Outstanding Young Talent in Scotland
A day of outstanding music making by individuals and small groups alike was enjoyed today at the 2026 Scottish Solo and Ensemble Championships. Well done to everyone who contributed to this memorable day and congratulations to the winners and Gold award recipients.
The full range of brass talent was on display at the Bellshill Salvation Army Centre as the young and more experienced players showcased their individual skills for the consideration of adjudicator, respected trumpet player and musical director Hedley Benson.
All the Junior, Intermediate and Youth participants had qualified for the contest through their area association competitions.
In the Junior section, the winners of the Kinneil Band Trophy for the best Ensemble were Campbeltown Brass who performed ‘Kids Go Rock’ and ‘Let Me Entertain You’. The Solo prize of The Kirkintilloch Band Trophy went to tuba player Gemma Craig, also of Campbeltown Brass, for her rendition of ‘Bass in the Ballroom’.
The Bo’ness & Carriden Trophy was awarded to the Intermediate Ensembles winners Galashiels Youth for their performance of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’. The Solo winner in this category was Selkirk Silver cornetist Isla Gillespie for her playing of the tango ‘Por Una Cabeza’, receiving the Whitburn Band Trophy.
Taking home the Clydeband Burgh Band Trophy for their victory in the Youth Ensembles were the Campbeltown Quintet who performed ‘Amazing Grace’ and ‘Beer Barrel Polka’. The Solo award of the Scottish Coop Band Trophy went to Riverside Youth horn player Andrea Crumlish for her rendition of ‘Sonata for Horn and Piano’ (second movement).
Rounding off eight hours of entertainment were the senior instrumentalists in the Open Solo class. The winner was cornetist Lee Bathgate for his performance of ‘Fantaisie Brillante’. Joshua Parkhill, who played ‘Bluebells of Scotland’, won the individual award for the best trombonist.
Many thanks to pianist Gina Baker for her musical accompaniments and to compere Damian Martin.
The full results are:
Junior Ensembles
1. Campbeltown Brass – Gold
2. St Ronan’s Blue – Gold
3. St Ronan’s White – Silver
Junior Solos
1. Jemma Craig (tuba, Campbeltown) – Gold
2. Bailey Dickson (cornet, St David’s Brass) – Gold
3. Evie Boax (horn, Irvine & Dreghorn) – Gold
4. Aaron Arthur (tuba, Riverside Youth) – Gold
The other participants (in order of play) were:
Sophie Yu (horn, Arbroath & Carnoustie)
Rebecca King (cornet, Cupar Brass Bandits)
Carly Wolf (trombone, Hawick High)
Eva Murray (cornet, Hawick High)
Vivien Giegerich (cornet, St Ronan’s Silver)
Lucas Clark (cornet, Cupar Brass Bandits)
Isla Hein (trombone, Forfar Future Brass)
Eilidh Farren (horn, Whitburn Heartlands)
Oliver Morley (baritone, Selkirk Silver)
Amelie Ralston (cornet, Campbeltown)
Intermediate Ensembles
1. Galashiels Youth – Gold
2. Riverside Youth – Gold
3. Campbeltown High Brass – Gold
4. Campbeltown Brass – Gold
The other participants (in order of play) were:
Whitburn Youth
Hawick Saxhornettes
Cupar Brass Bandits
Intermediate Solos
1. Isla Gillespie (cornet, Selkirk Silver) – Gold
2. Iris Deane (trombone, Selkirk Silver) – Gold
3. Charlie Colville (cornet, Campbeltown) – Gold
4. Emily Kroegler (euphonium, Clackmannan Youth) – Gold
The other participants (in order of play) were:
Daniel Toller (tuba, Carnoustie High)
Lucy McFadzean (soprano cornet, Campbeltown)
Hattie Spence (trombone, Berwickshire High)
Roxy Clark (bass trombone, Whitburn Youth)
William Tawn (cornet, Kinneil Youth)
Cairn Robinson (cornet, Loanhead Brass)
Jake Prudhoe (trombone, Montrose Academy)
David Orr (baritone, Johnstone Band)
Annie Jones (trombone, Riverside Youth)
Lacey Bjork (cornet, Cupar Brass Bandits)
Youth Ensembles
1. Campbeltown Quintet – Gold
2. Selkirk Silver – Gold
3. Whitburn Youth – Gold
Youth Solos
1. Andrea Crumlish (horn, Riverside Youth) – Gold
2. Tyler Clark (horn, Heriot-Watt University) – Gold
3. Amber Gourlay (cornet, Kingdom Brass) – Gold
Open Solos
1. Lee Bathgate (cornet)
2. Lynsey McIlwraith (flugel)
3. Eileen Jenkins (horn)
The other participants (in order of play) were:
Joshua Parkhill (trombone)
Andrea Crumlish (horn)
