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NEWS
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2012
Jan29
North Yorkshire's Best Band -
The Harrogate Band are officially the Best Band in North Yorkshire. Confirmation comes courtesy of the official rankings provided by the world-wide brass band authority 4barsrest.com. Taking into account the band's various victories in contests in 2011 under young musical director Craig Ratcliffe the Band has shot up the world's brass band rankings to trounce other bands in the region.
Thanks to a great set of engagements in the local area such as Harlow Carr Gardens, The Old Swan Hotel and many more the players are looking forward to a busy and varied 2012. There will be plenty of competing and great concerts ahead starting with a contest in Preston followed by a spectacular concert in Starbeck Methodist Church on Saturday 11th February.
Band Chairman Keith Graham commented: "Being the best band in North Yorkshire is a great achievement by the players. We're seriously entertaining. Audiences love our performances and we'll continue to demonstrate how we deserve this accolade in our busy year ahead".
The Band can next be seen in concert at Starbeck Methodist Church, 11th February at 7:30pm. Tickets are available on the door or in advance on 01423 887939.
2011
Dec10
Not any old Christmas Carols -
A big thank you to all our supporters who came to see us play in Marks and Spencers Harrogate and Leeds stores. And of course for the good folk at Marks and Spencers for hosting us and allowing us to collect money for the Band. Each donation goes a long way, why? Because by supporting the Band you're helping us to help others raise thousands of pounds for charities and good causes.
Nov15
CD Latest -
The Band spent last weekend recording music for their latest CD. Musical Director Craig Ratcliffe led the Band in a marathon weekend of playing, recording twenty-five tracks in just two days. The Band also fitted in a performance for Remembrance Sunday, going straight to St John Fishers Schools after the ceremony to continue recording. The CD will feature singer Laura Jackson as well as various soloists from the Band.
Check out the website in the new year for more details on the CD.
Nov14
Remembrance Day Honour -
The Band played during the service of Remembrance at the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery at Stonefall Cemetery, Harrogate once again this year.
Invited by the Rotary Club of Harrogate Brigantes to provide reflective music during the laying of wreaths, parade music for the marching soldiers and accompanying the hymn singing the Band were also honoured to be asked to perform the Last Post and Reveille.
Musical Director, Craig Ratcliffe, had rehearsed the cornet section to play the Last Post and Reveille en masse and the performance went without a hitch.
Rotary Club of Harrogate Brigantes organiser, Mike Bevington, was delighted with the Band's performance particularly as they were performing The Last Post and Reveille for the first time and the Band received many compliments from the public and military service personnel.
Harrogate Band Chairman commented, "I was very, very proud of the players and the way they performed, the music and especially the Last Post were very moving. We're extremely grateful to the Rotary Club of Harrogate Brigantes for inviting us to perform. This is a very important occasion for the Band to appear at, we look forward to doing it again next year."
Nov08
Another North Leeds triumph -
Craig Ratcliffe led the Band through another successful concert at Sinai Synagogue in Leeds, this time raising money for The Royal British Legion and B'nai B'rith charities. The Band loved playing in front of this large friendly and discerning audience. Here's what concert organiser, Carole Clayman, said to us afterwards;
"Thank you once again for a lovely evening on Sunday, everyone as usual enjoyed the music and the whole evening passed very quickly. Don't know how much we made yet but it will be money well spent to our charities."
We're looking forward to returning to North Leeds on December 10th at Meanwood Methodist Church for our Christmas Concert.
Oct23
FUNDRAISING SUCCESS -
"Same again next year!" was the plea from Ripon Christian Aid Chairman, Roy Freeman, as the Band concluded another successful Concert for Christian Aid at Holy Trinity Church Ripon last Saturday.
The audience loved hearing the Band accompany star singer Laura Jackson performing a popular Songs from the Shows set in the first half. And they lapped up a second half packed full of brilliantly entertaining music including a stunning solo called The Holy Well, performed by euphonium player Andrew Hodge.
The money raised from the concert will be more than matched by a grant from the European Union and will be sent to help Christian Aid's projects in Sierra Leone. The Band were delighted to play their part and used their popular "Juke Box" concept to help raise extra funds. The audience were invited to pay a pound per vote to bid for a piece of music, from a choice of three, to be performed in the second half.
Out of a choice of The Floral Dance, Dear Lord and Father of Mankind and Thunder and Lightening Polka the audience clearly favoured Strauss' Last Night of the Proms classic and Musical Director Craig Ratcliffe duly took the piece at lightning speed.
Other highlights included the late Richard Burton's voice starting the second half as the audience were treated to a narration from Jeff Waynes hit The War of the Worlds immediately followed by the Band performing The Eve of the War. Alasdair Simpson and Vincent Ashby-Smith entertained as they dressed up for Kenneth Alford's xylophone duet The Two Imps and the Band finished with Paul Lovatt Cooper's exciting Enchanted Kingdom to end a great night.
Players are now busy as ever preparing for their next concert at Sinai Synagogue in Leeds. See the engagements section for more information.
Click here for newspaper report
Oct08
DAD'S ARMY - NO PANIC! -
Harrogate Band performed with Harrogate Dramatic Society in the play "Dad's Army" to packed audiences at Harrogate Theatre. The Band supported the action with suitable music from the wartime era as the "Warmington-on-Sea Town Band".
After the two organisations success with Brassed Off in 2009, another joint venture was eagerly anticipated and, despite being so soon after the Band's hectic schedule for the National Finals, it was thoroughly enjoyable and successful enterprise.
Click here for newspaper report
Sep26
8's OUR FAVOURITE NUMBER! -
We're celebrating because we came eighth at the first section National Finals performing Verdi's The Force of Destiny.
To a non brass-bander that may not seem like a right lot to shout about but considering we were competing against 18 of the best first section bands in the UK and most pundits were saying we'd come in the bottom six, it's flipping brilliant!
If you're still a bit unimpressed, to use a football analogy, it's a bit like West Brom qualifying for Europe (thanks to our number 1 supporter Helen Easton for that one). So, thinking about the number 8 here's 8 reasons to love The Harrogate Band's national finals result.
- It's the best ever contest result for the Band at the National Finals
- We did it using all our own players and didn't leave anyone out because we thought they weren't up to it
- No dep players, borrowed players or ringers were used
- Everyone helped raise loads of money to pay for the coach and hotel by doing extra gigs
- The whole band has improved as a result
- All the players and supporters had a fun weekend and no one got arrested
- We've perfected one of the tracks for our forthcoming CD
- We beat loads of bands ranked above us
Click here for newspaper report
<26/9/11>
Sep12
HARDRAW CHAMPIONS - THIRD YEAR IN A ROW -
Harrogate Band defended its title at the Hardraw Scar Contest, which was celebrating its 130th Anniversary, to take first place once again - for the third year running. Musical Director Craig Ratcliffe was delighted to receive the winners' shield from Brian Gibb of Theakstons Brewery. Rob Illsley won the soloist prize for his wonderful rendition of "Song and Dance", and the band also won the Best Hymn Tune prize for "Dear Lord and Father". Opening the performance with "Also Sprach Zarathustra", the programme also included the quick march "The Waltonian" and concluded with Paul Lovatt Cooper's "Enchanted Kingdom".
Television cameras were filming at Hardraw for a forthcoming series on the geology of Britain to be broadcast in early 2012. A number of bandsmen and officials were interviewed, including our Secretary Nick Garrett, and the band's performance was also recorded. We will see what makes it to the final programme! Despite somewhat changeable weather, a great time was had by all.
Click here for newspaper report
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