Lewis and Harris Youth Concert to Perform Online

Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar is delighted to announce that the Lewis and Harris Youth Concert Band will be going live on the Comhairle Facebook page at 8pm on Saturday the 20th of March.

The band were due to perform at the Scottish Concert band finals last year before it was cancelled at the last minute as a result of the Pandemic. Sadly that meant the band did not get to showcase their talents at the Finals.

A huge amount of effort goes in to making the band a success and we are pleased to be able to offer a platform for the band to perform.

Instrumental music Teacher and Band Conductor Gavin Woods said, "The greatest highlight of my teaching career so far has been directing the Lewis and Harris Youth Concert Band,  particularly their performances at the Scottish Concert Band Festival.  The festival gives an opportunity for bands from all over Scotland to perform a programme of work to each other and of course to the adjudicators.  Five years ago the band achieved a silver award, last year they reached the esteemed heights of a Gold award.  Praise indeed for the wee band from Lewis and their proud conductor.

Band member Emily Davidson said,  "I love being part of the Lewis and Harris Youth ConCert band. I play the trumpet and have been a member of the band since I came to the Nicolson. Every year we travel to the Scottish Concert Band Finals, the trip is always great fun and we rehearse twice a week in the run up to the competition so we were all disappointed to miss out this year. We are proud of this recorded performance and hope people enjoy it.

Emily is set to leave school this summer and is hoping to find a new band, "I am in 6^th year now and hoping to move away to study English and Anthropology. I would love to find a band so I can keep doing what I enjoy but I know no band will come close to the one I have here. "

Fellow band Member Tom Blunt was able to explain the bands unique connection with the Ross and Cromarty Mountain Battery Band, "They were the first military brass band in Scotland 1875 and the band originated form Lewis with many of the band members being former Nicolson Pupils. The band fought in WW1 and they entertained troops with their fantastic music.

A lot of what we do is to commemorate this band, our current band has quite a connection to this band and we draw inspiration from what they were able to achieve. "

Tom went to add, " I have been a member of the band since I was in P5 as a trumpet player. I am passionate about the band and hope that everyone enjoys this performance. I have one more year left in school and hope to keep performing in the band while studying three Advanced Highers."