Newland Concert Brass Prepare to Mark 30th Anniversary

Newland Concert Brass is set to mark its 30th anniversary with a special concert in October at Bathgate Academy, West Lothian.

Newland Concert Brass was formed in 1987 where the name ‘Newland’ was taken from the venue where the first rehearsal took place, in The Old Academy in Bathgate whose benefactor was John Newland.

The blue uniform of Newland is well recognised in West Lothian as a result of playing at many gala days, concerts, Bathgate Music Festival and the Bathgate Procession and John Newland Festival.

Over the years, the band has contested in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th sections of the Scottish Championships and qualified for the National Championships on three occasions. As well as performing a variety of concerts, during the history, the band has organised various charity concerts, raising funds for charities including Cancer Research UK, The British Heart Foundation, BeatSCAD, River Kids, Spinal Injuries Unit Southern General and CHAS.

In 1988, the band made its first trip abroad with a concert tour of Hochsaurland in Germany. This visit developed links with both the area and a German band, Neheim-Husten Fanfarenkorps. The following year a partnership was agreed and since then both bands have taken part in several exchange visits. Newland last visited Neheim in July 2016.

Ten members of Newland Concert Brass have also taken part in three International Youth Music Camps as part of the Bathgate/Cran-Gevrier Twinning agreement. These camps took place in France, Scotland and Italy.

A spokesperson fot the band told A4B: ‘Notable engagements in the band’s 30-year history include an open air concert in Sorpesee in Germany, a performance on the TV programme Challenge Anneka, a concert at the opening of the Bathgate Partnership Centre, a performance in the presence of Her Majesty The Queen in Linlithgow and joint concerts with the Lowland Band of the Scottish Division, the South Kirk Singers and the Lochgelly Brass Band. The band members, Musical Director Paul McKelvie OBE and Junior Band Conductor Karen Heenan, are all looking forward to the Anniversary Concert.’