Brass-tastic Whitburn band blown away with world title win
Whitburn Band beat nearly 100 rivals from around the globe to win the Kapitol Cory Online Brass Band Championships.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions all the players in each band recorded their parts individually before they were carefully edited and submitted to a panel of judges.
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 show stopping 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 and proving popular with its ever-growing band of faithful followers.
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 and members have practiced alone in their homes accompanied by fellow musician only virtually.
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 and belt out their range of tunes to a live audience..
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