Success as Highland music groups make it to national finals

At the recent Inverness heat of the Scottish Concert Bands Festival, two of The Highland Council’s Area Music Groups scored great success and have been invited to compete in the finals of this national Festival in March 2013.

The 40 strong Lochaber High School Senior Wind Band is a popular and well-loved local ensemble.  With two annual concerts at which other groups featuring woodwind and brass players are given the opportunity to perform to family and friends alike, the band is very experienced at performing.  The schools Junior Wind Band and Big Band are often to be found performing with the full senior band.  Along with Lochaber School's Pipe Band an annual concert is held for the Commando Veterans Association and their families in the school as well as providing the music accompaniment for the Service of Remembrance held at the Commando Memorial in Spean Bridge.

The band were awarded a gold plus certificate at the Inverness SCBF heat and their conductor, Mark Reynolds, is delighted to have the opportunity to travel to Perth for the finals.

Inverness Schools Wind Band was also in the Gold category at the Festival, being awarded a Gold Achievement certificate which gives them a place in the Finals, although in a different category from the Lochaber Band. 

The Lochaber Band will compete in a category for bands from one school, whilst the Inverness Schools Wind Band will rival those from all over Scotland whose members come from different schools within and Area or Local Authority.

Members of Inverness Schools Wind Band are representative of all the secondary schools around the City and are also experienced and regular performers.  The bands weekly rehearsals will now have a renewed focus in 2013 as they not only prepare for their second concert of the year, but for the SCBF final. 

Their conductor Rob Farmer said:  “Taking part in the Festival is an ideal opportunity for members to meet and listen to similar groups from all over the country.  By doing so, it gives members and staff a much better benchmark of our standards. All the musicians are looking forward to performing and are prepared to put in a lot of hard work over the next few months.”

The National Finals take place at Perth Concert Hall on Saturday 23 March.