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November 2009

Tha Band have recently been busy fundraising playing at Dobbies Garden Centre in Dunfermline throughout November and have many more days throughout December.

On Saturday 28th November the band travelled to Perth to compete in the Scottish Challenge cup. Qualification for this prestigious contest comes from the great result the band achieved at the Scottish Championships in March of this year. This is the last contest of the year and is held in the superb Perth Concert Hall.

The band chose to play a very challenging piece in Kenneth Downie’s PURCELL VARIATIONS, a deliberate choice to help the band prepare for the step up into the 2nd section next year.

Although not perfect by any means the band and the soloists equipped themselves very well with the adjudicators giving special mention to Neil on Soprano, Roz on Flugal and Christine on Horn.

The band ended up in 5th place and was happy with this result.

Below is an extract from the 4barsrest website’s comments on out performance -

“David Neil and Dunfermline can be very encouraged by their performance of ‘Purcell Variants’, which although getting a little one dimensional in volume and timbre as they tired, was solidly played and featured some neat solo lines.

The MD never allowed the ensemble sound to become harsh, and was rewarded with a performance of encouraging merit.”

 

September  2009

On Friday 25th September the band travelled south in preparation for the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain in Harrogate.

Staying at Lemming on the Friday and Saturday the band enjoyed each other’s company and had good rehearsals on The Friday evening, a rather early one on Saturday morning and again on Saturday evening.

Everyone at this time was relaxed and confident and ready to put on the best show that we could.

A very early start on the Sunday morning (breakfast at 6.30am) and off to Harrogate only to find that we had drawn number 14 out of 17 bands.

After waiting for hours the band took to the stage for their performance of Goff Richards test piece Oceans. The band settled quickly and all the soloists did really well with the adjudicators Ray Farr and Robert Childs picking out the Soprano, Flugal Horn and Percussion for compliments.

Sadly and up against some quality bands we could only manage to be placed 13th which was disappointing for everyone. However, this is banding and at the end of the day we made it to Harrogate when many others did not and we start next year with promotion to the 2nd section.

Onwards and upwards as they say

 

August 2009

After a busy June with the band performing at Gala Days in Townhill, Cowdenbeath and their home town of Dunfermline the band had a short break at the beginning of July only to return and get straight back into rehearsing for a concert at Hopetoun House.

With the promise of over 3000 people attending these events at Hopetoun it ended up a disappointing afternoon as the weather was not kind and heavy rain early on in the day restricted the number of visitors.

However the band played a full two hour program under canvas and managed to stay dry.

 Rehearsals are now under way for the forthcoming National Finals in                   Harrogate in September

The Band also welcomes Rebecca Anderson who will be joining the team on 2nd Horn.

 

June 6th 2009

David Thornton

Saturday 6th June saw another milestone for the band as they performed with Guest Soloist David Thornton, principal Euphonium of the world famous Black Dyke Band.

David played four solos, three from memory, Endearing young charms, Macushla and Grandfathers Clock and a very different piece called ROCK which featured a CD backing. He then managed another encore from memory in a stunning rendition of Napoli.

 

May 29th 2009

Super Concert in Perth 

Friday 29th May saw the band perform for the third time in St. Johns Church, Perth together with the St. John’s Church Choir. The choir as always being conducted by Susan Cassidy who is also in the bands percussion team.

Close to 200 people attended the concert and saw solos from Roslyn Neil on Flugal, Rachel Neil on Horn and Danny Harrison on Cornet.

The choir were superb and a buffet and bar was enjoyed after the concert.

 

May 24th 2009
The Band Celebrate in gaining 1st place in the 3rd section of The Northern Counties Open Contest. The Band again played 5 entertaining pieces and featured Flugel Soloist Roz Neil.

 

April 26th 2009

Congratulations to Rachel Neil the bands 1st horn player on winning the Bill Shaw Slow Melody Memorial Contest. Rachel played a fantastic rendition of Demelza.

April 25th 2009

The Band celebrated another runner up position today competing at The Fife Brass Band Festival Invitation Contest, Carnegie Hall Dunfermline. The band played 5 entertaining pieces and featured The bands superb flugel player Roz Neil playing Share My Yoke.

March 21st 2009

Today the Band celebrated in style as we gained 2nd place in the 3rd section at the Scottish Championships held in The Caird Hall Dundee. The Band played a very musical performance to gain promotion to the 2nd Section and to book a place to compete in The National Brass Band Final Championships held in Harrogate in September. To cap a wonderful result the bands soprano player Neil Wallace won The Best Instrumentalist Medal.

December 2008

December has been an excellent month for recruitment, we are delighted to announce the signings of Margaret Kemley on Solo Cornet, Ian on Euphonium, Helen on 2nd Trombone, Colin Coull on 2nd Horn, Kristoffer Wallace on Solo Baritone and finally Kate Cooper on 2nd Cornet.

November 22nd 2008

The Band today competed at the Scottish Open Brass Band Contest in Perth. The band were up against some of the best bands from the 2nd,3rd and 4th sections in the Scottish Cup Class and gained a very credible 5th position, we now look forward to the forthcoming Scottish Championships in Dundee.

October 6th 2008

The Band welcomes Neil Wallace who will be joining the cornet section on Soprano Cornet. Neil has previously played Soprano and Principal Cornet with Tullis Russell and Soprano with Championship Section Bands Kelty & Blairadam, Lochgelly and Boness & Carriden.

October 4th 2008

The Band today competed at the Fife Charities Brass Band Association Contest and gained a credible 2nd place in the 3rd section and 9th overall in the open contest, the band also won the best Fife B Band Trophy.

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