The Harrogate Band was formed in April 1970 from a nucleus of former Harrogate Granby High School Concert Band pupils who wanted to continue their playing after leaving the school. It was the first brass band in Harrogate since the original Harrogate Silver Prize Band folded in 1956. The Band's first conductor, Neil Richmond, led it to success at its first contest in November 1970 at York - the first of many contest successes over the last 30 years. 
By September 1971 there was a full Band of over 25 players, and it had started to purchase its own instruments. Concerts that first year included the first of a regular series of concerts in the Valley Gardens in Harrogate. Neil Richmond was followed as musical director by John Higginson, Peter Littlewood, Peter Wells and the current MD, David Lancaster. Each stamped his character on the band and continued its musical development in his own manner. Under their tutelage the band has risen up the sections and now resides in the Championship Section in the North of England. A strong administration underpins the band's musical endeavours - an essential adjunct for any aspiring or successful organisation.See also: Historical information about earlier bands in Harrogate
The Band has, over the years, established itself as the premier brass band in the local area. It performs over 30 concert engagements each year and enters around 5 contests. The Band has been involved in a wide range of engagements over the years, including joint concerts with choirs, commercial functions, garden parties, fetes, weddings, church services, carol concerts and carol playing in the town, small groups of players, fanfare trumpets, sporting events, agricultural shows, radio broadcasts, marches and processions, charity concerts, massed band concerts and many others! It currently has over 900 sets of music in its library. Our printed stationery, quite aptly we think, includes the caption "Brass music for any occasion".
Many players have passed through the Band since 1970, but one original member, Andrew Jackson, still plays with the Band. The players are all amateur musicians, as are the great majority of all British brass band members. Their dedication to the band and music is as firm as work, family and other commitments allow - which enables the band to develop its team playing strength and quality.
The Band has undertaken seven overseas concert tours. It has travelled to Bergen in Norway as the guests of Sandvikens Ungdomskorps in 1977 and 1984, hosting their trip to Harrogate in 1975. It has also been to Bad Hersfeld in Germany as the guests of the Stadt Musikverein Band (SMV) in 1981, 1986 and 1990, and hosted SMV's trips to Harrogate in 1982, 1987 and 1993. Then followed a tour to Prague in the Czech Republic in 1996. It also hosted a visit of the Gerwens Muziekkorps (GMK) Band, from Nuenen in The Netherlands, in October 1998 and visited GMK in Holland in May/June 2000. The latest overseas tour was to the Rhineland in Germany at Easter 2003.
The Band is successful in most of the contests it enters - over the last five years it has won 15 1st places and 6 2nd places. It has qualified for and competed in the National Brass Band Championship Finals three years running 2002, 2001, 2000, and previously also achieved that honour in 1985, 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1996. The Band became 2001 North of England Region Champions (1st Section) and has competed in the Championship Section since 2003. Full contest results can be found here.
The Band, led by its musical director David Lancaster, rehearses twice a week on Wednesday evenings (20:00 – 22:00) and Sunday evenings (18:45 - 20:45) in its band room at the ReadyDrive Warehouse in Harcourt Road, Harrogate. Visitors and players are always welcome.
The Band is a member of the British Federation of Brass Bands and the Yorkshire & Humberside Brass Band Association