top of page

About Us

Located in Aberdeen, Granite City Brass is one of Scotland's longest established brass bands with a rich musical heritage spanning over 175 years.

history_1840.jpg

rehearsals

Details of our rehearsals are below. Our two bands are really friendly and we'd love to have you along, whether you're looking for a new band or just visiting the area and fancy a blow!

​

GRANITE CITY BRASS is a contesting band in the first section and is for experienced players.

COMMUNITY BAND is a non-contesting band which invites anyone to come along and play in a relaxed environment - ideal for learners!

granite city brass

Sunday | 7.45pm - 9.45pm

Wednesday | 7.30pm - 9.30pm

Community band

Sunday | 6.00pm - 7.30pm

LOCATION

All Life Chances, Dill Road, Tillydrone, Aberdeen AB24 2XL

Rehearsals

The
players

cornets

Soprano - Alan Haggart

Principal - Allan Wilson

Solo - Calum Miller

Solo - Scott Bruce

Solo - Paul James

​

Horns

Flugel - Alan Marr

Solo - VACANT

First - Josh Somers

Second - Jill Douglas

Second - John Benzie

​

baritones

Solo - Eilidh James

Second - VACANT

tubas

Principal EEb - Mandy Wilson

EEb Bass - Pixie Nishina

BBb Bass - Andy Paterson

BBb Bass - Dave Catto

Repiano - Mike Chapman

Second - Wendy Haggart

Second - Cathy Smith

Second - Tom Rafferty

Third - Gerald Dawson

Third - Jodie Gibb

Trombones

Solo - Julie Smith

Solo - Kenny Hamilton

Second - Pauline Carroll

Bass - Stuart Reid

euphoniums

Principal - Lewis Catto

Second - Charlotte Ferguson

​

percussion

Philip Eost

Brodie McCash

Ben Williams

musical
director

POSITION VACANT

Granite City Brass, one of Scotland's longest established brass bands, is looking for a passionate and experienced Musical Director or Resident Conductor to lead our 1st section contesting band.

 

Key Responsibilities:

Lead rehearsals & develop both our senior & community bands

Foster musical excellence & community engagement

Provide pathways for learning brass instruments

Prepare the band for contests and performances

 

Essential Experience:

Proven conducting experience

Ability to develop musicians & lead rehearsals

Passion for community & music education

Meet the Band

AWARDS

CHAMPIONS

Scottish Championships (1st Section)

2014, 2025

Northern Counties Open Contest

1981, 1994, 2003, 2005, 2007

Scottish Championships (2nd Section)

1984, 1990, 1993, 2005

Scottish Championships (3rd Section)

1969

Runners-up

Scottish Championships (1st Section)

2024

Fife Charities Association Contest

2022

Northern Counties Open Contest

1980, 1982, 1983, 1999, 2014, 2015

Scottish Championships (2nd Section)

1979, 2007, 2011

Scottish Challenge Shield

2005, 2009

Scottish Championships (3rd Section)

1950, 1962, 1978

Scottish Championships (4th Section)

1961

3rd place

Scottish Championships (1st Section)

2000, 2017, 2022

Scottish Challenge Shield

2014, 2018

Fife Brass Band Festival

2011, 2017

Fife Charities Association Contest

2016

Northern Counties Open Contest

1960, 1981, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2016

Whitburn Invitation Contest

1991

Scottish Championships (2nd Section)

1973

Awards

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

Stewart Gilmour Memorial Award

GCB MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR

The Stewart Gilmour Memorial Award was  purchased by the band in 2014 in memory of a dedicated bandsman and talented musician who played the Flugel horn with great distinction in the band. Stewart had latterly been the band’s chairman, and played in the band through many successes. For 16 years Stewart was Principal Teacher of Music at St Machar Academy but held the post of Deputy Head Teacher at the time of his untimely death aged only 48. Stewart’s musical talent didn’t go unnoticed and in the 2007 national finals 4barsrest wrote: ‘…in the ‘Elegy’ where Stewart Gilmour on flugel was the star that the band showed what it was capable of.’

​

The Musician of the Year award is chosen by the band's Musical Director.

Year
Winner
Instrument
2025
Eilidh James
Baritone
2024
Allan Wilson
Cornet
2023
Mike Chapman
Cornet
2022
Eloisa Donovan
Tenor Horn
2021
No Award (Covid)
-
2020
Hannah Noble
Euphonium
2019
Andy Paterson
BBb Bass
2018
Rosie Martin
Tenor Horn
2017
Lewis Catto
Euphonium
2016
Tom Rafferty
Cornet
2015
James Boulton
Baritone
2014
Alan Haggart
Soprano Cornet

Neil Ferguson Memorial Award

GCB BANDSPERSON OF THE YEAR

ferguson_neil_scottish_edited.jpg

The Neil Ferguson Memorial Award was purchased by the band in 2014 to honour a devoted bandsman and friend to many in the band over the years, and a fine musician with a natural affinity for the soprano cornet. He excelled in many roles within the band, including secretary, chairman and fundraising organiser. Neil also served on the committee of the Northern Counties Brass Band Association, culminating in his election as Chairman. It is with this in mind that the Neil Ferguson Award is to be given to the Bandsman of the Year, nominated by the players of the band.

​​

The Bandsperson of the Year award is chosen by the band via ballot.

Year
Winner
Instrument
2025
Andy Paterson
BBb Bass
2024
Kenny Hamilton
Trombone
2023
Jodie Gibb
Cornet
2022
Rosie Martin / Cathy Smith
Tenor Horn / Cornet
2021
No Award (Covid)
-
2020
Pauline Carroll
Trombone
2019
Philip Eost
Percussion
2018
Rosie Martin
Tenor Horn
2017
Philip Eost
Percussion
2016
Allan Wilson
Cornet
2015
John Benzie
Tenor Horn
2014
Martin Neale
Bass Trombone

Colin Reid Memorial Award

COMMUNITY BAND MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR

colin-reid_edited.jpg

The Colin Reid Memorial Award was purchased by the band in 2014 as a fitting tribute to a percussion player who served the band for many years as a great musician who also served for a period of time on the committee. He passed away in 2007 following a stroke.

​​

The Musician of the Year award is chosen by the Community Band bandmaster.

Year
Winner
Instrument
2025
Nathan Chesney
Baritone
2024
Tracey Innes
Euphonium
2023
Sandra Thomson / Pam Wilson
Percussion / Cornet
2022
Pixie Nishina
EEb Bass
2021
No Award (Covid)
-
2020
Jonathan Irvine
Cornet
2019
Dave Bradshaw
Euphonium
2018
Hannah Noble
Euphonium
2017
Susan Stewart
Cornet
2016
Molly Lees
Tenor Horn
2015
Hannah Noble
Euphonium
2014
Jude McGowan
Tenor Horn

Stewart Watson Memorial Cup

COMMUNITY BAND BANDSPERSON OF THE YEAR

StewartWatson_edited.jpg

The Stewart Watson Memorial cup was gifted to the band by Stewart’s family, following his death in 1996. The family donated a cup to each of the bands in the city including; Granite City Brass, Aberdeen City Youth Brass Band, and the band Stewart founded, Bon-Accord Silver Band.

​​

The Bandsperson of the Year award is chosen by the Community Band members via ballot.

Year
Winner
Instrument
2025
Ben Williams
Tenor Horn
2024
Nathan Chesney
Baritone
2023
Jonathan Irvine
Cornet
2022
Jude McGowan
Tenor Horn
2021
No Award (Covid)
-
2020
Jude McGowan
Tenor Horn
2019
Isobel Robertson
Tenor Horn
2018
Laura Reid
Tenor Horn
2017
Tom Paton
Bass Trombone
2016
Lorna Noble
Trombone
2015
Dylan Coolahan
Cornet
2014
Lorna Noble
Trombone
2013
Julian / Rebecca Slater
Cornet
2012
Lorna & Hannah Noble
Cornet
2008
Hannah Vadler
Tenor Horn
2007
Scott Bruce
Cornet
2005
John Pirie
Euphonium
2000
Robert Ralph
-
1999
Ross Murray
Euphonium
1998
James Bloice
-
CommunityBand2.jpeg
CommunityBand

CONDUCTOR

pixie_edited.jpg

PIXIE NISHINA

Pixie Nishina is an Aberdeen-based musician. She currently studies music at University of Aberdeen. As a composer, her pieces have been performed by Spectrum and Con Anima Chamber Choir. You can find her playing the tuba in various ensembles around Aberdeen, including the Granite City Brass main band.

​

She is also interested in conducting, writing poetry, and playing the baroque recorder. She has recently taken on the role as Musical Director for the community band and is very excited.

COMMUNITY
BAND

The Community Band was formed in 1997 to provide a space for any player of any standard and ability to enjoy music-making in a relaxed and friendly environment. It also serves as a feeder band for the senior contesting band, Granite City Brass.

​

The Community band rehearses on a Sunday, 6pm-7.30pm and enjoys a varied schedule of community engagements across the city and shire. Anyone is welcome to join whether you've been playing for years, want to step back into playing after a break, or if you want to learn a new skill!

​

You can contact us below through our social media pages.

Community Band1.jpeg
history_2000.jpg
history_1980.jpg
history_1840.jpg
history_196070.jpg
history_198090.jpg
history_198090b.jpg
history_2003.jpg

our story

history_196070b.jpg

At the start of the 21st century, Aberdeen is the oil capital of Europe and home to many major companies. In the middle of the 19th century the idea that oil could be obtained from the North Sea would have been regarded as fantasy, but the city was already well established as the centre of several industries that still contribute, along with the black gold from the sea, to the economy of North East Scotland.

​

Agriculture, fishing, granite, textiles and paper provided the region’s wealth long before the oil was brought onshore.

Paper-making was a major source of employment, particularly in the villages of Stoneywood and Bucksburn, just north of Aberdeen. Several paper mills were established on the banks of the River Don, the biggest being Stoneywood.

The Pirie family who owned the mill were enlightened employers. They provided a school for the workers’ children and established a free library. Education and self-employment were encouraged. In this relatively benevolent environment people like George Gibb thrived.

​

Born at Bridge of Don in 1826, Gibb worked as a factory hand in the mill, but in his spare time he became a student of literature. He began to write poetry and soon his verses were appearing regularly in The Aberdeen Herald. Music also captured his imagination and in 1850, along with John Beveridge and ten others, he formed the Stoneywood and Auchmull Union Band. Auchmull was the earlier name for the village now known as Bucksburn.

​

The term ‘Union’ appears to have been adopted simply to signify that the two villages were united in the project.

New instruments were purchased for the twelve original members, but their ownership was vested in a trust as the public property of the two villages.

​

George Gibb probably had a hand in the elegantly phrased letter that was circulated to local gentlemen in an effort to secure funding for the band.

​

‘…we trust, that through the liberality of the friends of progress, we will be enabled to bring it within the reach of all who have a desire for the cultivation of Music. Thus forming a source of harmless recreation to us, and a pleasing gratification to the community generally.’

​

Within a few years the railway reached Aberdeen, with Alex Pirie Jnr playing a major part in the formation of the Great North of Scotland Railway Company. Not surprisingly, George Gibb was one of the bright young men head-hunted for the new organisation. He became station-master at Kennethmont.

​

Meanwhile brass band playing was becoming increasingly popular around Stoneywood. It was reported that a second company of the Volunteer Corps had been formed ‘at which time a brass band was added to the equipment’. John Beveridge stayed on at the mill. In 1908 he may well have been the sole survivor of the original twelve; certainly, he was a long-serving employee and an appropriate person to stand alongside the mill manager and one of the company directors as a trustee when the band was given a new constitution under the name of The Stoneywood Brass Band. A formal link was now established with Alex Pirie & Sons and it was agreed that band practices would be held in The Works Hall, the building which had originally housed the mill school. The band was again fully equipped with instruments and uniforms. The inventory records that the original twelve instruments purchased 58 years previously were still available ‘for practice’.

​

To begin with, the band’s engagements were mainly in Stoneywood and the neighbouring villages, but its reputation began to spread and soon it became the best-known band in the North East of Scotland.

​

By the end of the Second World War the name had been changed to Stoneywood Silver Band. In the post-war years the band travelled widely to take part in contests – this included several trips to London for national finals. Over the years the percentage of musicians actually employed in the paper mill declined. By the 1980s the players were drawn from all walks of life and when the old Works Hall was damaged by fire, the link with the mill was finally severed.

​

New rehearsal accommodation was offered by UDI, an offshore services company with premises in Bridge of Don. So in 1985 Stoneywood Silver Band became UDI Brass and entered into a busy schedule of concerts, contests, civic occasions and other events, including an appearance on BBC TV’s Songs of Praise and backing Peter Skellern in concert.

A name change was to come. In 1997 UDI Brass merged with Aberdeen City Band, which had been founded in 1957 by a former conductor of the Stoneywood Band, Alexander Buchan. Some of the original members transferred from Stoneywood, finding it more convenient to attend practices in Aberdeen. Throughout the 1960s and 70s the City Band was much in demand for concert appearances and had some notable successes in contests.

​

On two occasions the band took first place in the Scottish Championships, thus qualifying to play in the British finals in London. By the 1990s, however, membership had declined to the point that the band had many more instruments than musicians, and a merger with the thriving UDI Brass made sense. This led to the creation of UDI Aberdeen City Band and a new ensemble, the Aberdeen Community Band, which offers band playing to musicians of any standard, young and old alike, for recreation and education.

​

One final name change takes us up to date: after UDI were bought over by Fugro Survey, the band were allowed to drop the UDI part of their name, and voted to rebrand themselves “Granite City Brass”, referring to Aberdeen’s well-known soubriquet. The story came full circle when, a couple of years later, the band were welcomed back into the premises of Stoneywood Paper Mill by owners Arjo Wiggins with the offer of excellent rehearsal and storage facilities – an act of corporate generosity of which the Pirie family would surely have approved – thus allowing the band to continue to fulfil the aims set out by George Gibb and his friends more than 170 years ago.

​

The early 21st century brought renewed success and fresh opportunities. Under the direction of a number of distinguished conductors – among them the late David James, Tom Paulin, the late Lt. Col. Robert Owen and Bruce Wallace – the band thrived musically and competitively. In 2014, Granite City Brass became Scottish First Section Champions, earning the right to represent Scotland at the National Finals in Cheltenham. That same year, the band moved to new rehearsal premises at Inchgarth Community Centre in Garthdee, where it would remain for the next decade. With support from corporate sponsor Craig Group between 2014 and 2018, the band was able to develop its musical ambitions and strengthen its community links.

​

The year 2025 marked the band’s 175th anniversary – a remarkable milestone in a story that began with mill workers and borrowed instruments. It was a year of celebration and achievement, crowned by a second First Section Championship win and a return to the National Finals. With the generous backing of new sponsor Mototech Aberdeen, the band moved to fresh accommodation at All Life Chances, a community-focused organisation whose values echo those of the band’s founders. Still rooted in the ideals of progress, education and inclusion, Granite City Brass continues to offer ‘harmless recreation’ and ‘pleasing gratification to the community generally’ – just as Gibb and his companions intended.​

history_196070c.jpg
history_1850.jpg
history_196070a.jpg
history_198090a.jpg
history_198090c.jpg
2010_scottish.jpg
History
bottom of page