Josiah Walters: On His Own Pilgrimage

Stirring his coffee in a bustling city centre café, the relief was palpable for Joe Walters.

A bass trombone student at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS), the 21-year-old from Carnoustie is also a talented composer.

His latest work – The Pilgrim – will provide the set test for bands competing in the Challenge Section at May’s European Brass Band Championships in Perth. His most substantial musical offering to date, the piece’s evolution often left its creator drained.

Photo by Alistair Merrill

Scotland: How Do You Solve a Problem Like the Nationals?

As the final coach trundled away from The Centaur at Cheltenham Racecourse, Welsh banding celebrated late into the night with three victories from the four sections.

A bustling two days had seen the qualifiers from the various regions converge upon the venue in hope and expectation. Scotland was well-represented, albeit a band down in the third section due to the withdrawal of Kingdom ‘B’ Band.

Why, then, a lack of podium places to take back on the return journey north?

Galashiels Bands: Spring Concert

Spring Concert, Volunteer Hall, Galashiels

Galashiels Town Band, Youth & Junior Bands. Guest soloists: Les Neish & Drew Ness

May 25 2013

 

Everyone loves a success story – no more so than when after a tough period, a setback, one comes out the other side fighting.

Galashiels Town Band embodies such a tale to a tee. A band with a proud 179 year history, it had gradually diminished to a mere five players only a few years ago.

Until, that was, the arrival of its current Musical Director, Stuart Black.

Gorbals Youth Brass Band 1st birthday

Members and tutors of the Gorbals Youth Brass Band celebrated the ensemble’s first birthday in March 2013.

 

The young musicians thought about everything they had accomplished in a jam-packed 12 months, which saw them perform everywhere from Perth Concert Hall to Kelvingrove Museum in Glasgow.

 

Making Their Own Big Noise

Something special is going on in the Gorbals.

Located on the south bank of the River Clyde in Glasgow, the area is often not without its troubles to seek. On a Wednesday afternoon in the local community centre however, music is the order of the day.

Formed in March 2012 by graduates of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, the Gorbals Youth Brass Band offers primary school children free instrumental music tuition. The enthusiasm  of the young people is infectious.

Scottish Banding – A Reason to Smile?

Anyone who has seen the film Brassed Off should immediately be warned it isn’t like that in real life. Well, it is a bit. The trip to the Royal Albert Hall and the huge piece of silverware on offer is real, albeit more of a dream to most of us.

The 2012 National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain provided the best results for Championship Scottish bands for several years, as Co-operative Funeralcare and Whitburn bands finished sixth and seventh respectively.

Copyright Ian Clowes of Goldy Solutions

In fact, this year has seen more for Scottish banding to be happy about, not only while toiling at the coalface of band contesting but in a much wider sense. Is this simply a break from the norm, or are brass bands here once again finding their feet among the movement’s elites?