News and Goings on in 2024

The Award Winners and Soloists at the Christmas Concert 2024

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

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 19th October 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.

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