Band News / Diary
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August 2008

Steven Mead to lead Scottish Champions to Birmingham and London.

Euphonium star Steven Mead will renew his conducting partnership with the current Scottish Champions Whitburn at the British Open and National Championships later this year.

It reunites the duo for a second time on the contest stage at the majors after he led Whitburn to ninth place at the Royal Albert Hall last year.

Steven has retained close links with the band since that time with the band accompanying him on his latest CD entitled ‘Euphonium Fantasy’ that is due for release around the time of their National appearance.

Steven said: "I’m delighted to be able to team up with Whitburn once more. The band is in fine form of late and I am confident that we can produce two very competitive performances both in Birmingham and London."

 

JUNE 2008

ON SUNDAY, June 15, Iain Fleming, principal tenor horn of Whitburn Band, won the 150th Anniversary Bo'ness Slow Melody Contest which took place in Bo'ness Recreation Centre.

The senior section line-up consisted of 21 competitors from all over Scotland and proved to be a close run affair with Chick Cullen, also of Whitburn, and Claire McIlreavy of Barrhead Burgh Band being placed second and third respectively.

Hayley Edmond made it an all-round successful day for the reigning Scottish Champions when she was awarded second prize in the junior section.

The results were:

Juniors:

  1. Rachel Neil - Dunfermline Town
  2. Hayley Edmond - Whitburn
  3. Christopher Hamilton - Unison Kinneil

Best 12 and Under: Christopher Hamilton - Unison Kinneil
Best 14 and Under: Jordan Burns – Bo'ness & Carriden

Seniors:

  1. Iain Fleming - Whitburn
  2. Charles Cullen - Whitburn
  3. Claire McIlreavy - Barrhead Burgh

Best over 40: Iain Fleming - Whitburn
Adjudicators: Allan Ramsey and Alistair Orr (both sections)
Official accompanist: Alan Hastie
April 2008
 
WHITBURN Band has moved up to seventh in the brass band world rankings. The band, who is the highest ranked Scottish brass band, moved up the table after its victory at the Scottish Championships in March. Whitburn is now one of the highest ranked unsponsored bands in the world.
 
To view the full brass band world rankings, see www.4barsrest.com/rankings
 
THE BAND held a bric-a-brac on April 9 at the town's Burgh Halls to raise money for its prospective trip to the European Championships in Ostend, Belgium next year. The fundraising committee of Whitburn managed to raise £138. The band would like to thank everyone who made the day a success. If you would like any information on how you can help the band fund its trip to Belgium, contact John Fraser on 07766 955095 or pop into Vidler's Barber Shop in Whitburn's Main Street.

March 2008

WHITBURN Band has been crowned the new Champion Band of Scotland. Conducted by Russell Gray, the band became the Scottish champions for the 15th time after a fantastic performance of Festival Music by Eric Ball. Whitburn’s victory in Glenrothes means the West Lothian band will now travel to the Royal Albert Hall, London for the National Championships of Great Britain as Scottish champion in October and will represent Scotland at the European Championships in Ostend, Belgium, next year. The band also picked up a number of individual awards at the competition. Chris Bradley won the coveted Terris Medal for the best cornet player in the contest, while the bass section (Graham and Robert Fraser, with Alan and Neil Gourlay) won the best basses prize for the second year in a row.

Band President Alex Vidler spoke of his delight at the band’s win. “The ‘Scottish’ is the most prestigious contest north of the border and to win this contest for the 15th time is fantastic. “We now need to concentrate on fundraising initiatives for the British Open in Birmingham, the National Final in London, and of course the European Championships in Ostend next year. “Everyone involved with the band would like to thank Russell Gray for his hard work and brilliant interpretation of Festival Music, while a special mention must go to Andrew Duncan for his help preparing the test piece. “A special thank you must also go to Marit Holm, who travelled over from Norway to perform with the band. “Whitburn Band don’t have a sponsor so every project we undertake comes out of the players own pockets. “We are hoping our victory at the Scottish Championships will attract the attentions of potential investors.” Whitburn has now completed the double by becoming the Scottish champions and the Scottish Open champions concurrently. The band is also the current Scottish Band of the Year, the Land O’Burns and Brass in the Park champions.

 

The Scottish Championships was a very special weekend for the band. While many members Whitburn were experiencing their very first ‘Scottish’ win, Alex Vidler was toasting his 15th, while Sam Knox notched up his 13th. Alex and Sam’s contribution to Whitburn is undoubted, but their medal haul at this contest makes them two of the most successful bandsmen in the world.

The weekend was also monumental for a number of conductors related to the band. Andrew Duncan, who helped Whitburn prepare for the contest, won the West of England regional championship with Mount Charles on the same day as Whitburn’s success.

Jim Chamberlain, meanwhile, won the Scottish third section title conducting Dalkeith and Monktonhall, while Robert Fraser conducted Newlands Band from Bathgate home to third place in his conducting debut. Chris Bradley also led Jedburgh to a sixth place in the Scottish second section. Congratulations to all.

Full Results:
  Band Conductor Points
1. Whitburn   Russell Gray 193
2. Kirkintilloch Selmer Simonsen 192
3. Kingdom Brass Craig Anderson 189
4. Scottish Co-op Allan Ramsay 188
5. Unison Kinneil Colin McKenzie 184
6. Bon Accord Silver Morten Hansen 182
7. Dalmellington Archie Hutchison 181
8. Newtongrange Silver Ray Farr 180
9. Dunaskin Doon John Boax 177
10. Newmilns & Galston   Alex McCutcheon 175
February 2008

Party hats and streamers have been the order of the day recently, as the horn section of Whitburn Band celebrated 150 years.

Kicking off the party season was the relative baby of the section, Alan Edmond, who was 41 on Boxing Day 2007.  Solo Horn, Iain Fleming reached the 50 year milestone on 23 January, followed by Alex Vidler who was 59 the next day. Remarkably, their combined age is greater

than the entire back-row, even when the band’s flugel horn, Jim Chamberlain, is added to the young cornet section!

The trio have amassed an amazing amount of contest experience, with no less than 82 top section regional qualifiers, 46 British Open’s and 49 appearances at the Royal Albert Hall.
They now look to put this experience to good use, as Whitburn prepare to add the strangely elusive Scottish Championship prize, to its current Scottish Open Championship title, at the forthcoming contest in Glenrothes on 9 March.

Commenting on behalf of the section, Band President, Alex Vidler declared “The mix of youth and experience at Whitburn is paying dividends and we would like to build on last year’s successful contest season by adding the 2008 Scottish Championship”.

January 2008

Gray to take Whitburn
 
WHITBURN Band has announced that Russell Gray will be leading its
challenge at this year's Scottish Championships in Glenrothes on Sunday 9th
March.

Band President Alex Vidler said: "The band is delighted to have secured
someone of Russell's calibre for the Scottish Championships and are very
much looking forward to working with him."

Russell is similarly enthusiastic. He commented: "I am very pleased to be
working with Whitburn. They are an excellent outfit and I am looking
forward to the challenge that the Scottish Championships brings."

Whitburn Band dish out awards for 2007

AT THE band’s recent New Year party, Alex Philip and Anne Crookston were named Player of the Year and Bandsman of the Year respectively.
Solo trombonist Alex has had a fantastic year on the stage. His solo contributions throughout the period on both the concert and contest stage, including a wonderful performance of Autumn Leaves at the Brass in Concert championships in The Sage, Gateshead, were marked with the Player of the Year award.
Anne Crookston’s contributions to Whitburn in 2007 were also recognised with a trophy. Her arrangement of Strauss’ Furioso Polka was performed by the band at Brass in Concert, while her performances at the Scottish Championships, British Open and National Finals on solo baritone were of the highest class. Anne’s award was presented only a few days after she was named in the popular website 4barsrest’s Band of the Year for 2007.
Congratulations to both Alex and Anne for their awards.
2007 was a great year for Whitburn Band. Here is a brief synopsis of our year.

WHITBURN BAND

Winner – Scottish Open

Winner – Land O’Burns

Winner – Brass in the Park

British Open – 6th place

National Championships – 9th place

Scottish Championships – Runner Up
INDIVIDUAL/SECTIONAL AWARDS
Evelyn Bradley  Best Euphonium, Land O’Burns
   
Jim Chamberlain   Best Instrumentalist, Scottish Open
Best Instrumentalist, Land O’Burns
   
Anne Crookston  Whitburn Band Bandsman of the Year
4barsrest Band of the Year member
   
Scott Forrest Best Instrumentalist, Brass in the Park
   
Graham Fraser  Scottish Solo Champion
European Solo Competition – Best Tuba
   
Richard Kidd  Best Euphonium, Scottish Championships
   
Alex Philip Whitburn Band Player of the Year
Best Trombone, Land O’Burns
   
Bass Section   Best Basses, Scottish Championships