Members of Granite City Brass took part in the NCBBA Solos and Ensembles on Sunday 6th November.

Lewis Catto (Principal Euphonium) and Callum Reid (Principal EEb Bass) were both successful in their efforts, winning their respective sections.

Callum Reid won the Youth Solos, and Lewis Catto won the Open Slow Melody playing Myfanwy

Callum and Lewis were also members of the Aberdeen Youth Brass Band Quintet, which has won a place at the finals in Perth

All in all a great day for members of Granite City Brass

Granite City Brass competed at the Lower Section National Finals on Saturday 24th September, under the direction of Musical Director, Alan Haggart. The band performed admirably and came away with a recording of a very nice performance, and a very positive crit. Placed 16th out of 17 bands, it was somewhat disappointing - but the band are on high spirits and are looking forward to the Scottish Challenge Shield on 3rd of December

Many thanks to Lt. Col (Retired) Robert Owen and Alan Haggart for their valuable time and dedication in preparing the band so well for this challenge

Listen to the Recording here

Granite City Community Band took part in the Aberdeen Music Festival Brass Band open section, on Wednesday 8th June. Conducted by Allan Boak, the band played very well, and were awarded by experienced adjudicator, Alan Fernie, with a good+. Other bands taking part were the, Bon-Accord B Band, and Aberdeen City Youth Brass Band.

In the Open Ensemble section, our own Martin Neale, and Adam Crighton played in a Bass Trombone quartet [pictured left], which featured the four bass trombone players, from four of the Brass Bands in Aberdeen, which included; Granite City Brass, Bon-Accord Silver Band, Bon-Accord B Band, and Granite City Community Band. They were awarded with a very good award. This was very well received by the Audience and Alan Fernie himself. We hope that this isn't the last we see of these four exceptional Musicians

Granite City Brass recently enjoyed an extremely successful concert, joined by the Granite City Community Band and Catherine Wyles. See a live sample from the concert on our videos page.

Keep checking back for details on the release of the Live DVD and CD

Granite City Brass had a good day out at the Fife Brass Band Festival yesterday (16 April), conducted by Alan Haggart. Competing in the second section of the contest, they were awarded third place with 186 points by adjudicator Jim Smith. Mr Smith's ear was caught in particular by the fine bass trombone playing of our very own Martin Neale, who was awarded the prize for Best Instrumentalist, due to his performance of the solo feature I Love You Because, and his contribution to the rest of the programme, which included Valero, Just a Closer Walk With Thee, Dance of the Pirates and March from Le Coq D'Or. Overall the band played very well, and have enjoyed not just the contest performance but the preparation of an entertaining programme which played to the band's strengths.

Full results from the day available here

Granite City Brass had a successful day at the Scottish Championships in the Perth Concert Hall today, achieving a fantastic Second place on Eric Ball's Resurgam, and in doing so have taken home the William Lawson Memorial Trophy and £100. Many thanks to Lt. Col. (Retired) Robert Owen, who spent many hours rehearsing the piece with the band.

The band subsequently will be promoted to the 1st Section at the end of the contesting year in November, and have been invited to the Lower Section finals in Cheltenham, in September. The band have also been invited to the Scottish Brass Band Festival in November. Be sure to keep checking the band's Diary for more information about concerts/contests in your area.

Full results from the day available here

Following the band's Successful festive fundraising period, the band will return to rehearsing for the Scottish Championships on Sunday 9th January.

Lt. Col. (Retd) Robert Owen will take the helm for this performance of the 2nd Section test-piece -
Eric Ball's Resurgam

Taken from the front Page of the Petition below

On the 3rd of December 2010, Aberdeen City Council will meet to discuss proposals which will see music tuition in Aberdeen either privatised or terminated. Both options would be hugely damaging to music education in the city. Pupils who have Council instruments will be forced to return them and those wishing to carry on learning an instrument will have to pay for private tuition and the costs of purchasing their own instrument – an option not available to many. In addition the bands and orchestras run in schools and by the Council Music Centre will cease to exist.

http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/2009763

The consequences of such proposals will be felt by many both across the city and nationally. The skills obtained through learning a musical instrument extend far beyond the world of music. Young people learn the self-discipline required for practising, improve their concentration, build up their confidence, develop their team working abilities and gain a sense of achievement through the opportunity to showcase their talents in front of others. Their performances are immensely enjoyed throughout Aberdeen, and the city has earned a reputation throughout Scotland and beyond for producing many high calibre musicians. 

However, there is still time to save our music tuition services which have been instrumental in Aberdeen’s development into today’s rich cultural centre. L.M.E (Life, Music, Education) is a student-run campaign which is fighting to save these services. Music is something that everyone, no matter who they are or what their background is, should be able to access and enjoy. If these services go they will never return. 

Granite City Brass are pleased to announce their new feature on this website. You can now watch selected band performances free of charge, courtesy of Youtube.

Please keep checking back for new (and maybe some old) videos of the band

You can view the videos here

Granite City Brass recorded the pieces they played at the Salvation Army Citadel on the 5th June 2010. These can be heard here.

Granite City Brass competed at the Annual Northern Counties Brass band competition this afternoon - Drawn second, we Achieved a respectable 5th place.

The Band opened with the March The Champions, by G.H. Willcocks. Then going for a slow and Rocky piece we played the second Movement of the Piece by Peter Graham - Northern Landscapes: Seascapes. After this we Featured our Principal Euphonium player Kenny Chapman, who played Wee Cooper o' fife, by Adrian Drover with excellent ease and style. We then concluded our performance with Peter Graham's Dimensions.

The Band would once again like to thank Alan Haggart and Lt Col(Rtd) Robert Owen for all the hard work put into the preparation for this contest

Full results available here

Granite City Brass spent the day at the Carnegie Hall in Dunfermline, Fife - Achieving 5th place.

The Band opened with the March The Champions, by G.H. Willcocks. From here on we featured only Scottish Arrangers, and continued with the haunting piece by Adrian Drover, Chelsea Bridge. After this we Featured our Principal Euphonium player Kenny Chapman, who played Wee Cooper o' fife, by Adrian Drover with excellent ease and style. We then concluded our performance with Peter Graham's Procession to the Cathedral.

The Band would like to thank Alan Haggart for all the hard work put into the preparation for this contest

Full results available here

Granite City Brass are delighted to join the Citadel Songsters and the Harlaw Academy concert band in the newly refurbished Aberdeen Salvation Army Citadel overlooking Castlegate and Union Street.

Please click on the image to the left for a preview of the poster. If you would like to help distribute this poster, please click the Adobe .PDF link below

"Sounds from the Citadel" Poster.pdf

For more information go to our diary, and then the event. Alternatively, you can click here

Granite City Brass competed at the Scottish Regionals on Saturday 13th March. Having competently performed to the adjudicators, it was clear that they did not like the style the band played.

Many thanks to Lt. Col. (Retd) Robert Owen, and also to Alan Haggart for the time dedicated to the preperation. The band looks forward to working with Lt. Col. Owen again in the future.

Full results available here