Dalmellington Band hosted the 18th annual Land O’Burns – Brass in Concert Event in Troon Concert Hall on Saturday 25th August at 9.45am.
16 good brass bands competed for over £6,000.00 in prize money and a fantastic array of individual trophies and awards. This is the best entry of bands we have ever had at our event and over 1000 people, players, supporters and visitors, attended the event this year!
Richard Evans ( from Preston ) was the experienced Music Adjudicator and he commented that the standard was high and he had a difficult task to determine the winners from the top bands. Local Author, Donald Reid, was the Entertainment Adjudicator, deciding on which band, he thought, had best entertained the audience.
Hedley Benson, Trumpeter with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra also held a Brass Workshop at the event and a number of youngsters and older players gained some great tips on technique, breathing control and sound production during the sessions. Walter Blair was the piano accompanist.
South Ayrshire Council gave Dalmellington Band wonderful support again this year and the Brass in Concert Event now pays out the highest prize money in Scotland, attracting the ‘big bands’ to the competition.
The full results were:-
1st prize, winning the Knoweview Nursing Home Trophy and £3,000.00 – Co-operative Funeralcare Band.
2nd prize, winning the James Bryce Memorial Trophy and £1200.00 – Kingdom Brass Band.
3rd prize, winning the Antoine Courtoise ( Paris ) Trophy and £600.00 – Whitburn Band.
4th prize, winning the Robert Oughton Memorial Trophy and £450.00 – Fishburn Band.
Best 1st Section Band, winning the South Beach Hotel Trophy and £350.00 – Newmilns & Galston Band.
Best 2nd Section Band, winning the Anchorage Hotel Trophy and £300.00 – Coalburn Silver Band.
Most Entertaining Band, winning the David Dale Memorial Trophy and £250.00 – Kilmarnock Concert Brass Band.
Best Ayrshire Band, winning the Co-operative Group Trophy – Newmilns & Galston Band.
The Individual Awards were:-
Best Instrumentalist, winning the South Ayrshire Council Trophy – Arbroath Band – Bass Trombonist.
Best Principal Cornet, winning the Phillip McCann Trophy – Whitburn Band.
Best Soprano Cornet, winning the Eddie Kerr Memorial Trophy – Kilmarnock Concert Brass Band.