Registered Charity No. SC0. 52284
About us
History
Brass Central Strathearn was formed in February 2012 by people living in Strathearn.
When they saw the Victorian Bandstand in MacRosty Park Crieff being transformed, the then Band Manager (Mrs Hilary Whitaker) set herself the task of forming a new band in Strathearn.
With the help from The Board of Governors, Headmaster and Head of Music for Ardvreck School in Crieff and the Scottish Brass Band Association (SBBA) Brass Central Strathearn was formed.
Hilary managed to get Kenny Letham now Dysart Band to be the first MD and between them they managed to get players from other areas to form the band.
In 2014 Hilary left the Crieff area and handed over the managership to Jim Wishart, who is still manager today.
2014 saw the band play for the Earl and Countess of Strathearn, (Duke and Duchess of Cambridge) when they visited the Strathearn Area.
2016 saw us raise the Development Band. We decided that we wanted to open the chance to young and old, hence Development not Youth.
2017 saw our present MD, Tom Smith MMus. RCS join us and in 2018 he took the Development Band to the Festival of Brass, run and organized by the Scottish Brass Band Association.
March 2020 saw Brass Central Strathearn for the first time take part in the 4b Section at the Scottish Brass Band Contest held in Perth Concert Hall.
When they saw the Victorian Bandstand in MacRosty Park Crieff being transformed, the then Band Manager (Mrs Hilary Whitaker) set herself the task of forming a new band in Strathearn.
With the help from The Board of Governors, Headmaster and Head of Music for Ardvreck School in Crieff and the Scottish Brass Band Association (SBBA) Brass Central Strathearn was formed.
Hilary managed to get Kenny Letham now Dysart Band to be the first MD and between them they managed to get players from other areas to form the band.
In 2014 Hilary left the Crieff area and handed over the managership to Jim Wishart, who is still manager today.
2014 saw the band play for the Earl and Countess of Strathearn, (Duke and Duchess of Cambridge) when they visited the Strathearn Area.
2016 saw us raise the Development Band. We decided that we wanted to open the chance to young and old, hence Development not Youth.
2017 saw our present MD, Tom Smith MMus. RCS join us and in 2018 he took the Development Band to the Festival of Brass, run and organized by the Scottish Brass Band Association.
March 2020 saw Brass Central Strathearn for the first time take part in the 4b Section at the Scottish Brass Band Contest held in Perth Concert Hall.
Musical Director - Tom Smith
Renowned for his versatility and musicality, Tom is a freelance musician working all over Scotland. Specialising in playing the bass trombone, his experience includes orchestral, contemporary, commercial, and soloist work. Tom has featured on Radio Scotland as a soloist and plays guest principal bass trombone regularly with professional orchestras, including the orchestra of Scottish Ballet, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Ulster Orchestra, the orchestra of Scottish Opera, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Concert Orchestra and Scottish Festival Orchestra.
Tom was educated at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) and in 2010 received a Master’s degree with distinction. During his time there Tom played with several of the college's prestigious groups, took part in an apprenticeship scheme with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, played in an ensemble with players from The Golden Section, played with members of the Wallace Collection, was a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, and won the Governors Recital Prize for Brass along with the Prize for Excellence in Brass.
As a tutor, Tom is in high demand and is very well regarded. He conducts the senior and development bands at Brass Central Strathearn, and instructs brass pupils at Kilgraston School, Strathallan School, and Craigclowan Preparatory School. In addition to these permanent posts, Tom acts as a cover musician at the "Big Noise" (Sistema Scotland) project and teaches the trombone on a cover basis at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland's Junior Department. Tom has taken trombone/low brass sectionals with the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland (Junior and Senior Orchestras), West of Scotland Schools Concert Band, and used to be the conductor for the Bearsden and Milngavie Youth Orchestra.
Tom was educated at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) and in 2010 received a Master’s degree with distinction. During his time there Tom played with several of the college's prestigious groups, took part in an apprenticeship scheme with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, played in an ensemble with players from The Golden Section, played with members of the Wallace Collection, was a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, and won the Governors Recital Prize for Brass along with the Prize for Excellence in Brass.
As a tutor, Tom is in high demand and is very well regarded. He conducts the senior and development bands at Brass Central Strathearn, and instructs brass pupils at Kilgraston School, Strathallan School, and Craigclowan Preparatory School. In addition to these permanent posts, Tom acts as a cover musician at the "Big Noise" (Sistema Scotland) project and teaches the trombone on a cover basis at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland's Junior Department. Tom has taken trombone/low brass sectionals with the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland (Junior and Senior Orchestras), West of Scotland Schools Concert Band, and used to be the conductor for the Bearsden and Milngavie Youth Orchestra.
Members at present
Musical Director
Tom Smith (MMus.RCS)
Tom Smith (MMus.RCS)
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Eb Soprano Cornet
Vacant Solo Bb Cornet Stephen Carter Jayne Martin Isabel Crocker Vacant Bb Repiano Cornet Vacant 2nd Bb Cornet Ian Melville Graham Martin 3rd Bb Cornet Adrian Fox Candida Graham Flugel Horn Vacant Solo Eb Horn Catriona Melville-Mason 1st Eb Horn Vacant 2nd Eb Horn Hazel Sym |
1st Bb Baritone
Jim Wishart (Band Manager) 2nd Bb Baritone Brodie Caudrey 1st Trombone Helen Frawley 2nd Trombone Thomas Crawford Bass Trombone Vacant Solo Bb Euphonium Shona Douglas 2nd Bb Euphonium Morag Campbell Eb Bass Hugh Grierson Jennifer Morrison Bb Bass Sebastiaan van Wordragen Ian Crawford Tuned Percussion Vacant Percussion (Kit) Vacant |
Joining the band?
Brass Central Strathearn would like to invite Ex Brass players or anyone wanting to learn a brass instrument to come along to one of our rehearsals on a Thursday evening between 7.00pm and 8.30pm in the Ferntower Hall Morrisons Academy Crieff PH7 3AN.
We play a variety of music from traditional brass to modern pop, and play at various engagements throughout the Strathearn area, also our own Annual and Christmas Concerts. We are a small and friendly bunch and we will make you feel very welcome. Our Development Band has been in existence for 2yrs and some of the players are now joining the senior band. If you would like more information please contact Jim Wishart (Band Manager) 07738274197 or email [email protected]
We will supply the instrument if you don’t have your own. We require players for all sections as well as percussion.
See our contact page for all the information needed
We play a variety of music from traditional brass to modern pop, and play at various engagements throughout the Strathearn area, also our own Annual and Christmas Concerts. We are a small and friendly bunch and we will make you feel very welcome. Our Development Band has been in existence for 2yrs and some of the players are now joining the senior band. If you would like more information please contact Jim Wishart (Band Manager) 07738274197 or email [email protected]
We will supply the instrument if you don’t have your own. We require players for all sections as well as percussion.
See our contact page for all the information needed
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