BALLYGOWAN FLUTE BAND

15 September: Andrew Douglas gets to meet Sir James Galway. James and Andrew are the only two people at twelve years of age to win the Flute Band Association's competition in Under-13, Under-16 and Open Solo in the same year - Sir James Galway and Andrew Douglas of the Ballygowan Flute Band. Less than three years after his treble, Andrew won the piccolo prize at the Flute Band Association's Owen Choice Contest.

These six young people made their first appearance in the Band's colours on the morning of 11 July 2010 at the annual church service for the Orange Brethren of Ballygowan and surrounding district.
From left: Thomas Simpson, Benjamin Gourley, Sophie Gourley, James Douglas, Chloe McClure, Hannah Mayes

What can we offer our young people?

They can learn to play the instrument or improve their standard under the individual, or small group, tuition of talented, and usually qualified teachers, and they will be introduced to a wide range of music (as outlined in our Music page).

They will have the pleasure of away days - always well supervised. These will be concerts or contests and may include an overnight stay in another country (wholly optional) If they don't already own their own instrument (and that could be a timpani, glockenspiel or a sidedrum), we will provide one of quality. They will have the opportunity (again wholly optional) to play with one of the world's finest marching flute bands.


Andrew performs in the 2011 Northern Ireland Young Musician Competition

Andrew performs in the 2011 Northern Ireland Young Musician Competition

Below, Andrew entertains the guests at The Rotary  Club of Comber’s 25th Anniversary of their Charter.

Hannah Mayes captured with her Dad before the annual Orange Church Service in Comber on 10 July 2011.

Did you know that when the world famous flautist James Galway was still only twelve years of age, he won the under-13, under-16 and open solo in the Northern Ireland's Flute Band League Annual Solos and Small Ensemble Contest?

No! Then you probably wouldn't know that this feat had never been done before, and indeed until recently had not been achieved since. Well, records are made to be broken, and in 2008, 12-year-old Andrew Douglas from Ballygowan Flute Band repeated Jimmy's feat (and apparently he was even younger than James Galway was at the time.) 

Every year many of our young (and not so young) members enter this competition. There is something for everyone; solos, duets, trios, quartets, sextets, octets not to forget the percussion section.

Ballygowan traditionally have a good entry and it can be no accident that successes here throughout the 70s and 80s by a significant percentage of our members have had a major bearing on the band's development through the last two decades.

Jonathan Gourley will probably always remember playing in his first major parade on Saturday 29 August 2009 at the Black Preceptory Parade in Crossgar.
He had agreed the target with his father (no pressure!) to have learned all his marches to coincide with Dad's birthday - we have it from a reliable source that the flute and marches went on holiday with him to France. Well done Jonathan; you've made the grade! 

Jonathan would be a direct descendant of one of those pioneers of 1876.

Younger Generation

Still only fifteen years of age, Andrew Douglas has now won the best piccolo player prize at the 2011 Flute Band Association’s Own Choice Contest and the Northern Ireland Band Association’s 2011 World Championship for Flute Bands. Here, now a sixteen-year-old, Andrew receives the NIBA trophy from President Margaret Campbell.

Andrew has also won a £500 share of the Blair Mayne Bursary to help fulfil his musical ambitions - he wants to invest in a new flute - more detail on our members page.