BRASS IN THE PARK
BRASS IN THE PARK 2006
SATURDAY 2nd SEPTEMBER 2006
TENTED VILLAGE WITHIN NEWTONGRANGE PARK, NEWTONGRANGE, MIDLOTHIAN
with over 22,000 square feet under canvas
Brass Band Contests open to all bands except Championship Section.
Total Prize Fund of £3500
with £1000 to the Winning Band in the Open Contest for Sections 1 & 2
& with £500 to the Winning Band in the Open Contest for Sections 3 & 4
Own choice March and Hymn Tune plus additional item featuring a Soloist.
Bands will play seated on the platform in the main marquee. The performance of the soloist will be judged separately with additional prizes being awarded to the best senior and junior (16 years and under) soloists across the two Open Contests.
Open Contest for Sections 1 & 2 - First Prize - £1000
Second Prize - £500 Third Prize - £250
Highest Placed 2nd Section Band - £250
Open Contest for Sections 3 & 4 & non contesting bands
First Prize - £500 Second Prize - £250
Highest Placed 4th Section Band - £250
Highest Placed Non Contesting Band - £250
Separate Development Section for Junior/Training Bands
First Prize - £250
Medals awarded to all players in all bands in the Development Section
Best Senior Soloist - Trophy and Medal
Best Junior Soloist - Trophy and Medal
Contest Rules
The Contests will be conducted under the Contest Rules of the Scottish Brass Band Association with the exception that normal registration formalities will not be applied. In place of normal registration procedures, each band will simply provide, on or prior to the day of the contest, a list of all players competing on its behalf incorporating a declaration signed by an official of the band confirming that all of these players are registered with the band and qualify to play in the contest or are borrowed players in accordance with the guest player rules (each band being permitted a maximum of 4 borrowed players).
For the purposes of this contest, Third and Fourth Section bands will be entitled to include their own unregistered juniors and learners and, in the case of non contesting bands, players who are genuine and regular members of the band and who are not registered with any other band. The form of declaration will be adapted to accommodate this. These alterations to normal procedures are designed to take into account the informal nature of this event, to keep administration and paperwork for both band and contest officials to a minimum and to allow 'non contesting' bands the opportunity to participate. Adjudication in all contests will be open and the order of play will be pre-drawn.
As bands may already be aware, a difficulty arose at the 2005 contest as a result of one band fielding an ineligible guest player. This resulted in the band being fined and the player concerned being suspended by SBBA. Whilst we wish to avoid having to implement full registration procedures on the day as we feel this would be contrary to the spirit of the event, bands are reminded that all other normal guest player rules do apply. In an attempt to avoid the difficulty which arose last year, bands using guest players at Brass in the Park must submit the normal guest player form in duplicate (one copy to the SBBA Registrar and one copy to the Contest Controller) not less than 7 days prior to the contest.
Development Section
The purpose of this section is to provide junior and training bands attached to other bands with an opportunity to perform at a high profile event before a large and supportive audience and to participate in a contest. The rules for this section will essentially mirror those which apply in the Development Section at the Scottish Youth Brass Band Championships with an upper age limit of 16 years on 1 January 2006, no registration and no upper limit on the number of players. One overage or adult bass player is permitted in each band in this section. Players appearing with senior bands in the open contest may also take part with a band in the development section providing they are within the age limit and the junior/training band and the senior band concerned are part of the same band organisation (no guest players are permitted in this section). Bands in this section will play an own choice programme not exceeding 15 minutes playing time. Other than the winners and the runners up, no other bands will receive placings. Each band will be graded and will receive either a gold, silver or bronze award with the intention of creating a positive experience for all participants.
Massed Bands
As in previous years, bands participating in the open contests will be expected to take part in the Massed Band Concert session. This will take place between the conclusion of the contests and the announcement of the results. For bands in the Development Section, there will be a short massed band concert immediately following the conclusion of the Development Section contest. The programme for the Development Section massed band concert will be the classic brass band march Slaidburn, Jungle Suite (previously commissioned by the Brass in the Park Association for Junior and Training bands) and Alan Fernie’s African Funk (which every band in the UK has been asked to buy with all proceeds from sales going to Brass Band Aid).
Other Features
Licensed Bar; Barbecue and other Catering Facilities; Children's Entertainment Programme; Various Stalls and Sideshows; Trade Stands; Free parking on site; The Scottish Mining Museum is only a short walk from the venue.
Event Background
Brass in the Park was launched by Newtongrange Silver Band in 1997 and has subsequently become established as a major (and also perhaps the most unusual) event in the Scottish Brass Band calendar. The event is supported by S.B.B.A., Midlothian Council, commercial sponsors and private donors. The event is staged over three days with a Gala Concert on the evening of Friday 1 September and a full afternoon programme of concert and other band performances on Sunday 3 September, in addition to the programme of events on Saturday 2 September.
A children's entertainment programme is organised alongside the musical programme, one of the aims of the event being to present brass bands to the public in a manner which will attract a family audience which would never consider attending a traditional band contest or concert. The event is widely publicised resulting in the largest attendance of the general public at any annual brass band event in Scotland. Around 5,000 people attended each of the 2003 and 2004 events and a record attendance of around 6,000 people was achieved in 2005.
To Take Part
Simply complete the enclosed entry form(s) and return it/them as soon as possible, along with the entry fee(s) of £30 for the Open Contest and £15 for bands in the Development Section, to Alan McLaren, Mansfield Villa, 23 Polton Road, Loanhead, Midlothian EH20 9BU
The closing date for entries is 30th June 2006, however, as there is a limit to the number of bands we can accommodate and as entries are prioritised by date of receipt, bands are advised to submit entries as early as possible.
Further Information
For further information or clarification on any point, please contact Alan McLaren on 0131 440 3830