On Saturday 19th October Kirkbymoorside Town Brass Band hosted the Kirkbymoorside Solo and Ensemble Competition.   CLICK HERE for Photos of Section Winners. The day saw 78 entries from competitors aged 7 – 87 years of age. Bands from across North Yorkshire and York attended, and it was a real testament to the amazing brass band history, and future, within the area. The day saw esteemed adjudicator Alan Fernie travel from Scotland for the day. Alan has been a musical director, conductor and teacher of bands and music all over the world, winning many prizes, awards and accolades. He wrote his first music for brass whilst still a student, and his compositions and arrangements are now played, recorded and published all over the world. Alan was blown away by the talent on show throughout the day: “I was absolutely knocked out by both the level and quality of activity, and enthusiasm shown by all” Richard Wilton Musical Director of the Shepherd Group Brass Band said: “We were absolutely delighted to be able to enter our quartet from the Shepherd Group Brass Band and support our friends at Kirkbymoorside. We cannot wait for next year where we will return with hopefully some of our young soloists and more of our ensembles, to support what was a fantastic and very welcoming environment of fantastic music making. Congratulations to all at Kirkbymoorside Town Brass Band on a spectacular event. The day saw competitors playing all genres of music, from classical pieces such as Te Deum and Swan Lake, through movies such as James Bond and Harry Potter, to pop and rock music including Abba and System of A Down, to Jazz and Blues with Star Dust and Sweet Georgia Band, and a number of Brass Band Original Compositions such as Bass in the Ballroom by Roy Newsome and Celestial Suite by Stephen Bulla. The winners were: CLICK HERE for Photos of Section Winners. Year 2 to 4 1st Ted McCulloch – Malton White Star Band 2nd Elsie Bayes – Kirkbymoorside Development Band 3rd Josie Martin – Kirkbymoorside Development Band Year 5 to 6 1st Callum Cawood – Kirkbymoorside Youth Band 2nd Katie Nersessian – Stape Silver Band 3rd Thomas Green – Malton White Star Band Primary Ensembles Winners – Thomas Green and Ted McCulloch – Malton White Star Band Year 7 to 8 1st Stanley Thexton - Kirkbymoorside Youth Band 2nd James Lawson - Kirkbymoorside Youth Band 3rd Bert Smailes - Kirkbymoorside Youth Band Year 9 to 10 1st Lottie Robson - Kirkbymoorside Youth Band 2nd Henry Hall – Kirkbymoorside Development Band 3rd Emily Cansick – Kirkbymoorside Youth Band / Stape Silver Band Secondary Ensembles 1st Anna Screeton, Taliah Gowing, Emily Cansick - Kirkbymoorside Youth Band and Stape Silver 2nd Stanley Thexton, Triston Clough - Kirkbymoorside Youth Band 3rd Neve Kendall, Connie Moxon - Kirkbymoorside Youth Band Smith Watkins Award for Young Player of the Day: The day was sponsored by the instrument makers Smith-Watkins. Smith Watkins make instruments for bands across the world, including the British, US, Finnish and New Zealand armed forces. Richard Smith and colleagues chose 2 players of the day from the Primary and Secondary Categories: Primary - Ted McCulloch – Malton White Star Band Secondary - Isobel Robinson – Royal British Legion Band (Thirsk) Year 11 to 13 1st Charlie Moxon – Kirkbymoorside Senior Band 2nd Connie Moxon – Kirkbymoorside Senior Band 3rd William Ainger – Kirkbymoorside Senior Band Veterans Winner – Anita Bartram – Kirkbymoorside Community Band Open Solos 1st Rory Towler – Kirkbymoorside Senior Band 2nd Emma Smailes – Kirkbymoorside Senior Band 3rd Pip Williamson – Kirkbymoorside Senior Band Open Ensembles 1st Scott Dawson, Michael Pratt, Richard Wilton, Craig Brown – Shepherd Group Brass Band 2nd Emma Smailes, Sarah Woodward, Jeanette Kendall, Annabel Kent – Kirkbymoorside Senior Band 3rd Pip Williamson, George Larson, Annabel Kent – Kirkbymoorside Senior Band.     Jeanette Kendall the Contest Organiser said: ““We are so delighted with the day, it was great to welcome so many players from different bands from across North Yorkshire. Everyone just played brilliantly and were so encouraging to each other. A huge thank you to all our Kirkbymoorside Band helpers and volunteers, our house accompanist Mr Moxon, our brilliant Sponsor Smith-Watkins, Alan Fernie and all the bands, competitors and tutors who made the day happen and our great trade stand Larch Music. We will be holding the 2025 Competition this time next year, and we hope to make it even bigger and better. As The Cory Band said a few weeks ago, we hope that our contest will also be part of a re-invigorated solo/ensemble competition scene. Any other organisations or bands who are running such events let us know and will promote out to all our followers and players and friends”