrison who put on a sterling performance which was met with rapturous applause.

A new feature of the Christmas Concert was the announcement of the Brian Duguid Award. Brian was Arts and Cultural Services Manager for West Lothian Council, and was the driving force behind the council’s music tuition programme and a strong supporter of the band before his death in December 2005. This new wooden trophy, commisioned and funded by the Friends of the Band, was carved by the Livingston Carver and Sculptor John Donaldson, and is to be presented annually to the bandsperson who has, in the opinion of the music staff, shown the greatest improvement in their playing ability and has shown dedication to the band throughout the year. The inaugural recipient of the Brian Duguid Award was Tuba player Euan Wardrop, who gratefully received the Trophy from Nigel Boddice MBE.

The Friends of the Band had organised a raffle, tombola and tea, coffee & cakes to help raise funds for the band who, Nigel intimated, would need to prepare themselves for a major foreign tour in 2008, details of which have not yet been confirmed - so watch this space! So, a lot of fundraising will be required in the next year or so!