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Web Changes and NewsThis is where we'll announce the most recent additions to our web site and also any important information affecting the band. If you've visited us before and want to know what's changed, take a look here first. December 2007 - Morten Hansen from Norway has agreed to front Bon-Accord Band in the upcoming Scottish Championships. November 2007 - All of our latest news can be found in our first edition of "The Silver Score" - The Bon-Accord Silver Band's newsletter. November 2006 - Due to the clash of dates with other regional contests, Richard Evans has agreed to front Bon-Accord Band at the upcoming Scottish Championships. Testpieces have been announced as: Championship section “Isaiah 40”, Robert Redhead, and Third Section: Prelude and Jubilate”, Darrol Barry. September 2006 - The B Band competed in the national finals at Harrogate. See our results section for the final results. Photos to be added soon. March 2006 - The Bon-Accord Silver Bands have just returned from a very successful Scottish Brass Band Championships in Motherwell. On Saturday the B Band secured a 2nd place and thus an invitation to the British Brass Championships in Harrogate in September as well as automatic promotion to the 3rd section. After so many unluckly 3rd places this a superb result for the B Band. Fundraising starts soon! On Sunday, the first challenge for the A Band was the weather. Horrendous and worsening weather meant an almost 5 hour bus journey to get from Aberdeen to Motherwell. Further to our troubles we also had....1. our principal Euphonium player stuck for 4 hours on the M74 due to 6 jack-knived lorries ahead; 2. our 2nd Bb Bass player stuck at his house unable to get out because of the snow; and 3. perhaps most unfortunate of all, our 4th solo cornet player who got stuck on the A9 not moving for almost 6 hours (until the road was closed and he was turned back home again!). With Euph and Bass arriving in time to play and with a dep from Unison Kinneil on 4th man down, the A Band came 4th in the Championship Section - the best result for the band in the Scottish since 1983! February 2006 - the first Bon-Accord Silver Band Newsletter is produced. View it by clicking here. November 2005 - Scottish Open and Challenge Cup Championships - To finish off a hectic November, both bands competed in Glasgow at the Scottish Open contests. Following an admiral performance of Paganini Variations, the A band were a little disappointed to finish low down in the results. However the B band managed an excellent performance of Contrasten to finish 4th place overall, beating 6 bands ranked higher than them in the current rankings!! Well done to the B Band!!! November 2005 - Following a few requests from ex members, we are in the process of organising an "ex member" mailing list so we can inform you of the current happenings in the Bon Accord Silver Band, as well as keeping you up to date with forthcoming concerts/competitions etc. If you would like to be included in this distribution list please email David Cooper and we will add your name. November 2005 - Our best annual concert yet. A fantastic turnout and a fantastic concert. November 2005 - An excellent result at Whitburn contest saw the A band return with awards for best cornet, best basses, best soloist, winning conductor and 1st prize! April 2005 - Both Bon-Accord bands returned to the recording "studio" to make the bands 2nd commercial CD. In association with Aberdeen City Youth Band and Aberdeenshire Music Centre Brass Band the recording will hopefully be available to buy in June. March 2005 - Following a good turn out at the Scottish Championships, the A band managed a creditable 7th thereby maintaining their Championship status for another year, and the B Band unfortunately once again just missed out on a national final place by getting 3rd in the 4th section. December 2004 - After a successful 6 year period with Tony Swainson at the helm, the band have decided that a change of professional conductor was required. We are delighted to announce that Duncan Beckley has agreed to take the A band to the upcoming Scottish Championships. November 2004 - Scottish Open Championships - Following several weeks of gruelling rehearsals, the Bon Accord Silver band competed against some of the finest bands in the UK. With a solid performance of a difficult test piece (Dances And Arias, Gregson), the band were a little disappointed with their final placement, but very proud of their achievement! Sept 2004 - The Bands undertook a sponsored blow to raise money for band funds. After a great day in which the weather held out, we managed to raise over £1500! See the photo pages for the pictures. March 2004 - A good year for the Bon-Accord Silver Bands - with another 3rd place in the 4th section, the B band narrowly missed a place at this years National Finals, and with a well earned 6th place in the Championship Section, the A band once again maintains its place in the top section. By merit of its 6th place, the A band will be competing at the Scottish Open Championships in Glasgow. February 2004 - Congratulations to Richard Kidd who played superbly at the recent BBC Radio 2 Young Brass Soloist Competition. January 2004 - Congratulations to all who took part in the NCBBA Solo & Quartet Champtionships. Despite a poor entry in the senior category, several of our members took away prizes and qualified for the Scottish Solo Finals. Of note: 12-15 years solos: Joanne Watson 1st, Ashlynne Crozier 2nd, Paul McKay 8th, and Lisa Vass 10th; 16-21 years solos: Richard Kidd 4th, Naomi McKay 5th, and Lucy Smith 7th; Youth Slow Melody: Richard Kidd 1st, Ashlynn Crozier 6th, and Julie Smith, Lisa Vass, Naomi McKay, and Paul McKay were all joint 7th; Open Solo: Richard Kidd 2nd, Julie Smith 6th, and Angus Naples 7th. Open Quartet: BSB 1st. November 2003 - I have added pictures of our 25 year membership award recipients. See picture links. 21 September 2003 - National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain. Following our second place in the First Section at the Scottish Regional Championships in March, we went on to represent Scotland in the First Section at this years National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain. This year we competed on home ground at the Caird Hall in Dundee. Tony Swainson once again conducted the band through the set test piece "A Kensington Concerto" by Eric Ball. For the full results see our results pages. July 2003 - National Youth Band's. The BSB will be extremely well represented at this years various Scottish Youth Ensembles. Our very own Bruce Wallace will be the NYBBS Trombone Tutor, and attending this years courses will be:
June 2003 - A note of congratulation to Richard Kidd who won the "Instrumental Challenge" in the Aberdeen Music Festival. 24 May 2003 - Carnegie Contest. Following a disappointing result at the NCBBA contest, the A band picked themselves up and once again came out on top at the recent Carnegie Contest. After an excellent days contesting, the band ended up winning: the most entertaining band, the best instrumentalist, and the 1st prize in the first section. 10 May 2003 - NCBBA Entertainment Contest. The Bon-Accord Silver Bands were out in force again today when both bands competed on their 'home turf' in the Northern Counties Contest held in Arbroath this year. Tony Swainson again conducted the A band through their programme and the B Band again was conducted by Bruce Wallace. Unfortunately the A band were narrowly squeezed into second place whereas the B band walked away with the best 4th section band award. For the full results and our programme see our results pages. 8 & 9 March 2003 - A mixed result was obtained at this years Scottish Championships. The A band, although down in numbers with several of our players out through illness, managed to pull off a creditable 2nd place. Yet another trip to the National Finals - that will be the 3rd trip since 1999. Once again we live up to our reputation as stated previously on 4barsrest.com: "Bon-Accord have an amazing record at the contest since 1995, with..........more ups and downs than Joan Collins knickers"! Unfortunately the B band were not quite so fortunate! Although a solid performance with some great moments, they were outplayed by the other bands in the section and a 5th place was all we managed. For full results please see our results page. 8-9 February 2003 - Following on from their successes in the local solo/quartet competition, several of the band members made a huge impact on the Scottish Solo scene. Congratulations to Ashlynn Crozier (Euphonium - 12-15 years) and Richard Kidd (Euphonium - 16-21 years) who lifted their respective "Scottish Champion" titles. Congratulations to all others who attended also! 26 January 2003 - Congratulations to all who took part in the NCBBA Solo & Quartet Champtionships. Despite a poor entry in the senior category, several of our members took away prizes and qualified for the Scottish Solo Finals. Of note: 12-15 years solos: Ashlynne Crozier 3rd and Lucy Smith 5th; 16-21 years solos: Richard Kidd 1st and Paula Leslie 5th; Youth Slow Melody: Richard Kidd 2nd and Naomi McKay 4th; Senior Solo: Lorraine Bloice 2nd; and Senior Slow Melody: Lorraine Bloice 4th. 5th October 2002 - Both of the Bon-Accord Band's spent the day recording their 1st ever CD. This is now on sale. Check out the photo pages for a record of the day. 21 September 2002 - The Fodens Band performed to a slightly disappointing audience in terms of numbers in Aberdeen's Music Hall. Although few in number, the audience were absolutely thrilled by the fantastic sound of the Fodens band. It is easy to see why they are one of the best bands in the world!!! The Bon-Accord Band would like to thank Fodens for an excellent concert, and a night several of us will never forget. 25 August 2002 - The Bon-Accord Silver band has recently returned from a 5 day trip to Regensburg, Germany. As part of their 40th anniversary celebrations the band was invited to perform at the Fest am Fluss festival held on the banks of the River Danube. For some photographic memories please visit our photo page.
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