A BRASS band has launched itself into the top 100 in the world after a successful year of competition.

Johnstone Band now sits in 90th position in the global rankings, having climbed 90 places.

Only nine bands from Scotland are in the top 100 and, out of the top 200 in the world, Johnstone has made the biggest jump up the table over the last year, by some distance.

Trombonist June Deans, chair of the Johnstone Band committee, said:

“We are so pleased to be back in this area of the rankings. The last time we were at this sort of level was in 2010, so it’s been a wee while.

“It’s been a great year of results and I think that’s because we’ve had really regular rehearsals.

“When we won the 1st section at the Scottish Championships, that was a real motivator to keep working hard and do well at the nationals in Cheltenham.”

The climb up the rankings comes after the band was promoted to the Championship section earlier this year – the top level of brass banding in the UK.

Having made a big impression on judges at the Scottish Championships in Perth, the Johnstone musicians were invited to Cheltenham to represent Scotland in the 1st section at the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain.

They received high praise from judges there too, securing third place to become the best-placed Scottish band in the competition.

Soprano cornet player Helen Mitchell also took home the title of Best Instrumentalist.

June added: “Next year is going to be challenging in the Championship section, so we’re really keen to fill some vacancies in the cornet section and percussion.

“We’ve had some really interesting professional conductors working with us this year, so we want to keep that sort of stuff going too. Hopefully, we can stay at the top level.”

Anyone who is interested in playing with Johnstone Band and auditioning for a place should visit www.johnstoneband.co.uk to fill in the contact form.

Alternatively, rehearsals take place on Sundays and Tuesdays, from 7.30pm to 9.30pm, in the band hall in Canal Street.