Report: Scottish Festival of Brass 2025
A report from the Scottish Festival of Brass 2025, which saw Perthshire Brass awarded Best Second Section Band and Perthshire Youth Brass a Silver Award.
The Perthshire Brass organisation enjoyed two successful and rewarding weekends at the Scottish Festival of Brass 2025, held at Perth Concert Hall. The Festival saw Perthshire Brass compete in the Band Supplies Scottish Challenge on Saturday 22th November and Perthshire Youth Brass in the Scottish Youth Brass Band Championships on Sunday 30th November.
Competing under the direction of Willie McMullan, Perthshire Brass were drawn seventh out of nineteen bands in the Band Supplies Scottish Challenge. The band chose to play Royal Parks by George Lloyd as their own-choice test piece. Adjudicators Simon Gresswell and Leigh Baker placed the band 12th overall, a result that also secured the award for Best Second Section Band. This brings a remarkable contesting year to a close and confirms the band’s promotion to the First Section for the first time in January 2026.
On Sunday, Perthshire Youth Brass took to the stage in the Development Section of the Scottish Youth Championships, once again conducted by Willie McMullan. Their programme included the percussion feature Cause and Effect by Paul Lovatt-Cooper, the set piece Mission Impossible arranged by Alan Fernie, For a Friend also by Alan Fernie, Grease Selection arranged by Cameron Mabon and closed with Hot Stuff arranged by Rob Hume. This varied programme showcased the progress and confidence the band has developed over recent months. Adjudicators Glyn and Helen Williams awarded the group a Silver Award, reflecting their hard work and commitment.
The focus for the organisation now turns to Christmas, with multiple performances across Perthshire in December. This includes Dunkeld & Birnam’s Santa Day this Saturday and a joint concert with the Scottish Police and Community Choir in St John’s Kirk, Perth on Sunday 14th December, which promises to be a seasonal highlight.