Bringing
Brass
to the ’Burbs
World-renowned conductor of
Pittsburgh’s River City Brass brings joy
to audiences beyond the city limits.
BY KATHY RUDOLPH
I
Dr. James Gourlay,
Artistic and
General Director of
Pittsburgh’s River City
Brass.
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t’s like an idyllic story right out of a children’s
book. A 10-year-old boy was “told” to play
the tuba because he was the tallest in his class
in Methilhill, Scotland. The school’s janitor
wanted to form a band and the boy, along with
nine other students, became the band’s musicians.
This experience eventually propelled him into
winning awards, and later he would become an
internationally renowned conductor and tuba
soloist.
But this is the real-life story of Dr. James Gourlay,
who has been the artistic and general director of
Pittsburgh’s River City Brass (RCB) since 2010.
“I have just passed the seven-year itch mark at
RCB,” laughs Gourlay, in his charming Scottish
brogue. “I haven’t had any reason to scratch any
itches.”
Gourlay holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree
from the University of Salford, an MMus from
the University of Leeds and is a Fellow of the
Royal Northern College of Music and the London
College of Music. He has also been honored by
the Worshipful Company of Musicians, which
conferred upon him the John Henry Iles Medal for
services to the brass band movement.
RCB wrote to Gourlay in 2009 offering him the
job as music director.
“I quickly wrote back, ‘No,’” laughs Gourlay. “At
that time, I was very much a freelance conductor,
but I said I would be interested in doing some
concerts with RCB if they needed a guest