Podium Finish at Senior Cup for Kingdom Brass.

Kingdom Brass finally achieved its long held aim of qualifying for the Grand Shield, with a fantastic third place at the Senior Cup in Blackpool.

Conducted by Craig Anderson, the band delivered a fantastic performance of the testpiece, Herbert Howell's 'Pageantry', and captured one of the four promotion places which were on offer. Sixty bands battled it out across three contests in the sprawling Winter Gardens complex, with Kingdom finally taking their form from north of the border down south.

The last time the band tasted success in Blackpool was 2006, with victory in the Senior Trophy, which secured promotion to the Senior Cup. Two below par performances in 2007 and 2008 saw the band well down the table, but some serious hard work in the run up to the event saw the band finally realise it's potential, and secure a place in the Grand Shield for 2010.
added 12th May 2009

Kingdom Brass Appoint James Gourlay for Scottish Championships.

Kingdom Brass are delighted to announce that James Gourlay will be directing the band at the upcoming Scottish Championships.

James has a reputation as one of the country’s finest tuba players but has also enjoyed great success at the highest level as a conductor.

The move to appoint James has been proposed and organised by the bands current MD, Craig Anderson. Craig has many commitments in the coming months as MD of Campbeltown Brass and playing obligations with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, BBC SSO and RSNO.

Craig says, "I feel it is an ideal opportunity for the band to engage Jim at this time. I feel I cannot commit fully to everything at once and a Championship Section band of Kingdom’s standard could really benefit from the change of direction and experience."

Kingdom received some bad news recently when principal Bb tuba player Ian Green injured his back in an accident at work, and faces a lengthy recuperation period, which means he cannot compete at the Scottish Championships in March. Craig added, "I will be signing as a player with the band and will work jointly with Jim until a few weeks before the contest, at which time I shall transfer into the tuba section to cover for Ian. We do wish him a speedy recovery so that he can retake his seat as soon as possible after the contest. I will then take up the podium again after the Championships and look forward to the next challenge with Kingdom." Bill Sandell, Chairman of Kingdom Brass said, "It's a huge privilege to have Jim Gourlay conducting the band in this prestigious event. With Craig preparing us in conjunction with Jim and then stepping in to the principal Bb tuba seat, this absolutely is the best of both worlds for us. Jim is originally from Fife, and to have him conducting the Fife Champions at the Scottish Championships is going to be something special. I understand he hasn't worked in Fife before, so it really will be great to have him in the Kingdom."
added 22nd March 2009

Kingdom Brass wins senior solos and senior slow melody at the FCBA competition.

Nicky McLaughlin won the FCBA Senior Solo's with a superb performance of the tenor horn solo 'Variations on a Welsh Theme'.

Craig Herriot won the FCBA Slow Melody contest with a fantastic performance of 'A Time For Peace'.

A mixed quartet made up of players from Kingdom, Lochgelly and Tullis Russell were the only competitors in the ensemble contest.

In the junior sections, trombone player Liam Mullan from Kingdom Brass Youth won the under 12 competition. The Kingdom Brass Youth ensembles were also runners up in the 12-15 section, and won 2nd and 3rd places in the under 12 section.
added 26th January 2009