THE recent Braw Lads Spurs Night in Galashiels also marked a significant event for three young members of the Youth Band as it was their first appearance with the Senior Band.

The Band’s recent growth has been focused on the young people of the town and they now have more than 40 youngsters in the Youth and Junior Bands.

Neal Wade, Bandmaster, was delighted to welcome Rosie McLeman, Freya McLeman and Tom McKeane.

“Three years ago we set out a plan to grow the band through teaching the young people of Galashiels to play music together.

“It is marvellous to see this plan working and we now have a great group of youngsters playing in the adult band as well as the youth bands.” The next engagement for the youngsters will be the Band’s Spring Concert, which takes place in the Volunteer Hall, Galashiels, on on Saturday, May 31, starting at 7.30pm.

The concert will feature the Galashiels Town Band, Galashiels Youth Band and the Galashiels Junior Band. All three Bands are conducted by Musical Director, Stuart Black. Tom McKeane, who with some of the other youngsters assists Stuart with the Junior Band, said: “We’re all looking forward to an entertaining night.

“It’s exciting to be playing with all three bands and we hope to surprise the audience with what we can do!” Tickets for the concert cost £7 (£5 for under 18 and over 65, free for under 12s) and will be on sale at the door or can be purchased in advance from band members or from A&A Doyle, 10 Bank Street, Galashiels.