Kirkbymoorside Town Brass Band

Kirkbymoorside Town Brass Band
CHAMPIONSHIP SECTION

Our training bands have had some great concerts, click here for our Training Section Page.

The Award Winners and Soloists at the Christmas Concert 2024

James Bond 007
Thank's for coming you glamorous people, you all looked great for our '007 concert'. If you were not shaken we hope you were stirred by what we thought was an interesting program of truly great music from the evergreen films of James Bond. We hope you enjoyed the two singers we included for the first time in the hall with great performances from Niamh Lally and Kirkby's own, Chris Clarke. Thank's to all the soloists and our MD for putting the show together. Don't forget our Xmas Concert this year on 22nd Dec 2024 in the JHCH, see you then.

Kirkby Band
Solo & Ensemble Competition 24

What a great day of competition this year with nearly 80 entries.

Click Here for a full report

Kirkbymoorside Musical Director Recognised at National Awards in London.

On Saturday 19^thOctober Brass Band England Held its annual conference and Award Ceremony at the City of London School. Brass Bands England promotes, represents and supports brass bands across the country. They are a voice for England’s brass bands and work to promote and celebrate the life-enhancing benefits of this vital part of our culture.

A key part of their work is the conference and awards, where Brass Bands England is proud to recognise those individuals and organisations in the banding world that have made an exceptional contribution to brass banding. Be it through inspiring young people, tireless dedication, leading imaginative creative projects and collaborations, or bringing about positive social change. There is plenty to be celebrated!

The hotly contested Brass Band Conductor Award, supported by the Brass Band Conductors’ Association was awarded to Sarah Woodward of Kirkbymoorside Town Brass Band.

Sarah has been a conductor with the Kirkbymoorside Town Brass Band family for over 30 years, with nearly 2 decades dedicated to the Junior Sections. In this time she has also set up the Kirkbymoorside Community Band, which is for everyone of all abilities and currently has over 40 players aged 11-89+.

In 2018 she took up the baton for Kirkbymoorside Senior Band, becoming one of the few female conductors of a Championship section band, and now oversees a team of four female conductors, aged 20-50+ leading over 120 musicians

Sarah couldn’t attend the awards, as she was helping to run a local brass band competition in Kirkbymoorside that was hosting over 70 competitors aged 7-87. However the Band arranged for Internationally renowned Brass Band Celebratory Alan Fernie to present her with the award. He said:

“It was an honour to present Sarah with her award…Each time I am there (in Kirkbymoorside) I am absolutely knocked out by both level and quality of activity, and the enthusiasm shown”

Emma Smailes – Conductor of the Kirkbymoorside Community Band Said:

“I would never have considered that I could conduct but 6 years ago Sarah said I think you would be great. She has supported and mentored me throughout and now I have the pleasure and honour to conduct our thriving Community Band with over 40 players. Sarah wouldn’t see herself as a role model, but she absolutely is, and I can’t think of anyone who deserves this award more”

Picture Sarah Woodward and Alan Fernie.

KIRKBYMOORSIDE COMMUNITY AWARDS 24

Last night we were delighted to win the membership organisation of the year award at the Kirkbymoorside Awards, thank you to all of you who nominated us.

However no group can survive without awesome volunteers and we couldn't be prouder that our Annabel Kent won the Young Person of the year award. Annabel is integral to all our bands, from taking our very first starters in Roots, to supporting our Development and Youth Band, being solo cornet and regular soloist in our Community Band and our Solo Cornet in Senior Band. She dedicates hours of her time to teaching, arranging and composing music across the organisation too.

Well done to all the nominees, we also had a wonderful time playing for the celebration evening. What a wonderful town Kirkby is, we are so lucky to be your Town Band

Well done ANNABEL

Stokesley Show 2024
A wet start to Stokesley Show this time. Fine at Kirkby when we left but got progressively worse as we went over Chop Gate and onto the show field. The march to the field was a bit damp, but it cleared up for the start of our first of three sets throughout the day. There was a good crowd who I think enjoyed our playing, so we look forward to our next visit to this ever popular agricultural show.

RYEDALE FESTIVAL 2024
We think the concert went very well and we certainly enjoyed playing. We had our hall full of new and old friends. All the soloists played very well and 'The Muppets' with choreography kept the audience laughing. Thanks again to the Festival for inviting us to be part of this wonderful annual event. We look forward to next year..

PREVIEW OUR HANNAH IN
'BRASSED OFF'
Click Here

Ryedale Folk Museum
2024
A very enjoyable afternoon helping The Ryedale Folk Museum celebrate their
60th year. A good crowd braved the not too good forecast and enjoyed a rain free
afternoon listening to what we hope, was a good choice of music, including a new version
of HAPPY BIRTHDAY.... Thank's Angela Waites Photography for the photo.

Kirkby Band,
Our Hannah.
Video previews below of 'Brassed Off' in Keswick's Theatre by the Lake
With Hannah Woodward as Gloria...

We are beyond thrilled that our own Hannah Woodward has been selected to play Gloria in the National Tour of 'Brassed Off'

Hannah learned to play with the band through our training band programme, quickly becoming a member of the Senior Band with lots of her family where she ultimately became our Flugel Player.

An amazingly talented performer, after school Hannah trained at Bird College Conservatoire of Dance & Musical Theatre, where she was the winner of the Doreen Bird Foundation Development Award.

Hannah is absolutely thrilled to be performing in this production of 'Brassed Off' so close to her home town and we could not be prouder:

" I would like to thank my family, friends and teachers who have supported me in my journey to becoming a performer. A special mention must go to Kirkbymoorside Town Brass Band for without them, this opportunity would not have been possible."
Thank's Hannah.
Theatre by the Lake Stephen Joseph Theatre & Octagon Theatre Bolton

Kirkbymoorside
2024 - 10k Run
Great day with a very big turn out of runners and and spectators ensuring the success and continuation of this popular event. The band played for the races as well as the Beadlam Tractor Run before the races.

The Senior Band Concert
FRI 26th APRIL at the JHCH
The music was chosen by the players in the band and the variety of pieces was, I think, enjoyed by all who attended. Two extracts from test pieces played by Ben an Charlie, the playful 'Chicken Run' and many more. The loudest piece and the loudest applause was for our last but one tune from Ireland' RIVER DANCE, one of the bands favorites. Hanna played the 'Brasses Off ' 'classic Concerto de Aranjues' . Thank's for coming and see you next time..

North of England Championships
17th March 2024
CHAMPIONSHIP SECTION

After just over 2 months of intensive rehearsals, we felt we were playing 'Variations on an Enigma' by Philip Sparke as well as we could. This piece was the most difficult test piece we have ever played. The demands on all the players in all the sections could not have been higher, On stage we played our hearts out and we thought it was as good a performance as we could have have played. We were placed 7th out of nine so two bands found it even harder than us. We would not disagree with the adjudicators and with 4barsrest giving us a good report we agree with their praise of our MD Sarah who worked tirelessly to get us into the right place to compete at Championship level, the top level in banding. We now look forward to returning to rehearsals playing concert pieces which will be a pleasant change from a test piece like Variations on an Enigma. Well done all and bring on next year.

Area Test Pieces - 2024
Swinton & District and Kirkbymoorside Bands

What a great night at the James Holt Concert Hall on Saturday 2nd March 2024. We got together with Swinton & District Band to play our respective Test Pieces. A large audience listened with a lot of interest to the two performances and I think we both did a good job. Swinton took us on a trip around Scotland whilst we charged around in search of an Enigma. The 17th of March will soon be here so lets hope for a result that we and our supporter would be proud of. We were joined by Kirkbymoorside Community Band who entertained us all between the test pieces.

CHRISTMAS 2023
out Caroling on Christmas morning in Kirkbymoorside. Thank's for all the very kindns in Dec 2023.

Christmas Concert 2023

A full house for the celebration this year at the James Holt Concert Hall. We hope you enjoyed our program this year because we certainly enjoyed playing it for you all. Our veteran player, Jim Butler, won his own Gran's award. This is from his Facebook page, well done Jim.

'Today I'm feeling rather proud because last night I was awarded the my gran's memorial trophy ('Annie Butler Cup') at Kirkbymoorside Town Brass Band Christmas Concert last night. I really felt quite moved and overwhelmed when the band stood up around me. Thank you all. We might not be (quite) the playing standard of Black Dyke, Cory, et al, but this band is second to none when it come to the setup we have, the organisation, the players, but most of all the friendships and camaraderie. It's an organisation I am proud to (still) be a member of! Wishing all my friends at the band a wonderful and happy Christmas!'

That just about sums up what we all think and why it is a joy to play for this band, Kirkbymoorside Band. Other award winners. Tom, Charlie and Phil all presented by John Woodward

Women of Brass

We had an excellent evening last night at our Women of Brass concert. All the pieces we played had a female connection either the arranger or composer. With everything from the very exciting Dorothy Gates, 'War Cry' to the wonderful 'Pater Noster' by Rebecca Lundberg. We must say a huge thank you to Kirsty Abbots for joining us, it was an honour to have such a talented player performing with us in our concert hall. Thank you too to our musical director, Sarah Woodward for selecting some exciting music for us to play.

Armistice Commemorations

This weekend players of the Kirkbymoorside Town Brass Band will be leading Armistice Commemorations across North Yorkshire. Band members of all ages are joining their communities in commemorating the sacrifice of those who died in conflict and playing the Last Post. In addition to the band leading the procession in Kirkbymoorside to All Saints Church where principal cornet Jeanette Kendall will perform 'The Last Post' — an honour played by a member of the band since 1918 — including 44 years by current soprano player John Sails.
OUR PLAYERS:

Jeanette Kendall Pump Hill Kirkbymoorside and All Saints Church

Stanley Thexton Kirkbymoorside Primary School and Kirkbymoorside Beavers

Lottie Robson, Libby Cawood, Lillian Plowright at Hutton Le Hole

Emma Smailes Sledmere Memorial as Honorary Trumpeter for the Museum of the Wagoners Special Reserve Regiment

Niamh Lally at St Benidict's School and Ampleforth College

Annabel Kent at Malton School

Connie Moxon, Lilian Plowright, Libby Cawood, Lottie Robson, William Glover, Taliah Gowing, Anna Screeton at Ryedale School

Musical Director Sarah Woodward said:

"As always we are honored and humbled to recognise the contribution and sacrifice made by the men and women of Kirkbymoorside and North Yorkshire

We particularly remember those members of Kirkbymoorside Band who went to fight. We hope they would be proud that the band they played in continue to lead the commemorations"

In 2018 Kirkbymoorside was one of 1000 locations sounding 'The Last Post' to commemorate 100 years since the first Armistice and with 34 cornet players aged 7 to over 80, Kirkbymoorside Town Brass Band was the single biggest group in the world to play together.

"Robert David Photographer" Thank's for the photos, Kirkbymoorside 2022....

DECADES CONCERT 28th OCT 2023
The amount of work put into this concert by Em Net & Sarah is beyond belief well done you three A special thanks to Mr Moxon, sorry, 'Henry'. His latest official press release photo is below.

Henry's latest press photo.

It was a special treat for the players from all our bands to play together I think we all learned something regardless of how experienced we were.

The very young player sat next to John Sails. stated to John 'you are a good player and should play in the senior band'. With judgment like that he should go far in life.

Himmighausen visit to Kirkby Oct 2023
Wow what a truly great weekend, our old friends from Himmighausen arrived on Friday afternoon to be met by some of us from Kirkby at The Walled Garden Helmsley. After a look round we transfered to the Band Room for the formal 'meet and greet' and the onto the hosts for a meal before the informal get together at the G&D in Kirkby. Home to bed and then onto Hutton le Hole Museum on the Saturday afternoon. Home again for a light tea then back to the Band Room for party time.

Fish & Chips from a van were excellent and woofed down with great enthusiasm by all. Then we were treated to a 'Dance Caller' who had everyone prancing around like seasoned country dancers, well almost. 'Dickies Disco' was next followed by two sets from 'Kirkby Soul'. Late to bed for a lazy start to Sunday with Sunday Lunch at the hosts houses. The Concert Hall hosted the afternoon activities with a concert by our Training Bands. Everyone enjoyed their lively performance.

Then a light meal and the final concert by The Himmighausen Band & Kirkbymoorside Band in the evening in the James Halt Concert Hall. Great to see James there and we are sure he enjoyed it as much as the audience. The concert was followed by guess what, yes more beer. Home for a sleep before the formal send of from the Band Room on Monday morning. A special thanks to all the people who moved things, cooked & made things, supplied things and served things, well done.

We know our friends arrived safely back in Himmighausen and we hope they enjoyed the weekend every bit as much as we did. They once again try to drink Yorkshire dry and they nearly did it, but not quite, you will have to come back in a few years time for another attempt.

Jim on the BBC
Our very own Jim Butler, now a TV star, appearing on BBC 'Escape to the Country',
don't blink, well done Jim you got the band in.

Great concert at Hovingham for the Ryedale Festival. The rain just about stayed away so we really enjoyed the event Click Here for a bigger Picture

24th June 2023
James Holt Concert Hall
Great night with lots of fun and games and I hope a lot of good playing. The feedback was good so thanks to all who made it a success, you know who you are. Well done the quiz winners 'The Butlers' and 'The Moxons'...

Kirkby Band - Solo Contest 2023
Is there a better way to spend a Sunday than to sit and listen to over 30 of the best musicians in the area who are willing to be tested in a contest judged by one of, if not the best cornet player in brass banding, Richard Marshall. I think he was very impressed by the playing of all the age groups from Year 3 & 4 to the Veterans. Thank's for taking part and special thank's to our sponsors 'SMITH WATKINS' and lets hope this becomes a yearly event

For a bigger group image, click the picture.

Helmsley Arts Centre
The Art of Brass

From 'Tom & Jerry' to the 'The Great Gates of Kiev, we hope you enjoyed listening as much as we enjoyed playing. We had a lot of very nice comments after the concert so we think you did. It was just a bit on the hot side but we all survived.

CORONATION CONCERT

Everyone had a great time at the Coronation Concert, Contributions from all our bands and a great performance from Kirkby Scout Group.

Kirkbymoorside Tractor & 10k Run
A large entry and crowd for this annual event with close to a hundred tractors and great entry.
The day kicked off with the Beadlam Tractor Run, raising money for The Yorkshire Air Ambulance. Following the tractor run, The Toddler Dash which was open to children up to the age of 6. Then the ‘4km Fun Race’ open to young people from 11 upwards; this took in a local loop on quiet country roads with the finish down our high street with cheering crowds on both sides.The main event followed with The Kirkbymoorside 10k race. After the 10k runners had left the town the ‘Children’s 1 Mile’ which was open to children from 7 to 11 and again finished down the high street. Well done every one and roll on next year.

North of England Brass Band Championships
12th March 2023 was the date for the North of England Brass Band Championships. We are now back in the Championship Section so the 'Red Priest' was the challenge that awaited us. So after many hours of practicing we put everything into our performance on the day. We came 8th and were praised for our "lovely" solo cornet "nice solos" and "effective Percussion" and a performance of "good musical intent". We would, of course liked to be placed a little higher, but that's contesting. The piece was very hard and all the of us, to be sure, will be better players after the experience. That's got to be a plus.
Well done everyone.

Contesting
Brass

Last Saturday (4th March) the Swinton and Kirkbymoorside Bands came together to present an entertaining and lively evening of music, which included each band's set test piece music for the North of England Brass Band Championships at which the two bands will compete next week-end (thankfully not against one another).
The contest will be held in the Gala Theatre in Durham where Swinton will play "Hungerford Town" and Kirkbymoorside will tackle “The Red Priest". Both bands are looking forward to the contest and are most grateful to the enthusiastic audience that filled The James Holt Concert Hall.
Their generosity and kind donations on the night raised nearly £1000, which the two bands will share. That money will go a long way to defraying transport costs for the contest.
Both bands can only say a huge "Thank-you" to everyone for their help and support.

John Barrett. (Treasurer)

*Brass on Tap - Training Bands and Tap Dancing - Click Here*
*PLAYER'S CHOICE* Well we hope you liked the player's choices and you must agree it demonstrates the wide variety of tastes that the band has. There was a good mix of serious and more modern music. New faces were spotted in the audience, so welcome to you and we hope what you heard will encourage you to come again. The next concert is the Christmas concert when we will no doubt be dusting off all the old favourites to bring cheer to you all on *18th December 2022*
	*50 Monuments in 50 Voices* is a dazzling project that showcases thought-provoking, individual responses to 50 unique monuments at St Paul’s Cathedral from artists, writers, musicians, theologians, academics and more. *‘The Lost Chord’ by Sir Arthur Sullivan (1842–1900)* Kirkbymoorside Town Brass Band’s Response to the Composer’s Monument by Sir William Goscombe John RA, 1902 https://pantheons-st-pauls.york.ac.uk/50-monuments-in-50-voices/
	Remembrance Parade 13th Nov 2022 It was a bit misty, but it was quite warm for the annual remembrance parade in Kirkby this year. The usual good turnout and the wonderful playing of our own Jeannette made the day a memorable one..
	*Cheltenham 2022* Well it was not the result we wanted, but it certainly was the performance we worked so hard to deliver. We came off stage very very happy with our playing of 'Tritticio' at The National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain. So we are not to unhappy with our placing, and will put it down to experience and move on. Every player gave their all and should be pleased with their playing. Thorough preparation by our MD Sarah and organisation of the trip by Phil should be noted, and we can look back with pride to our latest trip to the National Finals.
	OPEN REHEARSAL FOR THE FINALS At Cheltenham We had a well attended open rehearsal at the Concert Hall. Thank you for coming and we hope you enjoyed the fun and games.
	Ryedale Festival 2022 James Holt Concert Hall There was a full house on Sunday 24th July 2022 at our concert for the Ryedale Festival. It is a great pleasure and an privilege to represent Ryedale in this now well established musical highlight in the Ryedale calender..
	Queen Elizabeth 11 Jubilee 2022 June 4th 2022 was a very special date for our country, it was 70 years since our Queen's Coronation in 1953. Kirkbymoorside put on a series of great events over the period, far to many to mention. On Saturday we turned out in force with all our bands to put on a celebration performance in Market Street in the center of town. Before the performance, all the bands and fancy dress competitors followed by members of the public, paraded from the sports field to Market Street. We finished the day with a rousing performance of Pomp & Circumstance No1 with great audience involvement, well done everyone including the crowd. Photos by :Jean Illingworth
	Jubilee Day 2022 Queen Elizabeth 11 Pam Towler's video from the days celebrations
	Jubilee Day 2022 Queen Elizabeth 11 Pomp & Circumstance No 1 Kirkbymoorside.
	May 8th 2022 Masterclass Members of Black Dyke
	A Massive thank you to Jeanette Kendall for a wonderful day, here are the first set of photos from throughout the day More pics on our Facebook Pages : Emms Post Sammy's Photos
*CHAMPION BRASS* James Holt Concert Hall 22nd April 2022 We all enjoyed playing at the concert on Friday night and we hope you all enjoyed listening. The selection of music was very wide ranging with a few unusual items just for a change. We hope you liked them.
North of England Brass Band Champions 2022 Winners 1st Section Kirbymoorside. Here is proof if proof were needed that hard work does pay off. We are over the moon with our win in Durham at the end of a month or two of very hard practicing. Our MD, Sarah got the very best out of us on the day to take the winners trophy and of course she won the best MD. The basses shone yet again taking the best basses. We can't wait for the UK finals in Cheltenham later in the year. Thanks' for the understanding and support of wives husbands and parents who will now get their families back. For a report on 4barsrest, Click Here	First Contest for: Charlie and Tom