A Pen Portrait of Carolyn Watson
Conductor: Ballyclare Victoria Flute Band

Carolyn started her flute playing career in Lord Londonderry's Own C.L.B. Flute Band in Newtownards. She then joined Corcrain Flute Band in Portadown and played both Solo Concert and Solo Alto for them, helping them to victory in the World Championship's in 1985 and 1987. She is a very capable flute player in her own right and has always enjoyed much success and popularity in her solo playing career.

She started her conducting career with Cahard Flute Band from Saintfield enjoying numerous successes in the Intermediate Section of the North of Ireland Bands Association (NIBA) & Flute Band League (FBL) competitions. In 1989 she took over as conductor of Ballygowan Flute Band. She remained there with an unbeaten record in any contest including the World Championship for a number of years.

Her next success story came with Lord Londonderry's Own C.L.B. Flute Band in Newtownards, the band she grew up in. Once again Carolyn worked her own special brand of magic and the most successful phase in the history of this intermediate band ensued.

Joining Ballyclare Victoria Flute Band in 2003, Carolyn set about building a winning team rapport within the band. Conducting a band which had an unsurpassed track record throughout the 70's, 80's and 90's it was no easy task to win the hearts and minds of the membership, but with her unique brand of leadership coupled with dedication and hard work she has done just that.

Carolyn prepares for all events whether competition or concert work with meticulous research and attention to detail. She is often heard to say the winning band will always be the band that is best rehearsed and she has been proved right on so many occasions in the last two years.

During this period Ballyclare Victoria has won the NIBA World Championship Contest twice, the Portrush Masters Contest twice, the Scottish Amateur Flute Band Association Scottish Open Contest once and been runners up in the FBL Own Choice contest twice. In leading Ballyclare Victoria to success in the 2003 World Championship Contest Carolyn became one of a select few who have conducted two different bands (Ballyclare Victoria & Ballygowan) to success in this prestigious contest.

The members of Ballyclare Victoria certainly want this winning combination to continue for many years to come.

Carolyn putting the band through their paces at a practise in Ballyclare Presbyterian Church Halls

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