Irvine and Dreghorn Brass Band are excited to announce the appointment of Lewis Bettles as Musical Director.

Picking up his first brass instrument aged just 8 years old, Lewis has gained recognition as he has won many prizes and awards for his performances including BBC’s Young Musician of the Year award where he appeared as a Brass Finalist in 2014 and as a semi-finalist in BBC Radio 2’s Young Brass Band award in 2017.

By the age of 15, Lewis had already played with multiple Championship Section bands in and around his hometown of Sheffield. In 2010, 4BarsRest published a report on Lewis and his achievements to date stating that his debut contest with a championship section band was when he was aged just 12 years old! The article was written after he had played the Yorkshire Area finals with Stannington Brass Band at the Yorkshire Area contest, held in St. George’s Hall, where they were up against the big names of brass band such as Black Dyke and Grimethorpe.

As Lewis has developed in his performing career he has picked up a Diploma of Performance from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) as well as his BMus First Class Honours degree from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland where he has played in several brass groups including trombone quartet “Clydeslide”, and most recently “Aura Brass”. He is currently working as a freelance musician and teacher.

The band are delighted to have Lewis on board and can’t wait to get hard at work with him in preparation for the 2019 Scottish Championships.

Keep your eyes peeled for a more in-depth interview with Lewis as he takes up his role with IDB.

Over the past few weeks the band have trialled several candidates to fill the position of Musical Director and would like to take this time to thank all of them for their interest in the role and the time taken to rehearse with the band over a couple of rehearsals.

Upcoming Events

Keep your eyes peeled to our social media accounts for news of our upcoming concerts, contests and gigs.

• 22nd November 2018

• – Cumnock Christmas Lights Switch-On, Cumnock Factory Outlet.

• 25th November 2018

• –Concert, St Columba’s Church, Kilbirnie.

• 1st&2nd December 2018

• – A Victorian Christmas, Culzean Castle Christmas Fayre.

• 15th December 2018

• – Carolling, The Portal Leisure Centre, Irvine.

• 20th December 2018

• – Christmas Concert, Volunteer Rooms, Irvine.