Youth band debut in Bon-Accord festive marathon weekend

Six shows in two days marked the end of a busy festive season for the Bon-Accord organisation which also saw the first public performance of its newly formed youth band.

Saturday 13 December saw the band pack in three appearances in Aberdeen’s Winter Gardens, attended by the city’s Lord Provost with an estimated combined audience of 600 spectators. 

The next day the band supported the Malcolm Sargent Cancer Fund Grampian Hospitals Christmas Concert, held its own relaxed kids concert and finally a sell-out evening concert featuring the Bon-Accord Silver Band, Bon-Accord B Band and, for the first time, the Bon-Accord Youth Band who had just received a funding boost thanks to the Scopus Arts Trust.

The evening also saw a retirement presentation to Eric Kidd who has had an association with the band for 53 years. Taught by the bands founder Stewart Watson MBE, Eric went on to join the Gordon Highlanders, returning to Aberdeen as a brass instructor, finally becoming the head of instrumental services for the City of Aberdeen.

In addition to Bon-Accord, Eric was involved with many local and national brass amd wind bands and was awarded an honorary membership of the Scottish Brass Band Association in 2015.

The evening concert showcased the Bon-Accord trio of bands performing festive arrangements with a mix of carols for all to sing. The debut appearance of the youth band, conducted by Jennifer Cook, was eagerly awaited by all and the audience was delighted by the young players’ performance.