Tuesday February 2nd saw a large and enthusiastic audience drawn to Dalkeith Community Centre to listen to a concert given by three junior brass bands from the county of Midlothian. This is an area with a rich heritage of Brass Banding, and the idea of the concert was to help promote the local bands, and to bring to attention the excellent work that is being done by both the bands and the local authority instrumental staff in keeping this fine example of community music making alive!

The concert was promoted by St.David's Brass, and it was their junior section St. David's Budding Brass who opened the event, conducted as ever by the inspirational John Dickson, with music by Phil Lawrence, Mark Vause and Gary Young. They were followed on stage by Newtongrange Junior Band, who played music by their conductor, Alan Fernie, as well as items by Borders musician, Cameron Mabon.

The final band to play were Loanhead Brass Roots, the junior section of McTaggart-Scott Loanhead band. Again conducted by Alan Fernie, they played music by Paul Lovatt -Cooper as well as a rousing version of Offenbach's "Can-Can".

The event also gave a chance for 5 soloists from Brass Roots and Newtongrange to perform their solos before this weekend's Scottish Youth Solo contest in Livingston. East of Scotland under 15 champion and rising cornet star Lloyd Griffin, from Loanhead, performed an effortless "Zelda", and not to be outdone, his wee brother Leighton Griffin, who is the area under 12 champion, gave us a spirited "Carnival of Venice" on his euphonium. We also heard 8 year old baritone player John Brown from Loanhead Brass Rootlets, and 2 young "Nitten" players - trombonist Stewart Duncan and Eleanor Scott, on cornet. The warm applause afforded these young soloists was a real encouragement towards their weekend endeavours!

The concert closed with all three bands combining in massed band items "The Floral Dance", Brahms' "Hungarian Dance No.5" (which was repeated as an enthusiastic encore) and "Highland Cathedral". The ovation for the 70 or so young players was long and loud!!

The success of this concert has already led to the idea of making it a yearly event, with plans for McTaggart's to host it in Loanhead in 2011. In the long run, it is hoped that nights like this will benefit all the bands in Midlothian, and inspire the young musicians that make up our bands in the future to keep on making music!