A West Lothian brass band has taken top spot in an online brass band competition featuring performers from around the world.
Whitburn Band won the Kapitol Cory Online Brass Band Championships.
Almost 100 bands from around the globe took part. For each band, due to Covid restrictions, all the players recorded their parts individually and then sent them to the technical wizards in their bands who brought all the audio and video together.
Produced by the band’s percussionist Ryan Bradley, Whitburn’s 1930s-inspired programme featured Louis Prima’s ‘Sing, Sing, Sing’, the music of Laurel and Hardy, and a showstopping finisher based on the music of ‘A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square’.
The victory for Whitburn at this festival of music was the culmination of a year of virtual performances, some of which have featured on Scottish television and the social media of Classic FM.
Overall, the band has had hundreds of thousands of views of its work online since the pandemic began with the music of ABBA, Queen, David Bowie and Lionel Richie all featured.
Like bands around the world, the past year has been really tough for Whitburn. The band has not been able to meet in person since the beginning of March last year.
It is hoped, with the continuing progress of the vaccine programme, that Whitburn will be able to return to its band hall in the coming months to make music once more.
Charlie Farren, Whitburn Band chairman, said: “We are obviously delighted with the victory and congratulate all the bands and to Cory for putting on this wonderful event.
“The contest has given bands from around the world the opportunity to showcase our talents.
“We all want banding to get back as soon as possible, and this needs to happen sooner rather than later while keeping everybody safe.”
You can watch Whitburn’s entire performance from the Cory contest, as well as its other online performances, on its YouTube and Facebook pages.
Don't miss the latest news from the West Lothian Courier. Sign up to our free newsletter here https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/newsletter-preference-centre/
