Members of Campbeltown Brass’s junior band are celebrating after coming out on top at the Scottish Youth Brass Band Championships.
Band members travelled to Perth Concert Hall for last Sunday’s competition, organised by the Scottish Brass Band Association.
Hundreds of youngsters from across Scotland competed in various sections, with Campbeltown Brass juniors crowned best in the development section.
The band impressed adjudicators Sheona Wade and Scott Walker with their performances of A London Prelude, Suil a Ruin, Joshua, Carillon and Pirates of the Caribbean.
Ms Wade praised the band’s attention to detail, dynamic contrasts and energy throughout, as well as members’ control and sound.
As one of the top horn players in the country, she was particularly impressed by Mae Barr’s tenor horn solo in Suil a Ruin.
Summing up her review of the band’s performance, Ms Wade said: “Overall, a super programme with a bit of everything in it. You played with such quality. I really loved it.”
Mr Walker was similarly impressed, citing the band’s good contrasts, tidy playing and sense of musicality for its overall lovely sounds, and he described Mae’s solo as “superb”.
In summary, he said: “A fine performance from band and soloists. So much to commend. I enjoyed it a lot.”
It was a long day for the band, which faced a 320-mile round-trip to take part in the competition.
With the contest running about two hours behind schedule, and an overnight road closure on the A83 near Tarbert to catch, most band members had to leave immediately after their performance, with only a few able to remain to hear them being crowned champions.
“We are absolutely thrilled with the result,” said conductor Katrina Barr. “The band really excelled on stage and I was so proud of all of them.”
It was a good day for Campbeltown in other categories too, with former Campbeltown Brass member Mark Good conducting Riverside Youth Band to victory in both the novice and senior sections.