Music teacher scores two notable successes

Mar 19 2008 By Graham Fraser

A LANARKSHIRE music teacher is celebrating success in two prestigious competitions.

Chris Bradley (43) - a brass instructor at Larkhall Academy, Uddingston Grammar and John Ogilvie High School - won the Scottish Brass Band Championships with Whitburn Band on March 9.

Two days later, he conducted Larkhall Academy Concert Band to victory for the second year in a row in the School Concert Band section at the Glasgow Music Festival.

The competition was held at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.

Chris, who has worked in South Lanarkshire for the past seven years, is understandably delighted with the achievements.

He said: “To win both the Scottish with Whitburn and the Glasgow festival with the Larkhall Academy within a few days is fantastic.”

He highlighted the work at the academy by Collette Stewart, principal teacher of music there, and fellow tutor Karen McKay.

“The music department at Larkhall Academy has a great record,” he added.

“As soon as pupils are playing a musical instrument, they are put into bands.

“They learn with their friends and when they progress, we put them in the big band.

“We are very proud of what we have achieved here.”

Chris was equally pleased with his contribution to Whitburn’s win at the Scottish Brass Band Championships.

Chris, who plays principal cornet with the band, has been involved with Whitburn since 1984.

He met his wife Evelyn, who is also a music teacher, in the band, and the couple have two children.

Last week, Whitburn became the Champion Band of Scotland for the 15th time.

Chris was pivotal in the victory, winning the Terris Medal for the best cornet player of the day.

And not content with that success, the talented musician also conducted Jedburgh Band to sixth place in the second section contest.

“The Terris Medal is the one that everyone wants to win in Scotland,” he explained.

“Winning the award is easily one of the best moments in my banding career.”

Chris studied at the Royal Scottish Academy for Music and Drama.

In his youth, he won the prestigious Governor’s Recital Prize and was a soloist with the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland.

Whitburn have now qualified for the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain, which will take place in the Royal Albert Hall, London in October.

The band will also represent Scotland at the European Brass Band Championships in Ostend, Belgium next year.

“It is going to cost us a lot of money to go to London and to Belgium so we will hopefully attract sponsors,” commented Chris.

“In the meantime I am hoping to get Whitburn down to play a concert in Larkhall for all the local schoolchildren.

“The band are one of the best in the world, and I am sure their presence will help the development of the young musicians in South Lanarkshire.”