2014 Awards Night

The recent Coalburn awards night was a celebration of 2014 and was attended by over 100 band members, supporters and family members. 

Coalburn Bronze Band (Children’s Band) has a membership of 25 children and young people and celebrated another successful year under the baton of Musical Director Mr Euan Meikle. The first award of the night was the best section and this was awarded to the Percussion section, comprising 10 year old Finlay Damer, and 14-year-old Elle Henderson. 

The George Blackwood Memorial Trophy was the next award and this trophy was established in memory of the late George Blackwood, a band stalwart who led the children’s band for many years and goes to the most improved player. This was awarded to 8-year-old Tenor Horn player Rory Hunter and presented by Mrs Christine Blackwood. (Rory is pictured with Christine and MD Euan Meikle) The final Bronze Band award is the Band Person Of The Year and this is chosen by the band committee and recognises outstanding contribution towards the band. This year’s recipient and receiving a silver salver was 15-year-old Adam Cowan.  

Next up was the Intermediate Band Awards, this is only the second year, since the inception of the new band in the spring of 2013 and 3 awards were up for grabs, the Player Of The Year, Most Improved Player of the year and the Players Player of the Year. Ross Lyttle one of the band’s horn team was the winner of the Most Improved Player. The Player Of The Year Award was presented to the bands wonderful Euphonium player David Fehilly, he has been an ever present in the band room and his ability to lead and encourage at rehearsal and engagements made him a natural choice for the band’s Musical Director Kyle MacCorquodale. The Players Player of the Year was a unanimous decision in favour of the Band’s Flugel Horn player Alex Sheridan.  

The Silver Band awards followed and the first award was the Conductor’s Award and was jointly presented to the bands new percussionist, Jenny Alexander and band stalwart and Tenor Horn player Alex Sheridan. Next up was the section of the year and this was awarded to the Front Row cornet team consisting, Principal, Ronnie Wotherspoon, Euan Meikle, Joanne Buchanan and Calum Miller. The Band person of the year award is voted for by the band members and this year was presented to Band Secretary and Treasurer, Daniel Beadle whose work ethic and contribution to the running of both the Silver and Intermediate Bands was duly recognised by his peers.  

The main award of the evening was the Silver Band Player of The Year and this was chosen by the band’s Musical Director Gareth Bowman, the recipient was Principal Percussionist Jamie Millar. Jamie has been instrumental in the bands success over the past year and was a very popular choice. (Jamie is pictured receiving his award from Musical Director Mr Gareth Bowman)

Band President Alan Court commented ‘’this has been a wonderful night of celebration for the organisation and we look forward with much anticipation to the forthcoming year, where in addition to a full diary of events we plan to further develop our newly formed Percussion Academy.

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