Front row from left: Hannah Archibald, Tilly Trickey, Samuel Ramsay, Musical Director - Gareth Bowman, Malcolm Ormrod, Ben Coulter, Eilidh Court, Nathanael Ramsay.
Back row from left: Anna Biggart, Calum Blair, Gregor Koziel, Aileen Orr.
Unfortunately not pictured: Marcie Boyle.
Coalburn’s Dazzling Dozen at NYBBS 2022
At this year’s NYBBS summer course, the Coalburn Brass Band Family organisation had 12 of our wonderful, young, musicians attending the course. Our players put on an amazing show at the end of the hard-working week at the Albert Halls in Stirling, where friends and family were able to watch live for the first NYBBS summer course since 2019.
In the Children’s Band, under the musical direction of Scottish composer Alan Fernie, cornet player Nathanael Ramsay and euphonium player Malcolm Ormrod, who achieved the principal euphonium seat, played alongside 36 other talented musicians, aged from 9 to 13, and performed an outstanding concert at the end of the week.
Playing in the Reserve Band, conducted by John Boax, we had cornet players Tilly Trickey and Ben Coulter, baritone player Hannah Archibald, and trombone player Samuel Ramsay. They put on an excellent show which included a piece, 'Slaidburn Goes Brazilian’, arranged and conducted by Coalburn Silver Band's conductor Gareth Bowman.
Six members of Coalburn Silver played in the Senior Band, directed by prestigious conductor Ian Porthouse, with three members attaining principal seats. Anna Biggart was chosen as principal trombone by Ryan Richards, alongside Gregor Koziel who gained principal soprano cornet, and Calum Blair who was appointed principal cornet by Richard Poole and Leanne Porthouse. Marcie Boyle, Aileen Orr, and Eilidh Court also earned great seats within their sections.
On the fourth day of the course, the Senior Band held a solo competition with 18 competing, adjudicated by esteemed musician Harry Lovatt-Cooper. Four of our Coalburn members performed solos with Gregor Koziel coming in second, playing, ‘On with the Motley’ from Pagliacci.
As well as a solo contest, the annual ‘NYBBS Got Talent’ was held in the theatre of Strathallan School, with our Coalburn members showing what they’ve got. Nathanael Ramsay wowed the crowd with how fast he could solve a Rubik’s cube, with help from his glamorous assistant, Malcolm Ormrod. Coalburn Silver members came together with conductor Gareth Bowman, to perform Gareth’s arrangement of DJ Sammy's anthem, ‘Heaven’, originally by Bryan Adams. Gareth proudly showed his gymnastics skills during the piece and played cowbell along with the star players.
Another fantastic achievement for Coalburn, is Calum Blair and Gregor Koziel have been nominated for the 2023 European Brass Band at the end of the course. This is a huge accomplishment, and we congratulate all the other young players who were nominated.
To conclude the week, each band performed a dazzling programme, doing themselves, their tutors, and their families proud. And most of all, showing how amazing, and talented, the Coalburn Brass Band Family are.
Band President, Alan Court commented, “We are so incredibly proud of our talented members of the Coalburn Brass Band Family, and how many of our young players are eager to improve and represent our organisation. We couldn’t be more thrilled. A special thank you needs to go to the Loaningdale School Company who contributed £100 to the course fees for everyone who attended from our organisation.”
