UNISON Kinneil Band is thrilled to announce that Russ Young will be conducting the band at this year’s Scottish First Section Championships. Russ has worked tirelessly over the last couple of months in his current Resident Conductors role with Kinneil. The band has responded extremely positively towards the approach Russ has decided to take with the set test piece ‘Mountain Views’ by Betrand Moren. The 2012 Scottish First Section Championship take place on Sunday 11^th March in the Rothes Hall, Glenrothes.

The band also has a vacancy for a Solo Cornet player – if you are interested in joining a friendly, ambitious and hard working band then please contact our Secretary Robert Doherty via email at robertdoherty@blueyonder.co.uk or by mobile on 07843 421826.

Kinneil Senior Band and Youth Band will be bringing in the New Year at Kinneil Bowling Club and Fisons Social Club on Monday 2nd January 2012.

Players and friends will be meeting at the Bandhall at 2pm on Monday and will move onto Kinneil Bowling Club for 2.30pm and then to Fisons Social Club for 4pm. Please come along and support the band and enjoy the new year with us. Anyone outwith the band are more than welcome to play please can you send an email to Ruth Kelly at gkellytuba@aol.com.

Russell Young Resident Conductor

UNISON Kinneil Band is delighted to announce the appointment of Russell Young as Resident Conductor.

Russ started his musical career at the age of seven as a trumpet/cornet player in Ripon, North Yorkshire and has played with various Championship Brass bands in the north. After gaining A level music at the Harrogate College of Arts and Technology he joined the Royal Marines Band Service in 1993 at Deal and completed his training in 1995, gaining awards for the best cornet player and the aural cup. In September that year, he joined the Royal Marines Band Britannia Royal Naval College at Dartmouth, Devon where he became the band’s principal cornet player, a position he held for over 10 years. During that time the BRNC band had many engagements internationally, highlights being San Diego, Oregon, Naples, Cyprus and Finland.

In September 2005 he attended the M1 music course passing with distinction. He was promoted to Band Sergeant in April 2006 and completed the twelve month Warrant Officer Bandmaster course in April 2007 gaining a LRSM diploma in music direction (Wind Band) and AMusTCL diploma in Musical Theory, Criticism and Literature. Following the Bandmaster course he joined RM Band Portsmouth and was fortunate enough to travel to Japan as part of a Brass Quintet and perform trumpet solos on the Mountbatten Festival of Music and the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall.

In April 2009 he was promoted to Colour Sergeant then later to Acting Warrant Officer 2nd Class to take on the role of the RM Band Service Engagements Co-ordinator at Headquarters, organising and planning the programme for all the Royal Marines Bands. He obtained a First Class Honours Degree in Music in the same year.

Russ was appointed as Resident Conductor of Ocean Brass in 2009 and led them to a credible 2nd place at the SCABA Contest in Folkstone. He then moved to Chichester City Brass for the last 6 months of 2010 winning the same contest the next again year.

Russ was appointed as Bandmaster of The Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Scotland in January 2011 and resides in Rosyth with his wife Kerry and daughter Jasmine. UNISON Kinneil Band are thrilled to have appointed someone  as experienced as Russ and we hope to have an extremely successful 2012 under his residency.

UNISON Kinneil Band would also like to take this opportunity to thank Paul Drury for the sterling effort and hard work he put in over the last few years with the band. He also contributed significantly in expanding the bands personal library and everyone at Kinneil wishes Paul all the very best in the future.

If you are shopping online for your Christmas presents this year, then why don’t you use easyfundraising to help raise some much needed funds for the band? Remember it’s completely free and won’t add any extra expense to your shopping!

It’s very simple – just visit http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/kb/ to register and shop with over 2000 well known retailers like Amazon, Argos, M&S, eBay and many more. Whenever you buy something, the retailer makes a donation to Kinneil Band. They’ve helped other causes raise over £2,000,000 and Kinneil Band has managed to raise nearly £500 so it really does work!

You can also now raise funds for the band each time you make a search on the web…FOR FREE! Simply use Easysearch instead of Google or any other search engine and you can make a real difference to Kinneil Band.

Please search the web with Kinneil Band by using the following the link:
http://kb.easysearch.org.uk/?jstamp=Mjk1NTY=

With great shock and deep regret, UNISON Kinneil Band has been informed that a true Kinneil Legend – Mathie Deans – has passed away.

Mathie was born in 1926 and joined Kinneil Band aged ten. He started out on Cornet, an instrument which he continued to play until he retired. Mathie was influential in the renovation of our very own Blydon Bandhall when it fell into a state of disrepair in the 1970’s. He also served as President, Secretary, Committee Member, Band Sergeant and for a number of years was heavily involved in the teaching of the junior band. Many past and present Kinneil players were lucky enough to have learnt from the very best tutor and friend.

Mathie – We all owe you so much and many of us would not be the players we are today without your dedication throughout the years – our thoughts are with all your family at this sad time.
Rest in peace – you will never be forgotten.

Unison Kinneil Band invites applications for the position of Resident Conductor.

The band have their own premises located in Bo’ness which is in easy reach of the local road and rail networks. We rehearse on a Monday and Thursday from 7.30pm – 9.30pm.

The successful applicant will be offered opportunities to lead the band in both contest and concert performances. In addition they will be expected to work in association with a professional MD that the band committee may appoint at their discretion.

Desired qualities include : enthusiasm, hardworking, good band training techniques and band room discipline.

All applications will be treated in the strictest of confidence.

Closing date for applicants – Monday 7th November 2011

Contact Robert Doherty (Band Secretary) on (H) 01506 827761 or (M) 07843421826 or email robertdoherty@blueyonder.co.uk