Well, we did it. We summoned up all the courage we could muster went on stage and did our first contest - at the Carnegie Hall no less. Nerves aplenty before hand; exhilaration afterwards. And before we say anything further, star of the 20 minutes was our solo trombonist who showed us all with poise how to do it. Our programme was just ourselves to a T - that mix of light and fun moving into reflective and sad and then back up again with a foot-stomping march to round off. Once again we had a piece from a movie that no-one has ever actually seen. For a novice band with no background to speak of in this kind of thing, we have every reason to be rather chuffed with ourselves. For a first experience, it was everything we could have hoped for. It was even sunny outside afterwards.

As it happens, there was another first in this. For our first ever time, we were disqualified! Why? Because some piece of paper didn't quite get filled in right. Ah well, red tape eh? Sort of wish it could have been for something a bit more impressive - smuggling a bassoon onto the stage for example. By the way, if a budding composer is reading this and feels like a (small) commission to write us a piece for next year's entry - the title's Disqualified in F.

The adjudication will be picked over very carefully over the next few days because that is what we went for - to get an expert and unbiased account of how we're doing. Hopefully it will inspire us to greater efforts for the future. Who knows where we could end up getting disqualified if we work hard enough at it.

Oh and if it's been bugging you slightly: yes there is Carnegie Hall in New York, but ours was the much more select and intimate one in Dunfermline. The contest was the Fife Brass Festival. And we'll be back.