Ann Ness

Arbroath Instrumental Youth Band Contest Success

 

 

The Arbroath Instrumental Youth Band under its conductor Ann Ness had great success at the Scottish Youth Brass Band Championships held on the 24th/25th November in the Perth Concert Hall.

 

The band were given a Gold Award (one of only two given by the judges) and were runners up in the Development Section of the Championships which is graded on age for young people aged 16 or under. The competition involved 11 bands. The successful result is all the more remarkable as the average age of the Arbroath youth band is only 13 with the youngest member being only ten. Only one or two of the older members aged 16 and the band were competing against bands with many more older players. The winners of the section were Campbelltown Brass.

 

Their programme included Marching Through the Movies, James Brown’s ‘I Feel Good’ and featured their principal euphonium player Chris Flynn playing She’s The One by Robbie Williams.

 

The two adjudicators Ronald Tennant and Alistair Orr were impressed with the precision and musicality of their playing and congratulated the band on a very high standard of performance. Far from resting on their laurel’s however, the youngsters are preparing for their next performance along with the Arbroath Instrumental Band at the Christmas Concert in St Anne’s Church in Carnoustie on Saturday 8th December at 7.30pm. Tickets are available at the door and include refreshments.

 

Some of the Arbroath Instrumental Youth Band are also members of the Carnoustie and District Youth Brass band, the current British Youth Brass Band Champions, recently returned from their appearance at the Schools Proms in the Albert Hall at the beginning of this month. This band also had tremendous success at the weekend, competing in the Premier Section of the same competition and gaining the title of Scottish Youth Brass Band Champions, beating West Lothian Schools Brass Band in a performance that both adjudicators described as ‘brilliant’.

 

All of the young people in both bands are taught by Michael Robertson who was awarded the President’s Award by the Scottish Brass Band Association at the competition in Perth on Sunday for his services to Youth Banding.

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