007: The Music
The band was busy again this weekend putting in a double shift to entertain crowds in Denby Dale and Ossett.
The concept was the brain child of our Musical Director, Garry Hallas, a night of Bond. All the theme tunes you know and love from 60 years worth of movies!
Opening with the appropriate James Bond theme by Monty Norman the band performed great arrangements of Skyfall, No Time to Die and On Her Majesties Secret Service, soloists featured on the evening too with Dawn Sellors classy rendition of All Time High on Flugel Horn. Mark Bray our Solo Euphonium doing his best Matt Monro tribute with From Russia With Love, and Archie Batty showing his talent with Live and Let Die on Soprano cornet.
The band were joined on stage during the concerts by singer Philippa Fourie, a professional singer with the RAF, she joined the band in a trilogy of Shirley Bassey hits - Goldfinger, Moonraker and Diamonds are Forever. She showed her versatility with tracks such as Living Daylights, The Man With the Golden Gun, For Your Eyes Only and Goldeneye.
Ensemble items during the concert also featured our talented players, Chris Newberry on Horn, Ash Paradise on Cornet, Richard Midgley on Trombone, Dan Townend on Bass, Dawn and Mark started the classic New Orleans funeral procession Just a Closer Walk with Thee and Chris & Dawn were joined by Liz Hallas, Dan Bryant and Cat Chadwick for Nobody Does It Better.
The concerts were strung together with bond facts and titbits as well as information about all the pieces, writers and performers by MD Garry Hallas.
Our thanks to everyone who came to support the band, and to staff at both venues for the weekend.
Latest News:
Regional Contest - Imps Promoted!
Subject to ratification at the Yorkshire Committee, but based on the points totals from the recent regional contest Imps are back in brass banding's toughest section - the Yorkshire Championship section - from January 2023.
Imps produced a performance of Gilbert Vinter's 'Spectrum', described by 4barsrest.com as "Bold, brazen and brilliant". In the band's first contest performance since the Covid lockdowns Imps produced a performance of substance to finish 4th on the day.
Based on previous years results this will mean that Imps and eventual winners, Stannington Brass, will be promoted to the Championship Section from January 2023, whilst Stannington and Marsden will represent Yorkshire at the National Finals in September - good luck to both of these bands and congratulations.
Our thanks to the organisers of the contest as well as our congratulations to all qualifiers, as well as every band that took to the stage following such a significant time away from the contesting arena.
The full results were:
1. Stannington Brass (Sam Fisher)*
2. Marsden Silver (Andrew Lofthouse)*
3. Old Silkstone (George Newbould)
4. Yorkshire Imperial (Garry Hallas)
5. Horbury Victoria (Duncan Beckley)
6. Chapeltown Silver (Colum O'Shea)
7. Hade Edge (Jamie Smith)
8. Hebden Bridge (Christopher Binns)
9. Lindley Band (Mike Golding)
10. Drighlington (Neil Robinson)
11. Strata Brass (Alex Webb)
12. Knottingley Silver (Kevin Belcher)
13. South Yorkshire Police (John Davis)
Latest News:
Vacancies-Join
Yorkshire Imperial
Promoted to the Championship section from January 2023 following a successful regional championship, we are looking for some final members to complete our team. If you play Tutti Front Row Cornet, Solo Eb bass, BBb bass or Percussion (particularly a Kit Player) and would love to play for a friendly, quality band steeped in rich history then if you are interested in joining the Yorkshire Imperial Band, please see our vacancies and contact us.
Yorkshire Regional Preparation
After Christmas break we're straight back at it!
09/02/2022
Ranked towards the top of the first section, the 2022 regional contest on 6th March is one of real importance for Yorkshire Imps. A good result would see the Imps back in the Championship Section and possibly booking a National Finals place too.
The band have been working very hard on the test piece for this years contest - Gilbert Vinter's Spectrum will provide a stern test of all the bands.
Preparation has been going well in our new rehearsal space. The band are enjoying the challenge and to putting on a good show at Huddersfield town hall.
A Christmas Thank you
A busy Christmas period for Yorkshire Imps
09/02/2022
Given how difficult both 2020 and 2021 was for so many people, Christmas 2021 presented Yorkshire Imps with a great opportunity to get out there and perform.
We held a super Christmas concert at Dewsbury Minster and paired this with a series of outdoor performances, carol concerts and Christmas party events.
We are very grateful to everyone who stopped to listen, bought some merchandise, made a donation, attended a concert, hosted a performance or booked the band for a gig.
A belated happy new year to you all!
Imps at Harlow Carr
Concert Review
A great time at Harlow Carr gardens
Our first post lockdown concert was rather fittingly on Yorkshire Day in the very beautiful Harlow Carr gardens near Harrogate.
Playing three sets of music from the stage, coupled with some favourites to celebrate everything Yorkshire - it was Yorkshire Day after all - the Band kept the visitors to the gardens entertained with many taking the chance to listen whilst enjoying drinks and cake from Yorkshire's very own Betty's Tea Rooms.
The band concluded with a rousing rendition of the anthemic 'You'll Never Walk Alone' from Carousel.
A great reception meant that an encore was never in doubt and the band ripped through 'Hey Look Me Over' from Wildcat to sent the audience on there way with happy faces. The band were left with the satisfaction of getting back to what we love to do!
We are next back in action on Saturday 21st August at Lotherton Hall (2-4pm), part of the Leeds Concert Series.
Latest News
Return of Yorkshire Imperial
21st May 2021
Last night was an exciting landmark for Yorkshire Imperial as it was our first rehearsal since the pandemic lockdowns commenced over a year ago.
We are continuing to stick to the rules and have a rotation of players so that we can stay safe whilst still being able to return. Last night a balanced group of players came together for an enjoyable first rehearsal back.
Whilst the main objective was to enjoy being back in the bandroom with friends, some great sounds developed alongside some lovely solo playing.
All meaning that Yorkshire Imperial is very well set to entertain the crowds at our summer engagements. We will be playing a programme based around music from the west end shows and musicals.
We hope to see you there!
Latest News
New Imperial Ties
16th February 2021
Although unable to rehearse or perform for nearly a year now we have been working away behind the scenes to freshen up some of our image.
We have designed and had produced some fresh new band ties, these have taken their inspiration from our history.
Our first incarnation Yorkshire Copper Works Band were dressed in Burgundy whenever they took to the stage. You'll find their name woven in to the fabric of the new tie along with our other names from the last 80+ years: Yorkshire Imperial Metals, Yorkshire Imperial IMI, Yorkshire Imperial Band, David Urquhart Travel Yorkshire Imperial and DUT Yorkshire Imperial Rothwell.
We look forward to wearing our new ties and performing for you all once again in Summer 2021, watch the website for details as we know them!
Wetherby Bandstand
11th August 2019
We were delighted to make our Wetherby bandstand debut to an appreciative crowd on a very windy Summer's day. The river running by the bandstand was very high, as were the spirits of the band as we performed a programme full of variety. Please enjoy a number of our performances which were kindly recorded and uploaded to Youtube by the event organisers.
Morley March contest
16th June 2019
We had a successful day at Morley March Contest where we played the road march 'Sons of the Brave' and took to the contest stage with the hymn 'Prelude on Lavenham' and contest march 'Ravenswood'. We were awarded third place overall, and were the highest placed 1st section band.
Yorkshire Imperial Band at Pool Cricket Club 2019
Pool Cricket Club
27th May, 2019
We were delighted to be asked to return to Pool Cricket club on Bank Holiday Monday to entertain cricketers and supporters alike at their Annual Under 11’s cricket tournament.
The weather was very kind to us on the day, as it rained almost until we started to play, and the downpour started just as we wound up for the day.
At a cricket match there was no choice about an opener and we started with Soul Limbo, or the 'Test Match Special theme tune' always heavily associated with this great sport.
We had chosen a program of tunes that would hopefully be easily recognised and well received, everything from TV’s apprentice theme to Coldplay was on the program which was further enhanced by some great playing from our soloists on the day. Ash Paradise played the Disney hit I See The Light from Tangled, Chris Newbury played the horn classic He Ain’t Heavy He’s My Brother. Dawn Sellors played a rare arrangement of Songbird, based on Eva Cassidy’s interpretation of the classic Fleetwood Mac song. Finally Jason Nowell treated the crowd a fantastic rendition of Largo Al Factotum on Bass Trombone.
Our performance was very well received by all on the day, and we look forward to a return match in the future.
We will be playing a selection of these pieces again alongside some classics such as Rossini’s The Barber of Seville and Charlie Chaplin’s Limelight this summer- see our engagements page for more information.