The Yorkshire Imperial Band is a championship brass band rooted in the heart of Yorkshire. Based in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, we have been making music in God’s Own County since 1936 — and Yorkshire is in everything we do.
Our logo is the Yorkshire rose, the White Rose of York. It sits proudly on our uniforms, our music stands, and our identity. It is a symbol of where we come from and the community we represent. When you see the Yorkshire Imperial Band perform, you see a band that wears its Yorkshire heritage with pride.
The band was founded in 1936 as the Yorkshire Copper Works Band in Stourton, Leeds, backed by one of the region’s great industrial enterprises. Yorkshire Copper Works produced copper and brass tubing — including tubing used to make brass instruments — making it a fitting birthplace for a brass band that would go on to become one of the finest in the country.
From those industrial roots in south Leeds, the band grew into a nationally recognised ensemble. The name ‘Yorkshire Imperial’ reflects both the heritage of the company that founded us and the ambition that has driven the band for almost nine decades. We have always been, and always will be, a Yorkshire band through and through.
From the grand stages of Yorkshire’s finest venues to village fetes and community celebrations, the Yorkshire Imperial Band brings world-class brass band music to audiences across the county and beyond.
In 2019, we were invited to perform at BBC Countryfile Live at Castle Howard, one of Yorkshire’s most iconic stately homes. Playing in the grounds of this magnificent North Yorkshire estate — familiar to millions from the television series Brideshead Revisited — was a proud moment for the band and a celebration of Yorkshire culture at its best.
We have performed at Wakefield Theatre Royal, Penistone Paramount, Piece Hall in Halifax, the Durham Miners Gala, and Holmfirth Food Festival. We have played at the Royal Albert Hall, Wembley Stadium, and shared stages with Diana Ross, Eric Clapton, Barry Manilow, and Shirley Bassey. Wherever we go, we carry Yorkshire with us.
The Yorkshire Imperial Band has a proud record at the Yorkshire Area Championships, the regional contest that determines which bands represent Yorkshire at the National Finals. We have won the Yorkshire Area title multiple times and in 2024 won the First Section, earning promotion back to the Championship Section — the highest tier of brass band contesting.
We are three-time British Open Champions (1970, 1971, 1982), National Champions of Great Britain (1978), and the first band in history to win both a National and Lower Section National title (2005). This competitive heritage is built on Yorkshire grit, dedication, and a refusal to settle for anything less than our best.
Looking to hire a brass band in Yorkshire? The Yorkshire Imperial Band is available for concerts, festivals, corporate events, weddings, fetes, and private functions across Yorkshire and the North of England.
Whether you need a full championship brass band for a major event or a smaller ensemble for an intimate occasion, we can tailor our line-up to suit your needs. Our small group is perfect for weddings, drinks receptions, and corporate hospitality, while the full band delivers a spectacular concert experience.
As one of Yorkshire’s most established and decorated brass bands, you can be confident that the Yorkshire Imperial Band will deliver a professional, memorable performance that your guests will talk about for years to come.
Brass bands are woven into the fabric of Yorkshire life. From the coalfields and mills that gave birth to the brass band movement to the thriving contest scene that continues today, Yorkshire has more brass bands per square mile than anywhere else in the world. The Yorkshire Imperial Band is proud to be part of that tradition.
We rehearse twice weekly in Wakfield and our members come from across Yorkshire — from Wakefield to Harrogate, from Bradford to Barnsley. We are a community of musicians united by a love of brass band music and a deep connection to the county we call home.
If you are a brass or percussion player in Yorkshire looking for a friendly, ambitious band, we would love to hear from you. Come along to a rehearsal and see what the Mighty Imps are all about.
