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Whitburn win West Lothian Challenge contest June 28 ![]() John Fraser (left), secretary of Whitburn Band,
receives the West Lothian Challenge Trophy from Councillor Jim Walker from West Lothian Council. WHITBURN Band has won the West Lothian Challenge for the fourth time. It also means the band has won two contests out of two with Frank Renton conducting. The band’s programme consisted of Finiculi-Finicula, Oblivion (featuring Chris Bradley) Bach Variations, You are the sunshine of my life (featuring Hayley Edmond, Chris Bradley and Jennifer Liddell on flugel, Alex Philip, Gary Kennedy and Gordon MacDougall on trombones), Norwegian Wood, Tonight, Pure Imagination (featuring Alex Philip), Huntin' Wabbits and the finale, Shine as the Light. As well as winning the contest overall, Alex Philip was named Best Soloist for his performance of My Funny Valentine in the semi-final, while Frank Renton picked up the award for the Best new composition or arrangement for Libertango which was also performed by the band in the semi-final. These additional awards were adjudicated by the celebrated Scottish composer and teacher, Alan Fernie. Full Result of the 2010 West Lothian Challenge: Adjudicator: Alan Morrison
Best Soloist: Alex Philip (Whitburn) - trombone |
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Whitburn qualify for West Lothian Challenge Final June 14 |
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Whitburn Band Appoint New Resident Conductor June 3 ![]() WHITBURN Band has appointed a new resident conductor. |
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Whitburn qualify for National Finals March 15 WHITBURN Band has qualified for the National Championships of Great Britain, to be held at the Royal Albert Hall in London later this year. The band delivered a fine reading of George Lloyd’s English Heritage under the baton of Steven Mead to finish second behind the Co-operative Funeralcare Band at the recent Scottish Championships. Congratulations must go to Chris Bradley, who won the coveted Terris Medal for the best cornet player of the contest. |
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Whitburn stars impress at Scottish Solo Championships February 9 FIVE players from Whitburn Band picked up a number of prizes at the recent Besson Scottish Solo and Ensemble Championships. Charles Cullen (cornet), Hayley Edmond (flugel), Iain Fleming (horn), Michael Fleming (horn) and Andy Robson (euphonium) were all awarded at the event, which was held in Livingston’s Howden Park Centre. In the youth solos category, for players aged between 16 and 21, Michael Fleming finished second. The following day, Michael’s dad Iain also took home a runners-up medal in the inaugural Open Slow Melody competition. Meanwhile, Hayley Edmond had a fine day and finished just behind in third with Charles Cullen – last year’s Scottish Solo Champion – finishing one place back in fourth. Congratulations, of course, must go to young tuba star Ross Knight from Arbroath Instrumental and Carnoustie High School, who won the Scottish Open Solos, the Scottish Slow Melody Championship and the youth solos. Well Done Ross. |
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Whitburn sign young cornet star January 29 WHITBURN Band is delighted to announce the signing of Susannah Downs to the cornet section. Susannah, who is currently the principal cornet of the West Lothian Schools Brass Band and principal trumpet of the West Lothian Schools Orchestra, has joined the band on tutti solo cornet. She has previously played with Unison Kinneil and Newtongrange. The 17-year-old follows in the footsteps of her father Owen, who enjoyed a long and illustrious spell with Whitburn on soprano cornet between 1983 and 1997. Amongst his many victories, he was part of the Whitburn Band which won the Grand Shield in 1991. Susannah, who is also on the solo cornet bench at the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland, joins Whitburn only a few months after she became the East of Scotland Solo Champion in the youth category (16-21 years) She said: "I am delighted to be part of Whitburn Band and I feel that I now have the opportunity to develop even more as a player due to the band's high standards. I want to win as many Scottish medals as my dad!" |