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Founded in 1981, St David’s Brass is an award-winning Scottish charity brass band (SC047976) based at Vogrie Hall in Gorebridge, Midlothian. What began as a humble school band has grown over four and a half decades into a competing ensemble with a strong sense of family at its core.
Whether performing across Edinburgh and the Lothians, offering free music tuition to beginners of all ages, or providing a modern home for community events, people remain at the heart of everything we do.
Our story: From school band to National Finalists
Our story: From school band to National Finalists
1981 to 1997: The early years
1981 to 1997: The early years
St David’s Brass was originally formed in 1981 as the St David's High School Brass Band under the baton of John A Dickson, who was then working as a music instructor across Midlothian schools.
The band entered the competitive stage in 1986, winning the Scottish Youth Championships at its very first attempt. By 1991, the band entered the Scottish Championships Fourth Section for the first time.
As school pupils grew older and wanted to continue making music together beyond their school years, the group officially registered as a Scottish Charity in 1997 under the name St David's Brass Band.
Growth, success, and national recognition
Growth, success, and national recognition
Over the years, St David’s Brass has earned a reputation for musical excellence across Scotland and beyond:
Championship titles: Won the Scottish 4th Section Title (1998) and Scottish 3rd Section Championship (2004), alongside being named Scottish 3rd Section Band of the Year (2010–2011).
High-profile performances: Represented Scotland at the British Brass Band Championships four times, performed for Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal in Holyrood Park, played national anthems at Scotland’s 6 Nations Rugby matches at Murrayfield, and featured on BBC Radio Scotland and Dutch Radio.
Global community: While firmly rooted in Midlothian, our players have ranged from primary school pupils to university lecturers, drawing members from Edinburgh, the Lothians, Peterhead, Glasgow, and even as far afield as Norway and Australia.
A true family enterprise
A true family enterprise
Remarkably, 45 years after founding the band, John Dickson remains in front of the ensemble conducting today. The connection between John and the young musicians he introduced to brass playing continues across generations.
The Dickson family connection runs particularly deep:
John’s eldest son, Michael, was a immensely talented euphonium player and vital member of the band for many years. His sudden passing was a profound loss to the Dickson family and everyone at St David’s. Michael’s memory, contribution, and friendship remain an enduring part of our story.
John's younger son, Stuart, serves as the band’s Chair and Principal Cornet.
Stuart’s children, Mila and Bailey, play alongside their father in the cornet section, while John’s wife, Fiona, plays percussion and cornet.
The Dicksons are far from the only family making music together at St David’s. With sisters Natalie and Alice playing side-by-side, and father-and-son duos Gerry & Andrew and Alistair & Calum, St David’s functions far more like an extended family than just a musical organisation.
Finding our forever home: Vogrie Hall
Finding our forever home: Vogrie Hall
For decades, St David’s rehearsed in various temporary spaces without a permanent home. In recent years, the band took on its biggest challenge yet: purchasing an ex-council property in Gorebridge that had fallen into serious disrepair.
Through five years of relentless commitment, community grant funding, and local support, we transformed the building into a modern, vibrant space. In early 2026, St David's officially moved into Vogrie Hall.
Vogrie Hall is now much more than just a rehearsal site – it is a community hub featuring:
A modernised main hall with traditional sprung wooden flooring (100 capacity)
Kitchen facilities, full accessibility, solar power, and free guest Wi-Fi
A welcoming home for dance classes, community groups, workshops, and private hire
👉 Looking for a venue for your next event or class?
👉 Looking for a venue for your next event or class?
Explore our rates and facilities for booking Vogrie Hall
The road to York and the future
The road to York and the future
In our 45th year, St David’s Brass reached another milestone: qualifying for the National Brass Band Championships Finals at the York Barbican.
Getting to York is a celebrated chapter in a journey that began in a Midlothian school room in 1981. This achievement – and our day-to-day work – is only possible thanks to the dedicated fundraising of our members and the immense generosity of our local supporters.
As we look toward the future, we remain dedicated to bringing live music to our community, nurturing new talent through our Training Band, and keeping brass playing accessible to everyone.
Get involved with St David's Brass
Get involved with St David's Brass
Whether you want to learn an instrument, perform with us, hire our ensemble, or support our work, we’d love to welcome you.
Want to learn or return to music?
Want to learn or return to music?
Our Training Band offers free tuition and instrument loan to learners of all ages.
Planning an event, wedding, or civic gathering?
Planning an event, wedding, or civic gathering?
Hire St David's Brass for a full concert performance, a smaller ensemble, or even a solo player across Edinburgh, the Lothians and Fife.
Support our charity:
Support our charity:
Help us keep music tuition free and maintain Vogrie Hall for the local community. The band is hugely grateful to all our grant funders and supporters across the years.
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