A 175-Year Thank You for the Music — and to Those Who Kept The Band Playing
- Lewis Catto
- 1 hour ago
- 3 min read
Granite City Brass welcomed a large gathering of weel kent faces to St Machar’s Cathedral on Saturday afternoon (16 November) for a special concert celebrating the band’s 175th anniversary. The occasion combined a programme rich with historical touchpoints and musical memories, alongside a series of significant SBBA honours, presented by Ann Murray, Vice President of the Scottish Brass Band Association.
SBBA Honours Mark Decades of Dedication
The band was proud to see SBBA Life Membership awarded to David Catto, recognising 52 years of service to brass banding. David began playing at Aberdeen Citadel Salvation Army Band in 1973 and has been a key part of Granite City Brass since 1994, contributing on BBb Bass and in leadership roles including Chairman and Trustee.
Isobel Robertson was also awarded Life Membership in recognition of 47 years of commitment. Her musical journey has included early playing with Elgin City Band, a decade as its conductor, many years with RAF Kinloss Band, and her valued contribution to Granite City Brass since 2010.
An SBBA Honorary Medal was presented to John Benzie, who will retire next year after 50 years as Librarian. John’s consistent care has shaped a library considered by many as one of the best organised in the country, reflecting decades of dedication behind the scenes.
SBBA also confirmed an additional Life Membership for a long-serving member who could not be present on the day. Their award will be formally presented at a future engagement.
To mark the milestone year, the band was presented with a commemorative quaich, acknowledging its 175-year contribution to Scottish brass banding.
A Programme with a Story to Tell
Under Alan Haggart, the band delivered a programme that reflected key chapters of its history. Strauss’s Festmusik der Stadt Wien opened the afternoon — a nod to the late David James, who led the band to Northern Counties success with the piece, his own arrangement, in 2003. Wagner’s Prelude to Act 3 of Lohengrin, written in 1850, linked directly to the band’s founding year, offering a glimpse into the music its earliest players might have known.
The programme continued to revisit the band’s notable contest memories, from Bruce Fraser’s Under the Bridges to Goff Richards’ Oceans. Kenneth Downie’s Overture: Granite City marked a significant shift in the organisation’s identity when it was commissioned for the band’s 150th anniversary, capturing a moment of renewal and forward direction.
A reflective highlight followed with Rev. Archie Beaton, featuring principal euphonium Lewis Catto, whose solo contributions over the past 15 years — including multiple best instrumentalist and solo awards at competitions across Scotland — have become a recognisable part of the band’s musical profile.
Community at the Heart of the Band
The Community Band, conducted by Pixie Nishina, offered a warm contrast with a relaxed and characterful set — a reminder of the band’s long-standing tradition of making music accessible to anyone with the desire to play. Established in 2000 following the amalgamation of UDI Brass and Aberdeen City Band, the ensemble reflects the spirit captured in a letter written by the band’s founder, George Gibb, as he sought funding to begin the organisation — a wish to bring music “within the reach of all” and offer recreation and enjoyment to the community. Their performances of Rock On!, Gymnopedie No. 1, and Colonel Bogey embodied that purpose, showcasing music-making that is open, welcoming and firmly rooted in the band’s community heritage.
After the interval, Granite City Brass returned with music from more recent chapters of its story. Morley Calvert’s Caprice connected the audience with the band’s 2024 Scottish First Section Championship win under Bruce Wallace, while Downie’s Tribute Music, Peter Graham’s Dimensions and Goff Richards’ Songs of the Quay each linked the present ensemble to milestone performances and contest successes from past decades.
A United Finish
The afternoon closed with a massed-band performance of “Thank You for the Music”, bringing players from both ensembles together in a finale that summed up the spirit of the day.
As the final bars rang across the cathedral, Granite City Brass offered heartfelt thanks to the audience, to past and present members who joined in celebrating this milestone, and to everyone who has supported the band across generations. Framed by the message of the closing piece, the moment felt fitting: 175 years of saying “thank you for the music” — and with much more music still to come.
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