Aberdeen’s Bon Accord Silver Band has been enjoying a wonderful 50th anniversary celebration tour to the evocative Orkney and Shetland Isles.

Beautiful

Under the baton of Stephen Malcolm, the players has been warmly welcomed on both sets of islands and has enjoyed beautiful weather and calm seas throughout the trip – much to the relief of inexperienced sailors in the band!

In addition to concerts with the Kirkwall Town Band in St Magnus Cathedral, and Lerwick Town Band in the impressive surroundings of the Mareel Theatre, they have also performed for children at a local primary school on Orkney.

Opportunity

The band was delighted to welcome back several former players from around Scotland and the UK for the trip, as well as the Scottish Brass Band Association’s Development Manager, Andrew Duncan.

Andrew told 4BR: "It’s been a great playing opportunity (Andy took up the Bb tuba at their concerts) and to have meetings with SBBA’s two most northerly brass bands in Kirkwall Town and Lerwick Town, to introduce myself and to have discussions about how SBBA can help them develop their musical provision for young players."

As a result, SBBA is now setting up a new category for ‘Island Bands’, to encourage bands on the Scottish islands to be fully part of SBBA’s activitiesSBBA Development Manager, Andrew Duncan

Island bands

Andy also added: "People don’t often realise that there is an enormous distance of around 450 miles between Lerwick and Stranraer — our most northern and our most southern brass bands in Scotland.

As a result, SBBA is now setting up a new category for ‘Island Bands’, to encourage bands on the Scottish islands to be fully part of SBBA’s activities."

Gala Concert

The 50th anniversary celebrations will be rounded off by a gala concert at Aberdeen's Ferryhill Church on Sunday 28th April.