Keep up to date with the latest news at Peebles Burgh Silver Band.

At a party held in the Ex-Serviceman's Club Jackie Hamilton was presented with her SABBA 40 year sevice medal by Drew Tulley. Over the years Jackie has been a tremendous servant to the brass band movement and, in particuilar, she has been a loyal and dedicated member of the Peebles band only  recently retiring as secretary. Many congratulations on her great achievement and we hope that we will continue to hear her mellifluous tone in the band hall for many years to come.

Joint Concert with Stanhope Silver Band

On Saturday 15th May 2010 Peebles Burgh Silver Band and Stanhope Silver Band held a joint concert in the Burgh Hall along with Peebles Juniors.

Peebles were conducted by their Director of Music, Alan Fernie.  They played the first set of the evening which consisted of a variety of music drawn from different eras and genres.  Commencing with "The Finale from Pineapple Poll" by Arthur Sullivan and continued in total contrast with an arrangement of negro spirituals "Deep River" arranged by William Broughton in the style of the Count Basie. They then moved continents with "Mexican Holiday" arranged by Alan Fernie and featuring the entire cornet section. O Magnum Mysterium, is a responsorial chant from the Matins of Christmas.  A number of composers have reworked it into a contemporaneous setting and this particular one is by Morten Lauridsen, arranged by Philip Littlemore.  "Trish Trash Polka" is a Johann Strauss composition arranged by Goff Richards and was a jaunty and high-spirited finale to Peebles' set.

Stanhope Silver is led by Steve Robson.  Steve did a music degree as a mature student and was lucky enough to have Alan Fernie as his tutor for the musical arranging section.  This is a large factor in the connection between the two bands.  The visitors from Weardale started with "March from 2nd Suite in F" by Gustav Holst followed by Romance from Gadfly by Dimitri Shostakovich.  A North Country Fantasy by Gordon Langford brought us an array of well known tunes from Stanhope's home region.  They then switched to 1960s pop with "Nights in White Satin" by Justin Hayward and as performed by The Moody Blues.  "An American Tail" from the animated film Fievel Goes West rounded off their varied contribution to the evening.
 
Aided by a couple of seniors the Peebles Juniors put on a lively show.  There were 3 youngsters taking part in their debut concert but you would not have known.  They contributed to an entertaining evening and brought the house down with an arrangement of The Hounds that included barking and a stray cat!
 
The evening culminated in the joining of the two senior bands to perform firstly "Barnard Castle" a march by Goff Richards followed by "Deep Inside The Sacred Temple", a euphonium duet performed y Rhona Musgrave of Peebles and Sue Smith of Stanhope and.  Sue is the 'other' link between the two bands having previously lived in the area and been a member of Peebles Band.  "Albion Treasures" then treated the audience to a collection of songs form across the British Isles by Gavin Somerset.  They followed with an Alan Fernie arrangement of The Beatles' hit "Ticket to Ride" that mimicked a train journey.  Steve Robson conducted his own arrangement of "Love Unknown" the hymn written in 1664 by Samuel Crossman.  The evening concluded with "African Adventure" penned by Darrol Barry.  It was a rousing end with a strong bass beat supplemented by additional percussion.

The evening was well received and the audience certainly got value for money with evening closing at nearly 10 pm.  It was a night to remember, thoroughly enjoyed by all involved and one that will hopefully be repeated.

Scottish Championship Result

The Band came seventh in the Third Section at the Scottish Championships held in Glenrothies on Saturday 13th March. This was a solid performance by the band and a decent result for our first year in this section.  

                          *Band Wins Fourth Section at Brass in the Park*

The Band travelled to Newtongrange on 5th September to take part in the annual Brass in the Park competition. Unfortunately due to the local park being water logged as a result of the recent atrocious weather the event actually took place in the mining museum. Although a bit cramped the event went well and it is a credit to the organisers that everything ran so smoothly. 
The Band was second to play in the competition and, under the direction of Alan Fernie, played the march "Punchinello" followed by Ian White's arrangement of the hymn "St. George's Edinburgh". The Band played very well and, in particular, was commended by the adjudicator on its sound quality. The outcome was that the Band won the Fourth Section and came ninth out of 20 bands also beating three out of four third section bands in the process.
Later in the day the Band played a mini concert in a tented enclave in the centre of the village. As well as reprising the contest pieces the Band also played "Singing in the Rain", a jazzy version of "Loch Lomond" and an arrangement of Barry Manilow's lachrymose classic "One Voice".
After a brief respite the Band returned to the mining museum to take part in the marching and deportment contest and, for the second year in succession, walked off (literally) with the first prize.
The Junior Band also took part in the day's proceedings and, again under Alan's direction, acquitted themselves well in winning a Bronze Award.
This was a very successful day for the Band and continues our winning streak, however a greater challenge lies ahead when the Band goes to Harrogate on the 26th September to take part in the UK National Championships. Wish us luck!

Over the last few months when Musical Director Alan Fernie has been unable to take the Band we have been very lucky to obtain the services of Chris Shanks. Chris has recently graduated BEd from the Royal Academy of Music and Drama and intends becoming a music teacher. He currently plays principal euphonium with Bellshill Salvation Army Band and second euphonium with Kirkintilloch however the  photograph to the left shows him in the Peebles uniform when he both played with, and conducted, the Band at Lanark Lanimer Day. Peebles is the first contesting band that he has conducted in concert and he says that he has loved "every bit of it". We are very pleased that Chris is with the Band and hope that this is the start of a long and happy association.