April 2017
We have had a busy time of late, trying to raise funds and looking for a new MD. I am glad to say we have managed on both counts. On the 18th March the Development Band members attended "Strathearn Decides" this was set up by Perth & Kinross Council and the community voted in favour of there special group. We were delighted to come away with £1500 to help fund the tutoring of the Development Band.
On the note of a new Musical Director we are delighted to say we have appointed Tom Smith. Tom lives in Perth and instructs brass pupils at Kilgraston School, Strathallan School, and Craigclowan School. Tom also 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 and low brass sectionals with the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, West of Scotland Schools Concert Band and used to be the conductor for the Bearsden and Milngavie Youth Orchestra. We are delighted to have him become the Tutor for the Development Band as well as Musical Director of the Senior Band.
We are still looking to recruit for both Bands and especially the Senior Band at present requires 5 Cornet players and Baritone players. If you can play any of these instruments and would like to join us on this new journey with Tom please contact the Band Manager on 01764 650488 or 07738 274197 or email:- brasscentralstrathearn @gmail.com
We have had a busy time of late, trying to raise funds and looking for a new MD. I am glad to say we have managed on both counts. On the 18th March the Development Band members attended "Strathearn Decides" this was set up by Perth & Kinross Council and the community voted in favour of there special group. We were delighted to come away with £1500 to help fund the tutoring of the Development Band.
On the note of a new Musical Director we are delighted to say we have appointed Tom Smith. Tom lives in Perth and instructs brass pupils at Kilgraston School, Strathallan School, and Craigclowan School. Tom also 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 and low brass sectionals with the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, West of Scotland Schools Concert Band and used to be the conductor for the Bearsden and Milngavie Youth Orchestra. We are delighted to have him become the Tutor for the Development Band as well as Musical Director of the Senior Band.
We are still looking to recruit for both Bands and especially the Senior Band at present requires 5 Cornet players and Baritone players. If you can play any of these instruments and would like to join us on this new journey with Tom please contact the Band Manager on 01764 650488 or 07738 274197 or email:- brasscentralstrathearn @gmail.com
February 2017
We have got off to a bad start in 2017. After losing our 1st Baritone player in December last year we have now lost three of our members. Firstly Gill Dawes one of our Euphonium player has left due to family and business. We also lost our Principal Cornet player and Development band tutor Clare Haddow along with our Musical Director Kenny Letham. Both of these are due to new teaching employment with Fife schools, where they both live. We which them all the best for the future.
The committee is actively seeking a new Musical Director/ Tutor and hope to have someone in place soon. When he or she is in place we will begin a strong recruiting drive.
We will be keeping any engagements in the diary with the help of friends from other bands.
If you can help out in any way please contacts through the web page or Facebook. Alternatively email:- brasscentralstrathearn@gmail.com
We have got off to a bad start in 2017. After losing our 1st Baritone player in December last year we have now lost three of our members. Firstly Gill Dawes one of our Euphonium player has left due to family and business. We also lost our Principal Cornet player and Development band tutor Clare Haddow along with our Musical Director Kenny Letham. Both of these are due to new teaching employment with Fife schools, where they both live. We which them all the best for the future.
The committee is actively seeking a new Musical Director/ Tutor and hope to have someone in place soon. When he or she is in place we will begin a strong recruiting drive.
We will be keeping any engagements in the diary with the help of friends from other bands.
If you can help out in any way please contacts through the web page or Facebook. Alternatively email:- brasscentralstrathearn@gmail.com
December 2016
What a year we have had. Development Band started more engagements, more funding and lots of enjoyment.
I will start with the more up to date. The Development Band has received two trombones from Miller Hendry Estate Agency and a grant of £500 from Ross & Liddell Community Bursaries. These two go a long way to helping keep brass banding a live in Strathearn now.
Some of the children managed to attend The Festival of Brass run by the Scottish Brass Band Association at the end of November and came away with a very enjoyable experience. Thanks goes to John Boax Development Officer of SBBA for making this possible.
As we approach the end of 2016 we are happy to tell you all we are in good stead and are looking forward to playing Christmas Carols at Crieff Primary School Christmas Fayre, Crieff late shopping night, Balhousie Dalnaglar Care Home in Crieff, Tesco Extra Crieff Road Perth where we hope to be able to raise some funds. We then look to our own Christmas Concert in Comrie and Dundurn Parish Church, this is a new venture for us and we hope it will become a yearly feature through Strathearn and beyond.
I could go on but I do not want to bore you. You have read most of what we have achieved throughout the year if you have been reading our page.
I will take this opportunity to Wish You All a Very Merry Christmas and A Guid New Year and look forward to what us as a band and you as are supporters and can do in 2017.
What a year we have had. Development Band started more engagements, more funding and lots of enjoyment.
I will start with the more up to date. The Development Band has received two trombones from Miller Hendry Estate Agency and a grant of £500 from Ross & Liddell Community Bursaries. These two go a long way to helping keep brass banding a live in Strathearn now.
Some of the children managed to attend The Festival of Brass run by the Scottish Brass Band Association at the end of November and came away with a very enjoyable experience. Thanks goes to John Boax Development Officer of SBBA for making this possible.
As we approach the end of 2016 we are happy to tell you all we are in good stead and are looking forward to playing Christmas Carols at Crieff Primary School Christmas Fayre, Crieff late shopping night, Balhousie Dalnaglar Care Home in Crieff, Tesco Extra Crieff Road Perth where we hope to be able to raise some funds. We then look to our own Christmas Concert in Comrie and Dundurn Parish Church, this is a new venture for us and we hope it will become a yearly feature through Strathearn and beyond.
I could go on but I do not want to bore you. You have read most of what we have achieved throughout the year if you have been reading our page.
I will take this opportunity to Wish You All a Very Merry Christmas and A Guid New Year and look forward to what us as a band and you as are supporters and can do in 2017.
October 2016
We have been busy with both the Senior Band and Development Band. I will start with the Development Band they having been working hard towards our concert and they had a visit from John Boax, Education Officer, Scottish Brass Band Association. (SBBA) on September 15th. On the same night, we had invited parents along to see and hear how their children were progressing, Jim Wishart and Clare Haddow held a meeting with them to explain more about the band, and brass banding in general this was a very productive meeting.
John sat in on the senior band rehearsal that night as well and that gave some of the senior players a boost as well. The senior band has been working hard for the concert, which went down well with the people of Strathearn on Saturday 1st October in Strathearn Community Campus the sponsor for the event was local firm Wilde Thyme, Catering and Party Design.
The evening’s programme included “Superman” “The Essential Joseph” “Solar Eclipse” along with solos in the first half by Storm Robertson, Flugel Horn and Myles Lindgren, Trombone. The Development Band under the direction of Clare Haddow started the second half. This was followed by a raffle, which was supported by Gleneagles Hotel, Crieff Hydro, Knock Castle and many more local businesses and parents. The senior band then continued with “Royal Mile Suite” by Alan Fernie more solos, by Shona Douglas, Euphonium. Clare Haddow, Cornet and Susan Crockart on Eb Bass who played “The Sun Has Got It’s Hat On” The night finished with both bands playing “500 Miles” arranged by Alan Fernie.
The senior band trophy for the person who our MD put it stepped up to the mark this year presented to Jess McFarlane, Cornet and a new trophy for the Development Band presented to Gemma Lang, Trombone.
We would like publically to thank our sponsor and supporters for there help in making this our best yet.
We have been busy with both the Senior Band and Development Band. I will start with the Development Band they having been working hard towards our concert and they had a visit from John Boax, Education Officer, Scottish Brass Band Association. (SBBA) on September 15th. On the same night, we had invited parents along to see and hear how their children were progressing, Jim Wishart and Clare Haddow held a meeting with them to explain more about the band, and brass banding in general this was a very productive meeting.
John sat in on the senior band rehearsal that night as well and that gave some of the senior players a boost as well. The senior band has been working hard for the concert, which went down well with the people of Strathearn on Saturday 1st October in Strathearn Community Campus the sponsor for the event was local firm Wilde Thyme, Catering and Party Design.
The evening’s programme included “Superman” “The Essential Joseph” “Solar Eclipse” along with solos in the first half by Storm Robertson, Flugel Horn and Myles Lindgren, Trombone. The Development Band under the direction of Clare Haddow started the second half. This was followed by a raffle, which was supported by Gleneagles Hotel, Crieff Hydro, Knock Castle and many more local businesses and parents. The senior band then continued with “Royal Mile Suite” by Alan Fernie more solos, by Shona Douglas, Euphonium. Clare Haddow, Cornet and Susan Crockart on Eb Bass who played “The Sun Has Got It’s Hat On” The night finished with both bands playing “500 Miles” arranged by Alan Fernie.
The senior band trophy for the person who our MD put it stepped up to the mark this year presented to Jess McFarlane, Cornet and a new trophy for the Development Band presented to Gemma Lang, Trombone.
We would like publically to thank our sponsor and supporters for there help in making this our best yet.
September 2016
What a busy month August was. Engagements at Drummond Castle and Crieff Hydro, where attendances were good. Rehearsing for our Annual Concert in Strathearn Community Campus on 1st October at 7pm, tickets can be had from members or at the door on the night. (Adults £6. Children £3) This years concert is being sponsored by Wilde-Thyme. We look forward to seeing as many as possible on the night.
The Development Band is going from strength to strength on a weekly basis and will be taking part in the Annual Concert.
What a busy month August was. Engagements at Drummond Castle and Crieff Hydro, where attendances were good. Rehearsing for our Annual Concert in Strathearn Community Campus on 1st October at 7pm, tickets can be had from members or at the door on the night. (Adults £6. Children £3) This years concert is being sponsored by Wilde-Thyme. We look forward to seeing as many as possible on the night.
The Development Band is going from strength to strength on a weekly basis and will be taking part in the Annual Concert.
June 2016
We continue to have a large number of kids and adults at our Development Band, which is good news. Clare is working hard with them but enjoying it as well.
On 10th June, we played at “Proms on the Pitch” which was Strathearn’s Celebration for The Queen’s Birthday weekend. We played incidental music as the crowds arrived and played a small concert programme as well.
Over the month of July we are taking a 3 week break due to member’s holiday commitments, we will be back the last week of July (28th)
We have a busy August in the diary, with Drummond Castle Gardens and 2 gigs at Crieff Hydro.
We continue to have a large number of kids and adults at our Development Band, which is good news. Clare is working hard with them but enjoying it as well.
On 10th June, we played at “Proms on the Pitch” which was Strathearn’s Celebration for The Queen’s Birthday weekend. We played incidental music as the crowds arrived and played a small concert programme as well.
Over the month of July we are taking a 3 week break due to member’s holiday commitments, we will be back the last week of July (28th)
We have a busy August in the diary, with Drummond Castle Gardens and 2 gigs at Crieff Hydro.
May 2016
What an exciting time we are having at present. Gill Dawes organised a couple of school visits for a small group including our tutor of the Development Band, Clare Haddow. We now have 20+ youngsters and a couple of older people learning a brass instrument. We obtained some funding from Crieff Round Table to help with the tuition fees. All gratefully appreciate this. There are a couple of photographs been added to the gallery page.
We are working on some new music for us looking towards our concert on 1st October in Strathearn Community Campus. In the diary, we have Crieff’s tribute to Her Majesty the Queen’s 90th Birthday, which is being held on 10th June at 18.30hrs. We also have later on in the year Drummond Castle Gardens and Crieff Hydro.
We are always looking for new members for the senior band. If you can play a brass instrument or percussion, we would be delighted to see you on a Thursday evening at Ardvreck School, Music Department at 6.30pm.
What an exciting time we are having at present. Gill Dawes organised a couple of school visits for a small group including our tutor of the Development Band, Clare Haddow. We now have 20+ youngsters and a couple of older people learning a brass instrument. We obtained some funding from Crieff Round Table to help with the tuition fees. All gratefully appreciate this. There are a couple of photographs been added to the gallery page.
We are working on some new music for us looking towards our concert on 1st October in Strathearn Community Campus. In the diary, we have Crieff’s tribute to Her Majesty the Queen’s 90th Birthday, which is being held on 10th June at 18.30hrs. We also have later on in the year Drummond Castle Gardens and Crieff Hydro.
We are always looking for new members for the senior band. If you can play a brass instrument or percussion, we would be delighted to see you on a Thursday evening at Ardvreck School, Music Department at 6.30pm.
April 2016
We had to postpone our Annual Concert due in March; we will now be holding it on 1st October 2016 in Strathearn Community Campus.
We have been working hard over the winter months with rehearsing new music and getting the Development Band up and running, this started on 28th April and we saw a large number wishing to learn music and in particular brass band music. It is encouraging to see so many.
We have had to accept the resignation of our secretary Gill Dawes; she is keeping on playing thankfully. Dawn Lindgren and Ilse McFarlane also stepped down from the committee at our AGM, which was held on 21st April. Dawn and Ilse were parent members. Fiona Leckie our baritone player has agreed to join the committee. As no one, wishes to take on the secretary’s position Jim Wishart the band manager will be holding both post’s at present.
Shona Douglas organised a “Bag Pack” at the Co-op supermarket in Crieff and we raised the sum of £454.55. We thank the manager and his staff for allowing us to do this.
We now have a percussionist, Megan Forbes who lives in Braco joined us at the end of March. What a difference it is having drums. We welcome her and hope she will stay with us for years to come.
Our next engagement will be a celebration of The Queen’s 90 birthday, this is being organised by Lt. Col. (Rtd) Garry Couser and will include four Pipe bands from schools in the local area as well as a choir and will be on 10th June in the grounds of Strathearn Community Campus.
We had to postpone our Annual Concert due in March; we will now be holding it on 1st October 2016 in Strathearn Community Campus.
We have been working hard over the winter months with rehearsing new music and getting the Development Band up and running, this started on 28th April and we saw a large number wishing to learn music and in particular brass band music. It is encouraging to see so many.
We have had to accept the resignation of our secretary Gill Dawes; she is keeping on playing thankfully. Dawn Lindgren and Ilse McFarlane also stepped down from the committee at our AGM, which was held on 21st April. Dawn and Ilse were parent members. Fiona Leckie our baritone player has agreed to join the committee. As no one, wishes to take on the secretary’s position Jim Wishart the band manager will be holding both post’s at present.
Shona Douglas organised a “Bag Pack” at the Co-op supermarket in Crieff and we raised the sum of £454.55. We thank the manager and his staff for allowing us to do this.
We now have a percussionist, Megan Forbes who lives in Braco joined us at the end of March. What a difference it is having drums. We welcome her and hope she will stay with us for years to come.
Our next engagement will be a celebration of The Queen’s 90 birthday, this is being organised by Lt. Col. (Rtd) Garry Couser and will include four Pipe bands from schools in the local area as well as a choir and will be on 10th June in the grounds of Strathearn Community Campus.
December 2015
The band has had a busy year of engagements. We have played to the public at our Own concert in March, Crieff Hydro on many occasions for the guest’s. Drummond Castle Gardens, the start of The Drovers Tryst, Late shopping night for Crieff Retailers and a first for us was Crieff Choral Groups “Christmas Fantasia”. We ended the year back at Crieff Hydro. We thank them all for their support.
We must also thank The Sports Academy of Scotland who are based at Balgowan, Balhousie Care Group, Crieff, Comrie Pet Shop and Hansen’s Kitchen’s Comrie for the large and small donations that have permitted us to buy percussion instruments.
We start 2016 with a busy calendar. The formation of a Starter Band supported by the Scottish Brass Band Association, more to follow next time, and engagements already in the calendar throughout the year, including our own concert on 19th March 2016 in Strathearn Community Campus, more details will follow.
The band is very grateful to the people of Strathearn and further afield for their support, we do have members from Comrie, Auchterarder, Blackford, Balgowan, Tibbermore, Methven, Perth as well as Crieff. We are available for engagements of many kinds, Bandstand’s, Fete’s, Church Services, and Open Days all we ask is you give us plenty notice and all we ask is a donation or a small fee to help cover our costs.
Thank you all once again and we look forward to entertaining you throughout 2016.
The band has had a busy year of engagements. We have played to the public at our Own concert in March, Crieff Hydro on many occasions for the guest’s. Drummond Castle Gardens, the start of The Drovers Tryst, Late shopping night for Crieff Retailers and a first for us was Crieff Choral Groups “Christmas Fantasia”. We ended the year back at Crieff Hydro. We thank them all for their support.
We must also thank The Sports Academy of Scotland who are based at Balgowan, Balhousie Care Group, Crieff, Comrie Pet Shop and Hansen’s Kitchen’s Comrie for the large and small donations that have permitted us to buy percussion instruments.
We start 2016 with a busy calendar. The formation of a Starter Band supported by the Scottish Brass Band Association, more to follow next time, and engagements already in the calendar throughout the year, including our own concert on 19th March 2016 in Strathearn Community Campus, more details will follow.
The band is very grateful to the people of Strathearn and further afield for their support, we do have members from Comrie, Auchterarder, Blackford, Balgowan, Tibbermore, Methven, Perth as well as Crieff. We are available for engagements of many kinds, Bandstand’s, Fete’s, Church Services, and Open Days all we ask is you give us plenty notice and all we ask is a donation or a small fee to help cover our costs.
Thank you all once again and we look forward to entertaining you throughout 2016.
October 2015
Over the last couple of months the band has been busy playing at Drummond Castle Gardens and entertaining the guests at Crieff Hydro Hotel. We also played at the Drovers Tryst in James Square, Crieff.
We held a Coffee Morning in August to raise funds to purchase new music and thank everyone who turned up and supported this cause.
We are very grateful to Balhousie Dalnaglar Care Home, Crieff for generously sponsoring the Band allowing them to purchase some new percussion. In return for their generosity the band has entertained the residents which they thoroughly enjoyed, and we will be back to serenade them with Christmas Carols.
We are starting to prepare for our Annual March Concert and are currently looking for Front Row Cornets, Flugel Horn. We welcome any player of any age and standard to help fill the vacant seat and help the band to continue to grow from strength to strength. Please feel free to pop along to our rehearsals at Ardvreck School. For more information, please contact our Band Manager Jim Wishart on 01764 650488/ 07738 274197 or email brasscentralstrathearn@gmail.com.
We are also looking for businesses to sponsor the band to enable them to purchase more instruments. Any donation no matter how big or small is great fully appreciated. Please contact our Band Manager for more details.
Over the last couple of months the band has been busy playing at Drummond Castle Gardens and entertaining the guests at Crieff Hydro Hotel. We also played at the Drovers Tryst in James Square, Crieff.
We held a Coffee Morning in August to raise funds to purchase new music and thank everyone who turned up and supported this cause.
We are very grateful to Balhousie Dalnaglar Care Home, Crieff for generously sponsoring the Band allowing them to purchase some new percussion. In return for their generosity the band has entertained the residents which they thoroughly enjoyed, and we will be back to serenade them with Christmas Carols.
We are starting to prepare for our Annual March Concert and are currently looking for Front Row Cornets, Flugel Horn. We welcome any player of any age and standard to help fill the vacant seat and help the band to continue to grow from strength to strength. Please feel free to pop along to our rehearsals at Ardvreck School. For more information, please contact our Band Manager Jim Wishart on 01764 650488/ 07738 274197 or email brasscentralstrathearn@gmail.com.
We are also looking for businesses to sponsor the band to enable them to purchase more instruments. Any donation no matter how big or small is great fully appreciated. Please contact our Band Manager for more details.
August 2015
Over the time since we last put on some news we have been busy rehearsing some new music which will be used in next years concert. We have also had three of our players at NYBBS, Angus Grierson, Storm Robertson and her brother Gregor Robertson, by all accounts they all enjoyed themselves and learnt something in the process. Well done all. We have also entertained at Drummond Castle Gardens and at Crieff Hydro, we are also there again in August.
We also have said goodbye to our Flugel Player, Charlie Dawes. Charlie is of to Edinburgh to further her education, and we wish her well.
We are also holding a Coffee Morning on Saturday 29th August to raise much needed funds for the band. You will be made most welcome. More details on the Facebook page. We are also looking please look at our for Sponsors. If you think you can help please look at our Sponsor's page
We also have said goodbye to our Flugel Player, Charlie Dawes. Charlie is of to Edinburgh to further her education, and we wish her well.
We are also holding a Coffee Morning on Saturday 29th August to raise much needed funds for the band. You will be made most welcome. More details on the Facebook page. We are also looking please look at our for Sponsors. If you think you can help please look at our Sponsor's page
March 2015
The band
held its Annual Concert on 21st March in Strathearn Community Campus. What a
great night was had by all who attended. This was the second of our concerts
and the work the band has put in to making it a success was fantastic. The
theme this year was music from Around the World. We started the concert with a
piece named “Countryside and Common People” by Scottish Composer and arranger
Alan Fernie. During the first part of the programme we had two solo’s, one from
our Solo Horn player Jim Wishart who played the “Theme from Local Hero” and the
second one came from one of our Cornet players, Storm Robertson with “Adagio
from Concierto de Aranjuez”. We also had music from America, Australia, Spain
and Portugal. We ended the first part of the programme with Mussorgsky’s “The
Great Gate of Kiev”. During the interval the raffle was drawn and there was a
lot of winners gaining prizes from the many businesses who supported us,
including: - The Famous Grouse Experience, Jazz, The Eye Centre, The Falkirk
Wheel, TSB. Crieff, Greenhill Garden Nursery, Miller Hendry. Crieff, Tower
Gastro Pub, Perthshire Oatcakes, Summer Harvest, Dalchonzie Fruit Farm and
Hansen’s Kitchen. Comrie. We thank them all. The second half of the programme
began with “The Mask of Zorro”. Principal Cornet, Clare Haddow from Dunfermline
played Hogey Carmichael’s “Georgia on my Mind”, after which the Denholm
Partnership Trophy voted for by all band members was presented by Jim Wishart
(Band Manager) to Solo Euphonium player and Band Secretary Gill Dawes. The
programme continued with music from Scotland, Wales and Russia ending with
“Flower of Scotland” arranged by Alan Fernie. Ilse McFarlane gave a vote of
thanks and the band’s encore was another arrangement of Alan Fernie’s called
“Jings”. Our main sponsor for the evening was The Sports Academy of Scotland
which is based at Balgowan and also sponsoring us was Campbell of Doune Ltd and
RTS Ltd. We thank them all.
The band has now been in existence for four years, starting in March 2012 and during that time we have grown in popularity. We play annually at Drummond Castle Garden Open Day and also in The Bandstand at MacRosty Park. We would welcome more opportunities to play locally, but will travel out with the area for a small fee to cover travelling expenses etc. We have lost some of our older young ones to universities, but have managed to replace them so far with some older ones. The members in general come from the local area but we do have a couple from Dunfermline and a couple of our newer ones come from Perth. We are always looking for recruits, whether you can play or wish to learn. We are also in need of a percussionist (drum kit) who can read music. If you think you can fit into any of the above, please contact us by emailing brasscentralstrathearn@gmail.com or coming along to any of our rehearsals which are held in the Music Department, Ardvreck School, Crieff
