The City of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has named September 5th 2019 as Dr James Gourlay Day.
The prestigious honour is in recognition of his huge contribution to the artistic landscape of the American city, one which the Mayor, Bill Peduto, states in the official proclamation has seen him become, "a cultural icon".
Proclamation
James Gourlay has been the Artistic and General Director of River City Brass for ten seasons — a decade in which he has dramatically increased its audience base and artistic profile.
'Dr James Gourlay Day' will coincide with the opening day of River City's 2019/20 season. It will see them give 35 concerts in five regional locations to tens of thousands of people attracted by their unique musical blend of American tunes, classic rock, Big Band swing and jazz, music from Broadway and Hollywood, classical and contemporary masterworks, and traditional marches.
The proclamation also hails Dr. Gourlay's expertise, wit and energy and has seen him make the band "one of the most respected"in the world.
Dr. Gourlay moved to Pittsburgh with his wife, Lea Havis, in 2009. He quickly adopted Pittsburgh as his new hometown, becoming a fan of the 'Pirates' baseball team and a regular presence at events in the cultural district.
The prestigious honour is in recognition of his huge contribution to the artistic landscape of the American city, one which the Mayor, Bill Peduto, states in the official proclamation has seen him become, "a cultural icon"4BR
Influential
Earlier this year, Dr. Gourlay and his wife became American citizens. In December 2018 he was named as one of the influential Musical America publication's 'Top 30 Professionals of the Year' in the worldwide performing arts industry.
A spokesperson for River City Brass told 4BR: "As the Mayor's proclamation makes clear, Dr. Gourlay's tenure at the helm of RCB has been a time of growth and increasing stability for the band.
RCB's audience has grown, as has its repertoire and donor base. The future has never looked brighter and the dedication and skill of Dr. James Gourlay is a big reason for that."
