Now in year three of SCBF, one band director becomes eligible for the SCBF Scholarship Award to the Mid West Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago later this year. Alan Friel conductor of Stewarton Winds needs to achieve a Gold Plus Award or higher for a third consecutive year to make this dream come true. Significantly the conductor’s task becomes slightly more complex in year three, in that one of the performed works needs to be conducted entirely from memory !

Two teams of two adjudicators will share the adjudication task on the day, they are :

School Band Classes :

Mr. James Cunningham, Head of Instrumental Music Service for Renfrewshire

Mr. Donald Finlayson, Head of Instrumental Music Service for East Renfrewshire

Youth, Community and Open Classes :

Mr. Craig Anderson, renowned  professional tuba soloist and band director.

Mr. Keiron Anderson, renowned professional trumpet player and conductor of the Yorkshire Wind Orchestra and Nottingham Symphonic Winds Orchestra.

SN percussion are again providing all the percussion on stage.

An acoustic piano will also be available – either standard upright or baby grand.

Programme Notes should be emailed to our Compere Bruce Fraser as soon as possible.

Trade stands of instruments, accessories, mutes, sheet music and uniforms will be on display throughout the day.

The cafeteria will operate from 9.30am until 7.00pm offering snacks, drinks and meals.

 Tickets are available from the box office at Perth Concert Hall now – please encourage as many parents and band supporters to come to hear your performance and enjoy a day in the fair city of Perth.

 The  Schedule for the SCBF Final is as follows :

( please remember that your band will have the use of the Warm Up Room for approximately 25minutes before the stated performance time below – there is no percussion in the warm up room, simply chairs and music stands ).

 ACHIEVING SCHOOL BAND CLASS

10.00am          STEWARTON LEARNING COMMUNITY Primary 7 Band –  Conductor James Baines

10.30am          MACKIE ACADEMY CONCERT BAND – Conductor  Sarah Gove

11.00am          STEWARTON ACADEMY JUNIOR WIND BAND – Conductor Alan Friel

ADVANCED SCHOOL BAND CLASS

11.30am          LARKHALL ACADEMY CONCERT BAND –  Conductor Chris Bradley

12.00noon       CULTS ACADEMY SENIOR CONCERT BAND –  Conductor Colin Hunter

12.30pm          ABERDEEN GRAMMAR SCHOOL CONCERT BAND –  Conductor Alan McDonald

1.00pm            Pre Adjudication Entertainment from

ABERDEEN CITY YOUTH BRASS ENSEMBLE conducted by Richard Kidd

1.20pm            Adjudication # 1 with adjudicators James Cunningham, Donald Finlayson. and SCBF Organiser Nigel Durno.

2.00pm            YOUTH BAND CLASS

2.00pm            WEST LOTHIAN JUNIOR WIND BAND –  Conductor Camille Mason

2.30pm            INVERCLYDE SCHOOLS CONCERT BAND –  Conductor David Hutcheson

3.00pm            WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE WIND BAND –  Conductor Chris Mitchell

3.30pm            SOUTH CENTRAL ABERDEENSHIRE SCHOOLS CONCERT BAND – Bruce Wallace

4.00pm            EAST RENFREWSHIRE SCHOOLS CONCERT BAND –  Conductor Kevin Price

4.30pm            ABERDEEN YOUTH WIND BAND –  Conductor Alan Haggart

5.00pm            INVERCLYDE SCHOOLS WIND ORCHESTRA –  Conductor David Hutcheson

               COMMUNITY BAND CLASS

5.30pm            STEWARTON WINDS –  Conductor Alan Friel

               OPEN CLASS          

6.00pm            GLASGOW WIND BAND –  Conductor Kevin Price

6.30pm            Adjudication #2 with adjudicators Craig Anderson, Keiron Anderson and SCBF Organiser Nigel Durno.

7.00pm            Close of Festival.

Last year’s national finals ran exactly to time – with your help we can do exactly the same this year.

An UPDATED 2012 REPERTOIRE LIST is now available on this site, and will be updated several more times in the next few months with new works – there are already  almost three hundred works to choose from ! Recommendations from any band directors participating in SCBF are always welcome.

There also several NEW TABS to be found under the MORE INFORMATION TAB. Please take time to read the ADJUDICATORS SCORES TAB.

Tickets for SCBF Finals in Perth Concert Hall, are now available from the box office of Perth Concert Hall.

Here are the results from this weekend’s event at Inveralmond Community High School, Livingston.

ACHIEVING SCHOOL BAND CLASS

GOLD PLUS

Stewarton Learning Community P7 Band - Gold Plus

STEWARTON LEARNING COMMUNITY P7 BAND – Conductor Jim Baines

GOLD

Stewarton Academy Junior Wind Ensemble - Gold

STEWARTON ACADEMY JUNIOR WIND ENSEMBLE – Conductor Alan Friel

ADVANCED SCHOOL BAND CLASS

GOLD

Larkhall Academy Concert Band - Gold

LARKHALL ACADEMY CONCERT BAND – Conductor Chris Bradley

SILVER PLUS

Mearns Castle High School Senior Concert Band - Silver Plus

MEARNS CASTLE HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR CONCERT BAND – Conductor Alison Borland

SILVER

Garnock Academy Senior Concert Band - Silver

GARNOCK ACADEMY SENIOR CONCERT BAND – Conductor Aileen Muir

ACHIEVING YOUTH BAND CLASS

GOLD

West Lothian Schools Junior Wind Band - Gold

WEST LOTHIAN SCHOOLS JUNIOR WIND BAND – Conductor Camille Mason

SILVER PLUS

Inverclyde Schools Training Band - Silver Plus

INVERCLYDE SCHOOLS TRAINING BAND – Conductor Emma Wilkins

SILVER PLUS

West Lothian Schools Concert Band - Silver Plus

WEST LOTHIAN SCHOOLS CONCERT BAND – Conductor Hugh Foster

YOUTH BAND CLASS

GOLD PLUS

Inverclyde Schools Wind Orchestra - Gold Plus

INVERCLYDE  SCHOOLS WIND ORCHESTRA – Conductor David Hutcheson

GOLD

West Dumbartonshire Wind Band - Gold

WEST DUMBARTONSHIRE WIND BAND – Conductor Chris Mitchell

GOLD

Inverclyde Schools Concert Band - Gold

INVERCLYDE SCHOOLS CONCERT BAND – Conductor David Hutcheson

GOLD

East Renfrewshire Gold

EAST RENFREWSHIRE SCHOOL CONCERT BAND – Conductor Kevin Price

BRONZE PLUS

Renfrewshire Schools Senior Concert Band - Bronze Plus

RENFREWSHIRE SCHOOLS SENIOR CONCERT BAND – Conductor Andrew Dickie

COMMUNITY BAND CLASS

SILVER

Linlithgow Reed Band Training Section

LINLITHGOW REED  BAND TRAINING SECTION  – Conductor Theresa McSherry

GOLD PLUS

Glasgow Wind Band - Gold Plus

GLASGOW WIND BAND – Conductor Kevin Price

GOLD PLUS – THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT

Inverclyde Schools Wind Orchestra

INVERCLYDE SCHOOLS WIND ORCHESTRA conducted by DAVID HUTCHESON

performing

TAHITI TROT arr. D.Shostakovich / Jerry Brubaker

GOLD PLUS

Stewarton Winds

STEWARTON WINDS conducted by ALAN FRIEL

ACHIEVING SCHOOL BAND CLASS

GOLD

Mackie Academy Concert Band – Conductor Sarah Gove

MACKIE ACADEMY CONCERT BAND – Conductor Sarah Gove

SILVER PLUS

Cults Academy Intermediate Concert Band – Conductor Jennifer Gourlay

CULTS ACADEMY INTERMEDIATE CONCERT BAND – Conductor Jennifer Gourlay

SILVER PLUS

Harlaw Academy Junior Concert Band – Conductor Pauline Black

HARLAW ACADEMY JUNIOR CONCERT BAND – Conductor Pauline Black

SILVER PLUS

Aberdeen Grammar School Junior Wind Band – Conductor Amy Dow

ABERDEEN GRAMMAR SCHOOL JUNIOR WIND BAND – Conductor Amy Dow

ACHIEVING YOUTH SCHOOL BAND CLASS

SILVER PLUS

 Picture coming soon

ABERDEEN MUSIC CENTRE INTERMEDIATE CONCERT BAND – Conductor Amy Dow

ADVANCED SCHOOL BAND CLASS

SILVER PLUS

Harlaw Academy Senior Concert Band – Conductor Alan Haggart

HARLAW ACADEMY SENIOR CONCERT BAND – Conductor Alan Haggart

ADVANCED SCHOOL BAND CLASS

GOLD PLUS

ABERDEEN GRAMMAR SCHOOL CONCERT BAND – Conductor Alan McDonald

GOLD

CULTS ACADEMY SENIOR CONCERT BAND – Conductor Colin Hunter

YOUTH BAND CLASS

GOLD

South Central Aberdeenshire Senior – Conductor Bruce Wallace

SOUTH CENTRAL ABERDEENSHIRE SENIOR – Conductor Bruce Wallace

GOLD

Aberdeen Youth Wind Band – Conductor Alan Haggart

ABERDEEN YOUTH WIND BAND – Conductor Alan Haggart

 SPECIAL GUEST ENTERTAINMENT SPOT

featuring

ABERDEEN CITY YOUTH BRASS BAND

conducted by Richard Kidd

Aberdeen City Youth Brass Band presented a very entertaining programme prior to adjudication.

Closing date for entries is Friday 28th. of October.

Calum Wemyss former pupil of Hazelhead Academy and member of Aberdeen City Youth Wind Band, and winner of the 2010/2011 SCBF Outstanding Soloist Award, will perform Adam Gorb’s fablous Concertino for Alto Sax and Band with Nigel Boddice and students of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in a concert in January – more details to follow soon. Callum is the second winner of the SCBF Concerto Performance award with students of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland – last years winner was Chubbe Anucha who gave a superb performance of Concerto for Alto Sax by Ronald Binge.

SCBF Festivals in Aberdeen, Edinburgh & Glasgow attract entries from “new” bands.

IMPORTANT FESTIVAL CHANGE

Bands entering the ACHIEVING SCHOOL BAND CLASS this year will be able to perform a programme of  TEN MINUTES  duration. This important change recognises the fact that younger bands, or bands in their early years of performance simply do not have the stamina to perform 20 minute programmes. Do you have a  band who can perform a ten minute programme ? Then an SCBF Regional Festival might be the performance opportunity they need.

Last year in 2010, the adverse weather ( snow in large amounts ) which Scotland experienced  caused the postponement of three of the four Regional Festivals. Should adverse weather affect any of the SCBF Regional Events this year, SCBF Organiser Nigel Durno has offered bands the possibility of  the “SCBF Remote Festival” policy – basically bands will be asked to make a video ( DVD) of the performance of their SCBF programme. This will be posted to the panel of adjudicators who will view the performance, complete the adjudication sheets and make the award as usual, and then the adjudicators will make a “to camera” visual and verbal adjudication DVD which will be posted back to each band and their director ( and audience?) to view. In this way bands can film the performance DVD at a time when the local weather situation allows, but still get their vital adjudication and award, and the possibilty of qualifying for the National Final in Perth Concert Hall on Sunday 18th. of March. This is a possibility which bands in remote parts of Scotland like Orkney, Shetland and other Scottish islands might want to adopt so that they too can participate in SCBF.

However we all know that there is nothing quite like the excitement of the  “live” performance, and actually being part of a festival on the day – meeting other people, hearing other bands and experiencing the thrill of the award ceremony. Lets hope the Scottish Winter is much kinder to us all this year !

Article  regarding advice to band directors in creating a suitable and balanced programme at each level to appear shortly.

As SCBF enters its third year,  some band directors may become eligible for the SCBF Scholarship Award, which will send any band director who has achieved three consecutive GOLD PLUS AWARDS or higher in the National Finals during the last three years (with the same band), for a week long trip to the Mid West Band & Orchestra Conference in Chicago in December 2012.

Nigel Durno.

SCBF Organiser – 8th. October 2011

A new SCBF Repertoire List will be published on this website on Monday 19th. September.

NEW works are being added to give directors more choice at each level - NO WORKS are being dropped – all existing works are considered as “core repertoire” at each level, and worthy of being performed by each new generation of players.

Early indications are that the SCBF Edinburgh & Glasgow festivals in Inveralmond Community High School on Saturday & Sunday the 3rd. & 4th. of December will have significantly increased level on entries.It will only be possible to accommodate twelve bands in each festival. The message is please get your entry in AS SOON AS POSSIBLE to ensure your band’s performance in these events. ( first entries have already been received !)

Nigel Durno. SCBF Organiser 16/09/2011.

Sixteen bands from across Scotland performed in the SCBF Finals in Perth Concert Hall on Saturday 2nd. of April. Figures from Perth Concert Hall show that approximately one thousand six hundred people attended this very successful event across the course of the day. For full details, click on the ‘News’ link.

For Band Directors looking for guidance on building suitable programmes for each of the SCBF options, there will be exemplar programmes at each level( and hopefully some new video footage )posted on this website ( during April ).

The adjudicators for the SCBF Finals in Perth Concert Hall are as follows :
The Advanced School Band Class, adjudicated by Christopher Wormald and Brian Kerr.

The Achieving School & Youth Band Classes, Adjudicated by Robert Baxter and Bruce Fraser.

The Youth Band and Community Band Classes, adjudicated by Christopher Wormald and Brian Kerr.
Comment on the SCBF Finals from Nigel Durno, SCBF Organiser.

Perth Concert Hall state that over one thousand six hundred people attended this event across the course of the day yesterday. The overwhelming feedback that I have had from all concerned so far is that the Festival was a huge success. I think we have found the right venue for the SCBF Finals each year – tell me what you think. For the first time in a new venue I think the day ran smoothly, with only a few small glitches along the way. The Festival started on time, and after nine hours of performances finished only twelve minutes late !

At the start of the day our team of adjudicators stated that they felt bands and their directors should be looking to “up their levels” of performance between Regional events and the Finals – “Bands and their directors should not come expecting to automatically achieve a GOLD award at the Finals, just because they got one at Regional level”. Now some bands and their directors may have felt hard done by with this approach, but what it does emphasise is that GOLD AWARDS and higher in SCBF have real currency – they will not be awarded unless all the criteria on the adjudication sheet have been met.

If we look at the range of awards given across the course of the day, the adjudicators used almost the entire spectrum of awards – certainly five of the available seven levels of award. As adjudicator Chris Wormald said, “if you are in any doubt, listen to your adjudication CD and check the comments on the adjudication sheets – these give a really good snapshot of the level of performance”.

So SCBF has now presented only two platinum awards in two years – one at Regional level to Cults Academy Senior Wind Band and their director Eric Kidd, and now one at Finals level to Stewarton Winds and their director Alan Friel.

With regard to the SCBF Band Directors Scholarship to the Mid West Band and Orchestra Conference in Chicago – it is noted that a few band directors are possibly on track to achieve the criteria of achieving a GOLD PLUS AWARD or higher in three consecutive years with the same ensemble – no pressure then for some !

It was really great to hear Inverclyde Wind Orchestra’s performance of their specially commissioned work “SAILING WITH TALL SHIPS” by Philip Sparke. This performance earned Inverclyde Wind Orchestra and their director David Hutcheson the SCBF Commissioned Work award – well done to the the band’s parents and Inverclyde Council for this joint effort/ initiative.

Callum Weymss – wow, what a solo performance of Philip Sparkes CARNIVAL for Alto Saxophone and Band, and thoroughly deserved SCBF Most Oustanding Soloist Award. Following in the footsteps of Chubbe Anucha from St. Margaret’s Academy in West Lothian, Callum will be offered a Concerto Performance with the students of the RSAM&D in the coming year.

Indications over the last few months are that SCBF is going to experience significantly increased entries for the Regional Events later this year. Do you know a band who would enjoy being part of this festival ?
Finally before the actual results below, a BIG THANK YOU to all the bands, their directors and the Mums and Dads and family who supported SCBF this last year – I look forward to seeing many of you later this year at the Regionals.

The awards in the SCBF Finals were as follows :

THE ADVANCED SCHOOL BAND CLASS
10.00am The JAMES YOUNG HIGH SCHOOL WIND BAND – Conductor Jennifer Stewart -
A SILVER AWARD.
10.30am St.MARGARET’S ACADEMY CONCERT BAND – Conductor Rachel Baxter -
A SILVER PLUS AWARD.
11.00am STEWARTON ACADEMY SENIOR WIND ENSEMBLE – Conductor Alan Friel -
A SILVER PLUS AWARD.
11.30am CULTS ACADEMY SENIOR CONCERT BAND – Conductor Eric Kidd -
A GOLD AWARD.

12.30pm The ACHIEVING YOUTH BAND CLASS
12.30pm ABERDEEN MUSIC CENTRE JUNIOR CONCERT BAND – Conductor Amy Dow -
A SILVER AWARD.

The ACHIEVING SCHOOL BAND CLASS
1.00pm STEWARTON ACADEMY JUNIOR WIND BAND – Conductor Alan Friel -
A SILVER PLUS AWARD.

1.30pm CULTS ACADEMY JUNIOR CONCERT BAND – Conductor Eleanor McPherson -
A SILVER PLUS AWARD.

2.00pm HARLAW ACADEMY CONCERT BAND – Conductor Alan Haggart -
A GOLD PLUS AWARD.

HARLAW ACADEMY were also awared the SCBF ENTERTAINMENT AWARD for this class.

2.30pm CULTS ACADEMY INTERMEDIATE CONCERT BAND – Conductor Colin Hunter -
A SILVER PLUS AWARD.

3.30pm INVERCLYDE SCHOOLS WIND BAND – Conductor David Hutcheson -
A GOLD AWARD.

INVERCLYDE SCHOOLS WIND BAND were also awarded the SCBF ENTERTAINMENT AWARD for the Youth Band Class.

4.00pm ABERDEEN YOUTH WIND BAND – Conductor Alan Haggart -
A GOLD PLUS AWARD.

ABERDEEN YOUTH BAND Alto Sax Soloist Callum Weymss, was awarded the SCBF MOST OUTSTANDING SOLOIST AWARD for his superb performance of Philip Sparke’s Carnival for Alto Saxophone and band.

4.30pm EAST RENFREWSHIRE SCHOOLS WIND BAND – Conductor Kevin Price -
A GOLD AWARD.

5.00pm INVERCLYDE SCHOOLS WIND ORCHESTRA – Conductor David Hutcheson -
A GOLD AWARD.

INVERCLYDE SCHOOLS WIND ORCHESTRA were awarded the SCBF COMMISSIONED WORK AWARD for their performance of their specially commissioned work “SAILING WITH TALL SHIPS” by Philip Sparke.

The COMMUNITY BAND CLASS
5.30pm LOCHABER COMMUNITY WIND BAND – Conductor John Whyte -
A SILVER AWARD.

6.00pm DUNBARTONSHIRE CONCERT BAND – Conductor Robert Baxter -
A GOLD PLUS AWARD.

6.30pm STEWARTON WINDS – Conductor Alan Friel -
A PLATINUM AWARD.

The results were as follows -

The ACHIEVING SCHOOL BAND CLASS

CULTS ACADEMY JUNIOR CONCERT BAND Conductor Eleanor McPherson
Achieved a GOLD AWARD.

MACKIE ACADEMY CONCERT BAND – Conductor Sarah Gove
Achieved a SILVER PLUS AWARD.

HARLAW ACADEMY CONCERT BAND – Conductor Alan Haggart
Achieved a GOLD PLUS AWARD.

CULTS ACADEMY INTERMEDIATE CONCERT BAND – Conductor Colin Hunter
Achieved a GOLD AWARD.

The ACHIEVING YOUTH BAND CLASS
ABERDEEN MUSIC CENTRE JUNIOR CONCERT BAND – Conductor Amy Dow
Achieved a GOLD AWARD.

ABERDEEN MUSIC CENTRE INTERMEDIATE CONCERT BAND – Conductor Kevin Cormack
Achieved a SILVER PLUS AWARD

The ADVANCED SCHOOL BAND CLASS
CULTS ACADEMY SENIOR CONCERT BAND – Conductor Eric Kidd
Achieved a PLATINUM AWARD and The SCBF ENTERTAINMENT AWARD.
Adjudicators Donald Finlayson and Ken Blackwood commented that although this level of award is normally only available in SCBF finals, they felt that the performance given by Cults Academy Senior Concert Band and their conductor Eric Kidd was truely at an exceptional level for a school band, and fully merited unique recognition.

ABERDEEN GRAMMAR SCHOOL – Conductor Alan McDonald
Due to the rescheduling of this festival, Aberdeen Grammar School were unable to participate today. We hope to see them later this year in SCBF.

YOUTH BAND CLASS
ABERDEEN YOUTH WIND BAND – Conductor Alan Haggart
Achieved a GOLD PLUS AWARD.
Alto Sax Soloist Callum Wemyss was awarded the SCBF OUTSTANDING SOLOIST AWARD for his superb performance of Philip Sparke’s CARNIVAL for ALTO SAX and BAND.

SOUTH CENTRAL ABERDEENSHIRE MUSIC CENTRE WIND BAND – Conductor Richard Paton
Achieved a SILVER PLUS AWARD.

Sunday 16th. January at Inveralmond Community High School, Nigel Durno SCBF Organiser announced the SCBF CONDUCTORS AWARD, which will send one conductor per year to the Mid West Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago.
To achieve this award, conductors will have to achieve a GOLD PLUS AWARD or higher in three consecutive years with the same band. Significantly the award is being back dated to last year – the first year of SCBF.
More details to follow in the near future.

Prize winning Alto Saxophone Soloist Chubbe Anucha, from St.Margarets High School Senior Concert Band is to perform the Ronald Binge Alto Saxophone Concerto with the Wind Orchestra of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, at the RSAM&D on Thursday the 3rd. of February.
Chubbe was awarded this SCBF prize at the SCBF Finals in 2010 for his outstanding solo performances both in Regional and Finals Festivals.
This performance is a great example of the good co operation between the RSAM&D and SCBF to reward and recognise aspiring young soloists.
Hopefully many of you who read this, will come to the concert and support Chubbe in his debut concerto performance.
Chubbe we watch your musical future with great interest – well done !
Who will be next to win this prestigious “Concerto Performance” award in SCBF ?

RESULTS from the rescheduled EDINBURGH and GLASGOW REGIONAL FESTIVALS.

The postponed SCBF Edinburgh & Glasgow Regional events took place yesterday in Inveralmond Community High School in Livingston on Sunday 16th. January.

Thanks to all the band directors, the musicians and their supporters for making the day a great success. There were many good performances throughout the day, and I think everyone felt they were glad they had made the effort to “resconstruct” their postponed December performances today.

There was certainly a very positive atmosphere about the day, and I think the venue for this event is a good one, and should be used again – what do you think ?
Sadly one of our three adjudicators for the day was unavailable through illness – we send our best wishes to Heather Kent for a speedy recovery.

Amazingly for the first time in a new venue, the festival RAN EXACTLY TO TIME. This was due to the superb co operation from bands and their directors and SCBF Festival staff James Miller stage manger and his assistant Ritchie Durno, front of house staff Pat Fraser and Mary Durno, and of course our “smooth talking” SCBF Compere Bruce Fraser for keeping things “flowing” on stage.
Images of awards to follow in the next few days – click on SCBF Awards.

The RESULTS were as follows -

EDINBURGH FESTIVAL

Adjudicator Hughina Naylor.

Achieving School Band Class 10.00am

10.00 STEWARTON ACADEMY JUNIOR WIND ENSEMBLE Conductor Alan Friel
Achieved an outstanding GOLD AWARD on their first time at a Festival.
For a band composed almost entirely of first and second year players, this was truely a great achievement.

Advanced School Band Class 10.30am

10.30 The JAMES YOUNG HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR WIND BAND Conductor Jennifer Stewart
Achieved a SILVER PLUS AWARD.
Adjudicator Hughina Naylor made the recomendation that although this band did not achieve the “Gold” qualifier award to reach the SCBF final on the day, in her professional opinion the band should receive an invitation to the final.
SCBF Organiser Nigel Durno has agreed to this recommendation as a “one time” gesture.
Today the James Young High School Senior Wind Band created a SCBF first by programming a composition by one of the bands players, Matthew Zurowski. Mathew’s “OVERTURE for WIND INSTRUMENTS”, the opening piece in the bands programme, was conducted by the composer and was very warmly received by the audience. The piece had structure and shows real promise, as indeed does this young composers conducting ability !
This performance was a really good initiative, and highlights one of the SCBF options of commissioning a composer to write a work for the band. Well done Matthew, we watch your compositional and conducting future with great interest !

11.00 St. MARGARETS HIGH SCHOOL CONCERT BAND Conductor Rachel Baxter
Achieved a GOLD AWARD.

11.30 Edinburgh Festival Adjudication and AWARDS

12.00 GLASGOW FESTIVAL

Adjudicators Hughina Naylor and Jennifer Stewart.

Community Band Class

12.00 DUNBARTONSHIRE Concert Band Conductor Robert Baxter
Achieved a GOLD AWARD
A special OUTSTANDING SOLOIST AWARD is being made to the band’s Alto Sax soloist Alan Donnelly for his suberb solo in Cajun Folk Songs.

12.30 LINLITHGOW REED BAND TRAINING SECTION Conductor Theresa McSherry
Achieved a very commendable BRONZE PLUS AWARD in their first visit to SCBF – well done Theresa and the band.

1.00 STEWARTON WINDS Conductor Alan Friel
Achieved a GOLD PLUS AWARD.

1.30 ACHIEVING SCHOOL BAND CLASS

1.30 INVERCLYDE SCHOOLS TRAINING BAND Conductor David Hutcheson
Achieved a SILVER PLUS AWARD

David Hutcheson with the support of Inverclyde Music Services manager Brian Keachie, are to be congratulated on managing to field three bands at SCBF this year, demonstrating the real pyramid of progress from Training Band to Wind Orchestra – well done Inverclyde Council, this was a real showcase of young peoples abilities and dedication.

2.00 ADVANCED SCHOOL BAND CLASS

2.00 GARNOCK ACADEMY SENIOR CONCERT BAND Conductor Aileen Muir
Achieved a BRONZE PLUS AWARD.
It was good to see this very promising band make their SCBF debut.

2.30 STEWARTON ACADEMY SENIOR WIND ENSEMBLE Conductor Alan Friel
Achieved a GOLD AWARD
Special mention was made of Euphonium Soloist Louise Baillie for her performance in “Benediction”.
Special recognition was also given from the adjudicators to Alan Friel for his outstanding effort in rehearsing and presenting three Stewarton based bands – a phenomenal effort proving that this director is able to produce quantity and quality !

3.00PM ADJUDICATION of COMMUNITY BAND and SCHOOL CLASSES

3.30 YOUTH BAND CLASS

3.30 INVERCLYDE SCHOOLS WIND BAND Conductor David Hutcheson
Achieved a GOLD AWARD.
This band programmed one piece in the “ENTERTAINMENT” option of SCBF. The “solo” New Orleans style quartet which introducted a thrilling performance of “Just a Closer Walk With Thee”, earned the band’s solo trombonist the SCBF OUTSTANDING SOLOIST AWARD.

4.00 WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE SCHOOLS WIND BAND Chris Mitchell
Achieved a SILVER PLUS AWARD, again great to see a very promising “county band” making their SCBF debut – we look forward to seeing you at SCBF again later this year.

4.30 EAST RENFREWSHIRE SCHOOLS CONCERT BAND Conductor Kevin Price
Achieved a SILVER PLUS AWARD.
Adjudicator Hughina Naylor made the recomendation that although this band did not achieve the “Gold” qualifier award to reach the SCBF final on the day, in her professional opinion the band should receive an invitation to the final.
SCBF Organiser Nigel Durno has agreed to this recommendation as a “one time” gesture.

5.00 INVERCLYDE SCHOOLS WIND ORCHESTRA Conductor David Hutcheson
Achieved a GOLD AWARD
David Hutcheson again chose to programme one piece in the “ENTERTAINMENT” option of SCBF. This was a very successful choice and indeed successful performance. Although mention was not made on the day of the festival, Hannah Tallis the outstanding vocal soloist from Inverclyde, is to receive an SCBF OUSTANDING SOLOIST AWARD,
Hannah’s performance embodied the essence of this SCBF option – i.e. choosing to programme a piece of entertainment music and perfoming it to an extremely high standard.
Programming this SCBF option, when treated seriously and carefully rehearsed in detail as this performance obviously was, brings a very welcome added dimension to SCBF.
Video footage of this piece may become available on this site in the near future if permissions are granted.
Well done Hannah and the band !

5.30pm ADJUDICATION and AWARD CEREMONY of Youth Band Class

6.00pm Close of Festival

CONFIRMATION of NEW DATE for the ABERDEEN Regional Event.

The postponed ABERDEEN FESTIVAL at Cults Academy is rescheduled for Sunday 30th. of January 2011. Thanks to all the band directors who have responded confirming their availibilty for this date. Starting time/ Performance times/ running order etc. will be exactly as previously arranged.

(Video: Watch this video on the post page)

Please click on the above video clip to view a performance of SCBF Most Outstanding Soloist of the Year 2010, Callum Wemyss perform Philip Sparke’s CARNIVAL for Alto Sax.
Callum performed this work at the SCBF Finals in Perth Concert Hall on Saturday the 2nd. of April 2011. Adjudicators Chris Wormald and Brian Kerr awarded Callum the prestigeous SCBF Concerto Prize which is to perform a concerto accompanied by the students of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. This performance will take place on Thursday the 2nd. of February 2012, when Callum will perform Adam Gorb’s Concertino for Alto Sax with the RCS Wind Orchestra conducted by Nigel Boddice. Tickets are available from the box office of The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Callum is the second recipient of the SCBF Concerto Award, last year saw Chubbe Anucha an alto sax player from West Lothian perform Ronald Binge’s Concerto for Alto Sax with students of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama conducted by Nigel Boddice.

SCBF, now in its third year will produce a fantastic third opportunity for one young Scottish musician. The SCBF Aberdeen Area Festival produced two outstanding solo performances :
Trumpet Soloist Mark James performed DECLARATION for TRUMPET by Stephen Bulla,  while Flute Soloist Jillian Hunter performed RHAPSODY for FLUTE by Stephen Bulla.
Both of these outstanding young musicians are now eligible for the SCBF Most Outstanding Soloist of the Year Award 2011/12 when they perform in the SCBF National Finals in Perth Concert Hall on Sunday 18th. of March 2012. Tickets are available now from Perth Concert Hall box office ( book online) or at the door on the day.

Nigel Durno.
SCBF Organiser
Updated 28/12/2011

Please see the ‘news‘ page for the results of recent band festivals.

If you conduct a wind band ……. then this festival is for you, and will provide one of the best motivational tools and rewarding performance opportunities for your band to work towards over the coming months…..and years !The SCBF has FIVE KEY NEW features which differ SIGNIFICANTLY from the existing NCBF.The SCBF will have FIVE INDIVIDUAL WIND BAND categories/ classes:The ACHIEVING School Band Class – for bands performing grade 1 and grade 2 repertoire – up to Grade 2.5.	Please click on SCBF Main Sponsors Just Music
The ADVANCED School Band Class – for bands performing grade 2.5 repertoire and above.The YOUTH Band Class – for bands composed of pupils from several schools. The COMMUNITY Band Class – for bands of all ages and abilities The OPEN Class – the premier wind band class for bands from music colleges or institutes of higher education and youth or community bands who wish to enter at this level.In this second year of the Scottish Concert Band Festival, there are no plans to include a Jazz Ensemble Class – although this may follow in future years if there is demand. The SCBF Festival specifically wants to attract performances from First Year Bands in Primary and Secondary Schools in Scotland, and bands with incomplete instrumentation, who traditionally have not been part of the existing NCBF.2. Secondly, the SCBF has a brand NEW REPERTOIRE LISTwith over 250 pieces of quality repertoire ranging from Grade 0.5 for very beginning bands to Grade 6.0 for professional bands. Only one piece must be chosen from the Repertoire List when compiling a programme to enter the SCBF, the rest of the programe is “own choice”. Alternatively, bands may elect to perform a work which they have commissioned as an alternative to choosing a work from the Repertoire List. The good news is that there is NO REQUIREMENT to play a title in BOLD PRINT from the repertoire list !	Band Supplies
3. The 3rd. NEW FEATURE of the SCBF is that it aims to have FOUR “AREA/LOCAL” QUALIFYING EVENTS in four regions throughout Scotland culminating in a Scottish National Final event to be held in the fabulous venue at PERTH CONCERT HALL on Saturday the 2nd. of April – the day after schools break up for Easter.	The Wind Section

Inverness & Highlands – Saturday 27th. November – Millburn Academy, Inverness.
Aberdeen & North East – Sunday 28th. November at Northfield Academy/ Aberdeen Music Centre.
Dundee/Tayside/Perth – Sunday 14th. November – venue to be confirmed.
Edinburgh & East of Scotland – Saturday 4th. December – NEW VENUE – Inveralmond Community High School, Livingston.
Glasgow & West of Scotland – Sunday 5th. December – NEW VENUE – Inveralmond Community High School, Livingston.
# Saturday 2nd. April 2011 – SCBF National Final at PERTH CONCERT HALL. * Please Note CHANGE of VENUE and DATE.

Bands should enter their own AREA event, but in case of difficulty with a Festival date, bands may opt this year to enter a different area event on a different date.
4. The 4th. NEW FEATURE of the SCBF is the FORMAT of the MUSICAL PROGRAMME.
Traditionally, band directors presenting balanced programmes (15 – 20minutes) for music festivals have thought along the following lines -
Opener
Slow Tune
Biggie/ Finisher

The SCBF opens up TWO NEW POSSIBILITIES -

The OPTION to include a FEATURED SOLOIST playing a movement from a concerto or solo work – there will be a special Soloist Award for bands choosing this option at Area and National level.

The OPTION to include a work of pure entertainment, which draws on visual as well as the aural presentation – again there will be a special ENTERTAINMENT AWARD for bands choosing to include this option in their programme. This is really an attempt to get bands to “really visually entertain” their audiences, using “musical theatre”, choreography, props etc. instead of playing light concert repertoire with a “dead pan” sitting still approach.

So the new SCBF musical programme might look like this -

Opener ( possibly from the Rep List)
Slow Tune OR Solo Feature (New Option)
Biggie ( possibly from the Rep List or commissioned work)
Entertainment Item ( New Option)

It is however recognised that bands may not want to include either of these OPTIONS in their programming, and there is no penalty for doing so, since these are entirely separate awards.

5. The 5th. NEW FEATURE of the SCBF is that a new generation of Wind Band experts and ADJUDICATORS is currently being recruited specifically to help adjudicate at the different area/ qualifying events throughout Scotland. This new generation of adjudicators will be drawn from the instrumental teaching teams from Scottish Local Education Authorities – they will be working band directors themselves with existing knowledge of the band repertoire and a real interest in the future development of wind bands and instrumental music education.

They will attend annually a National InService Training day – this year to be held at the RSAMD on a date in October 2010 – to be confirmed. During this day they will analize the key areas of musical performance which is desireable and achieveable by each level of band from first year band through to accomplished adult band. This should help ensure that a positive, balanced and uniform level of adjudication is delivered at each SCBF event which encourages players, directors and their supporters to jointly seek continuing musical performances of enjoyment and quality.

ADJUDICATION & AWARDS

It is intended that adjudicators will largely be drawn from a pool of working band directors, who have attended a National Training event held in the Royal Scottish Academy of Music & Drama. Crucially since by far the largest part of this Festival is educationally based, the band directors/ adjudicators will be focusing at this training event on what should be achievable by each grade of band and what actually is being achieved. Significantly this will be the first music festival where the adjudicators are given the opportunity to meet and agree on key aspects of performance and band repertoire in advance of the actual process of “live adjudication”. This should lead to a more “uniform” delivery of adjudication, and go some way to help “iron out” previous discrepancies, especially between Area Event and National Final.

Performances at AREA LEVEL will be awarded either a

GOLD or a Gold Plus,
SILVER or a Silver Plus,
BRONZE or Bronze Plus

award, based on the adjudicators perception of how successfully the band and the director have achieved in the following criteria :

RHYTHM – successful performance of all rhythmic elements, including successful negotiation of all changes of metre, accellerando/ rallentando/ appropriate use of rubato and choice of tempi.

MELODY – Successful balance throughout each piece of the Melodic Line, Counter Melodies (where present) with the rhythmic/ harmonic accompaniment and bass line.

TUNING & INTONATION – tuning up successfully prior to performance and maintaining a high level of “in tune” performance throughout.

ARTICULATION – the ability to clearly perform all styles of articulation required in each piece – legato, staccato, accents etc.

DYNAMICS – the ability to present a carefully structured dynamic range throughout each piece.

COMMUNICATION – the bands ability to respond to the conductors visual direction – and the conductors ability to give appropriate visual direction.

MUSICALITY & INTERPRETATION – the evidence from the performance of detailed prior thought and preparation on the programme by the conductor with regard to phrasing and creating musical performance which is more than simply a delivery of the notes on the page.

CHOICE & BALANCE of PROGRAMME – A well conceived balanced and contrasting programme which focuses on the strengths of the ensemble, but at the same time presenting the band with appropriate technical & musical challenges

The AWARDS
As outlined above, awards will be presented using the following hierarchy :
Bronze
Bronze Plus
Silver
Silver Plus
Gold
Gold Plus

at NATIONAL FINAL level, since it is anticipated that there may be several awards at Gold Level, and in order to differentiate a really outstanding Gold performance, the adjudicators may if they deem it appropriate, award one and only one PLATINUM Award.

At each AREA event, the adjudicators may award “The MOST ENTERTAINING BAND” award to the band who achieves the highest level of performance – visually and aurally, in the NEW FESTIVAL OPTION of the addition of an entertainment item to the performance.

At each AREA event, the adjudicators may award “The MOST OUTSTANDING SOLOIST” to the soloist who achieves the highest level of performance in the New Festival Option where band directors may choose to feature a particularly good soloist.

The National Final of the Scottish Concert Band Festival, on Sunday 21st. of March 2010, will be given a very high profile, with the highest achieving bands from across Scotland being invited to give public performances as part of the RSAM&D programme of events to recognise their success. The winning Soloist ( where band directors have chosen this option), will be invited to perform a solo work ( or concerto or movement from a concerto) with the orchestra or wind band of the RSAMD.

At National Final level, it is hoped to make an award to the Band Director who produces the most musical performance of any one piece or complete programme.

There will be an award for the band who successfully produces and performs “the BEST COMMISIONED NEW WORK for BAND”. This award could be won by a band at AREA level, and is not necessarily tied into performances at National Final level.

SCBF REPERTOIRE LIST 2009 – 2010
This list is available both with this mailing to you as a separate document, and online at http://www.scottishconcertbandfestival.com/

SCBF ENTRY FORM 2009 – 2010
The entry form is available both with this mailing to you as a separate document, and online at http://www.scottishconcertbandfestival.com/
The entry fee is £70.00
CLOSING DATE for entries for ALL AREAS is FRIDAY 22nd. October 2009

The NATIONAL FINAL of the Scottish Concert Band Festival, on Sunday 21st. of March 2010 at The Royal Scottish Academy of Music & Drama in Glasgow.

THIS IS A FESTIVAL FOR YOU & YOUR BAND
If you have any questions or comments to make regarding the Scottish Concert Band Festival, please email n.durno@scottishconcertbandfestival.com

or contact
Nigel Durno, Scottish Concert Band Festival,
246 Auldhouse Road, EAST KILBRIDE, G75 9DX.
Tel. 01355 – 245674