Coalburn Awards Night and 2020 Scottish Championships
The Coalburn Brass Band Family gathered together with many friends and family at the end of January at St John’s Hall in Blackwood to celebrate their annual Awards Night. The night began with a fantastic home cooked meal prepared by the Bronze band’s secretary Debbie Court. This was followed by a performance from a quintet of Silver band members before president Alan Court gave the welcome and overview of the year.
2019 was another successful year for the organisation. The Percussion Academy and their new tutor, Caitlin Monaghan, performed at their second Scottish Youth Championships and participated in various engagements throughout the year. The Bronze and Intermediate bands continued their on-going success, giving some excellent performances at various concerts and at the Scottish Youth Festival of Brass and Section 4B at the Scottish Championships. Both bands have seen the progress of the young musicians and have welcomed several new players during 2019.
In March, the Silver Band were runners up in the Second Section at the Scottish Championships, and as a result went on to represent Scotland at the National Championships at Cheltenham in September. Over the Summer a total of 12 of the organisation’s young players attended the NYBBS summer course at Perthshire and the bands hosted their second annual Coalburn’s Got Talent competition.
The band family has also continued their partnership with South Lanarkshire Instrumental services, launching an afterschool brass beginners group at Machanhill Primary School in Larkhall run by a group of Silver Band members. The club has been a great success with some students joining the Bronze Band and attending the band’s open day in January for a series of interactive workshops with Helen Minshall.
The first award of the night was for the Percussion Academy’s ‘Most Improved Player’ and was awarded to George Anderson. George’s dedication and enthusiasm at his lessons has lead to an improvement in confidence and technique which has contributed to some fantastic performances throughout the year.
The Bronze Band awards followed. This year the award for the ‘Best Section’ went to the players who play part 3 - Luke Howarth, Malcom Ormrod, Hannah Archibald, and Nathaniel Hadley. The award for ‘Band Person of the Year’, chosen by the Bronze Band Committee, was awarded to cornet player Iona Jarvis. Throughout the year Iona has worked extremely hard and has been extremely well behaved and helpful at both rehearsals and engagements. This enthusiasm and positive attitude was also noticed by her peers as they chose Iona as this year’s winner of the ‘Children’s Choice Award’. The final award for the Bronze Band was the ‘George Blackwood Memorial Trophy’ for the most improved player. This year the award was presented to Luke Howarth for his commitment to band, improvement in playing and excellent behaviour at rehearsals.
The Intermediate Band awards followed. This year the award for ‘Most Improved Player’ went to the band’s soprano cornet player, Drew Gupwell. Drew has shown some excellent progress in playing throughout the year and has begun attending rehearsals with the Silver Band. The Intermediate Band ‘Players’ Player of the Year’ voted by band members was awarded to the band’s wonderful principal trombone Marcie Boyle. The band’s principal euphonium player Euan Court was voted ‘Player of the Year’ on account of his commitment to rehearsals and excellent performances at engagements. And finally, the Intermediate Band ‘Best Section’ award went to the horn team comprised of Alex Sheridan, Eilidh Court, Rory Hunter and Luke Howarth.
Next, it was the turn of the Silver Band. The Best Section award this year went to the horn team made up of Calum Miller, David Fehilly, Nicola Henderson, Helena Dunsmore and Jen Crockett. This was awarded for their consistent work as a team and their dedication has led to some excellent concert and contest performances throughout the year. Two ‘Conductor’s Awards’ were presented by the Silver Band’s conductor, Gareth Bowman. First recipient was the band’s Principal Cornet, Euan Roberts, who won the award for Best Instrumentalist in the Second Section at the Scottish Championships. Also receiving a Conductor’s Award was Euphonium player, Ross Abernethy. Gareth commented on both Euan and Ross’ outstanding commitment to home practice and rehearsal attendance, resulting in excellent concert and contest performances.
The ‘Band Person of the Year’ and winner of the presidential Quaich is voted by band members. Once again the award went to Daniel Beadle for his ongoing outstanding commitment to the running of the Coalburn organisation. The Silver Band’s final award was the ‘Player of the Year’, which this year was presented to principal Eb Bass player, Jack Archibald. Jack had superb commitment to rehearsals and engagements throughout 2019. Moreover, Gareth commended his technical playing ability and sound which has also earned him a place to begin studying at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland later this year.
Finally, this year the Coalburn Organisation had the pleasure of awarding a ‘Special Recognition Award’ to the Bronze Band’s baritone player Hannah Archibald for her work as a Youth Ambassador for the ‘Changing Faces Youth Action Group’ in 2019. In September she represented the charity at the Scottish Parliament and was part of a team delivering workshops in schools. Hannah has presented and contributed in Face Equality sessions addressing appearance related bullying which aim to promote inclusion and respect for those with visible differences. For more information about the Changing Faces charity please visit - https://www.changingfaces.org.uk/
Photos from our awards night are courtesy of Archibald Photography.
The 2020 Scottish Championships were a historic one for our band family. It was the first time in our 118 year history that we had two competing bands on stage at the Scottish Championships. On the Saturday evening, the Silver Band performed Tom Davoren’s test piece ‘Legacy’ and were placed 7th out of the 10th competing bands in the 1st section. This result consolidates the band’s 1st section status for 2021.
The results ceremony was made extra special for Alan Court, who was awarded a Special Recognition Award from the Scottish Brass Band Association for his 30 years services to the organisation as band president. The organisation had nominated Alan for this award to publically thank him for all of his work over the years and continues to do for all of our bands.
We are very proud that the Coalburn Intermediate took the stage at Perth Concert hall to make their contesting debut in the 4th section at the Scottish Championships. Following a confident performance of Christopher Bond’s ‘Neverland’ and were placed a credible 11th out of 14 well established bands. It is testament to our youth structures that we continue to develop and grow. No less than 16 players that performed on stage with Intermediate Band progressed from our Bronze Band and Percussion Academy.
The Intermediate Band were proud to wear their new waistcoats from musicwearetc.co.uk. The band are very grateful to the South Lanarkshire Renewable Energy Fund for their £2,000 grant which allowed them to be purchased.
The whole Coalburn Brass Band family extend their best wishes to all its supporters and fellow bands throughout the UK during this unprecedented time. We hope that we can resume rehearsals and perform for our audience as soon as possible and when it is safe to do so.
2019 was another successful year for the organisation. The Percussion Academy and their new tutor, Caitlin Monaghan, performed at their second Scottish Youth Championships and participated in various engagements throughout the year. The Bronze and Intermediate bands continued their on-going success, giving some excellent performances at various concerts and at the Scottish Youth Festival of Brass and Section 4B at the Scottish Championships. Both bands have seen the progress of the young musicians and have welcomed several new players during 2019.
In March, the Silver Band were runners up in the Second Section at the Scottish Championships, and as a result went on to represent Scotland at the National Championships at Cheltenham in September. Over the Summer a total of 12 of the organisation’s young players attended the NYBBS summer course at Perthshire and the bands hosted their second annual Coalburn’s Got Talent competition.
The band family has also continued their partnership with South Lanarkshire Instrumental services, launching an afterschool brass beginners group at Machanhill Primary School in Larkhall run by a group of Silver Band members. The club has been a great success with some students joining the Bronze Band and attending the band’s open day in January for a series of interactive workshops with Helen Minshall.
The first award of the night was for the Percussion Academy’s ‘Most Improved Player’ and was awarded to George Anderson. George’s dedication and enthusiasm at his lessons has lead to an improvement in confidence and technique which has contributed to some fantastic performances throughout the year.
The Bronze Band awards followed. This year the award for the ‘Best Section’ went to the players who play part 3 - Luke Howarth, Malcom Ormrod, Hannah Archibald, and Nathaniel Hadley. The award for ‘Band Person of the Year’, chosen by the Bronze Band Committee, was awarded to cornet player Iona Jarvis. Throughout the year Iona has worked extremely hard and has been extremely well behaved and helpful at both rehearsals and engagements. This enthusiasm and positive attitude was also noticed by her peers as they chose Iona as this year’s winner of the ‘Children’s Choice Award’. The final award for the Bronze Band was the ‘George Blackwood Memorial Trophy’ for the most improved player. This year the award was presented to Luke Howarth for his commitment to band, improvement in playing and excellent behaviour at rehearsals.
The Intermediate Band awards followed. This year the award for ‘Most Improved Player’ went to the band’s soprano cornet player, Drew Gupwell. Drew has shown some excellent progress in playing throughout the year and has begun attending rehearsals with the Silver Band. The Intermediate Band ‘Players’ Player of the Year’ voted by band members was awarded to the band’s wonderful principal trombone Marcie Boyle. The band’s principal euphonium player Euan Court was voted ‘Player of the Year’ on account of his commitment to rehearsals and excellent performances at engagements. And finally, the Intermediate Band ‘Best Section’ award went to the horn team comprised of Alex Sheridan, Eilidh Court, Rory Hunter and Luke Howarth.
Next, it was the turn of the Silver Band. The Best Section award this year went to the horn team made up of Calum Miller, David Fehilly, Nicola Henderson, Helena Dunsmore and Jen Crockett. This was awarded for their consistent work as a team and their dedication has led to some excellent concert and contest performances throughout the year. Two ‘Conductor’s Awards’ were presented by the Silver Band’s conductor, Gareth Bowman. First recipient was the band’s Principal Cornet, Euan Roberts, who won the award for Best Instrumentalist in the Second Section at the Scottish Championships. Also receiving a Conductor’s Award was Euphonium player, Ross Abernethy. Gareth commented on both Euan and Ross’ outstanding commitment to home practice and rehearsal attendance, resulting in excellent concert and contest performances.
The ‘Band Person of the Year’ and winner of the presidential Quaich is voted by band members. Once again the award went to Daniel Beadle for his ongoing outstanding commitment to the running of the Coalburn organisation. The Silver Band’s final award was the ‘Player of the Year’, which this year was presented to principal Eb Bass player, Jack Archibald. Jack had superb commitment to rehearsals and engagements throughout 2019. Moreover, Gareth commended his technical playing ability and sound which has also earned him a place to begin studying at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland later this year.
Finally, this year the Coalburn Organisation had the pleasure of awarding a ‘Special Recognition Award’ to the Bronze Band’s baritone player Hannah Archibald for her work as a Youth Ambassador for the ‘Changing Faces Youth Action Group’ in 2019. In September she represented the charity at the Scottish Parliament and was part of a team delivering workshops in schools. Hannah has presented and contributed in Face Equality sessions addressing appearance related bullying which aim to promote inclusion and respect for those with visible differences. For more information about the Changing Faces charity please visit - https://www.changingfaces.org.uk/
Photos from our awards night are courtesy of Archibald Photography.
The 2020 Scottish Championships were a historic one for our band family. It was the first time in our 118 year history that we had two competing bands on stage at the Scottish Championships. On the Saturday evening, the Silver Band performed Tom Davoren’s test piece ‘Legacy’ and were placed 7th out of the 10th competing bands in the 1st section. This result consolidates the band’s 1st section status for 2021.
The results ceremony was made extra special for Alan Court, who was awarded a Special Recognition Award from the Scottish Brass Band Association for his 30 years services to the organisation as band president. The organisation had nominated Alan for this award to publically thank him for all of his work over the years and continues to do for all of our bands.
We are very proud that the Coalburn Intermediate took the stage at Perth Concert hall to make their contesting debut in the 4th section at the Scottish Championships. Following a confident performance of Christopher Bond’s ‘Neverland’ and were placed a credible 11th out of 14 well established bands. It is testament to our youth structures that we continue to develop and grow. No less than 16 players that performed on stage with Intermediate Band progressed from our Bronze Band and Percussion Academy.
The Intermediate Band were proud to wear their new waistcoats from musicwearetc.co.uk. The band are very grateful to the South Lanarkshire Renewable Energy Fund for their £2,000 grant which allowed them to be purchased.
The whole Coalburn Brass Band family extend their best wishes to all its supporters and fellow bands throughout the UK during this unprecedented time. We hope that we can resume rehearsals and perform for our audience as soon as possible and when it is safe to do so.