Whether you loved orchestra rehearsals or loathed them, school bands have been a mainstay of extracurricular activities for decades in the north-east.
For some pupils, music lessons were taken under duress at the insistence of parents, but others relished the chance to perform and learn new skills.
From the squeaky string section to bum notes in the brass section – and an exasperated conductor – there’s never a dull moment at school orchestra rehearsals.
But months spent crucifying Carmen and The Dam Busters March were always worth it, in the end, when the concert band and orchestra triumphed at the end of term concert.
We’ve taken a look back at the happy days of making music and having fun.
Airyhall Primary School Orchestra
In 1977, Airyhall Primary School boasted a huge roll of 340 pupils – and many of the little ones were musical.
Little Sarah Jane Alexander, aged six, on violin, leads the 30-piece string orchestra in this lovely photo showcasing the young musicians.
Banffshire School Orchestra
If you were really lucky, your school orchestra or concert band went on a music tour abroad, like Banffshire School Orchestra did in July 1975.
Six teachers and 41 pupils including four Highland dancers and bagpiper Moira Whyte were fortunate enough to jet over to Germany.
The music group were about to embark on a 10-day trip to Kronach, Banffshire’s Bavarian twin in Germany.
Linksfield Academy Concert Band
Some trips, however, were a bit closer to home, like Linksfield Academy Concert Band’s week-long tour of the Borders back in 1981.
Saxophonist Annette Young lead fellow bandmates to a rehearsal at Aberdeen School for the Deaf ahead of the trip in June.
Meldrum Primary School Music Group
Primary six and seven pupils from Meldrum School in Oldmeldrum were putting in the practise at music lessons ahead of a special visit in October 1984.
With glockenspiels and tambourines at the ready, the youngsters were awaiting the arrival of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.
Dyce Community Orchestra
The younger members of the talented Dyce Community Orchestra were in the midst of a mammoth fundraising effort – to the tune of £20,000 – in 1995.
The 40-strong orchestra were hoping to raise enough funds to tour Canada in 1995, having previously visited Switzerland, Netherlands and France.
The community continues to be a hub for musical excellence, with the prestigious Aberdeen City Music School based at Dyce Academy.
St Margaret’s School for Girls Orchestra
In January 1998, this talented trio from St Margaret’s School for Girls were selected to play with the National Children’s Orchestra of Scotland.
The three young maestros were Kirsty Wilson and Donna Johnston on double bass, and Kirsten Simpson on French Horn.
The girls beat off hundreds of other applicants in a series of auditions which were held across the country.
Harlaw Academy and Aberdeen Grammar School
Young Aberdeen Grammar School pupil Neil McFarlane lead the way for city violinists during a National Youth Orchestra of Scotland workshop at Harlaw Academy in 2001.
The one-day workshops brought young musicians together from across Aberdeen.
Inverurie Academy Orchestra and Choir
The full complement of Inverurie Academy’s Orchestra and Gospel Choir turned out for rehearsals ahead of the festive season in 2004.
The pupils were one of the schools partaking in the Evening Express Carol Concert that year at the Music Hall in Aberdeen.
Ashley Road School Orchestra
The rising stars of Ashley Road School’s Orchestra won the under-11 orchestra category at the Aberdeen and North-East of Scotland Music Festival in 2005.
Among the youngsters treading the boards were violinists Lucy Philip, Kirsty Mon-Williams, Rachel Elliot, Cameron McCullough and Alex Peacock.
Torry Academy Music Department
There was a music lesson with a difference at Torry Academy in 2008, when internationally renowned percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie joined rehearsals.
Dame Evelyn met pupils from Torry and Total French School while practising for a concert by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra at the Music Hall.
Ellon Academy Orchestra
Pupils from Ellon Academy’s Orchestra on stage at the Music Hall for the 2014 Evening Express Carol Concert.
The musicians had fine-tuned their repertoire after months of rehearsals and performed a host of carols, and even played the musical accompaniment to Santa’s arrival on stage.
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