
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!
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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
The
players
cornets
Soprano - Alan Haggart
Principal - Allan Wilson
Solo - Calum Miller
Solo - Scott Bruce
Solo - Paul James
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Horns
Flugel - Alan Marr
Solo - VACANT
First - Josh Somers
Second - Jill Douglas
Second - John Benzie
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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
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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
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
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.’
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The Musician of the Year award is chosen by the band's Musical Director.
Year | Winner | Instrument |
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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

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

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

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.
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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 | - |

CONDUCTOR

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.
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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.
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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!
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You can contact us below through our social media pages.









our story

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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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‘…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.’
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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.
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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’.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.​






