Year: 2013

Following the success at the North of England Regional Championships in March and a good showing at the National Finals on September 22^nd in Cheltenham, the Band is now top band in the Northern Area 3^rd section according to the latest league tables published on all4brass.com on 24^th September.

The Band continued 2013 in style by coming 7^th in the National Championships 3^rd section out of 17 qualifying bands, from a starting list of over 120. The weekend was hard work with the journey to Gloucestershire and a 2 hour rehearsal at Tewkesbury on the Saturday. The Band thanks Tewkesbury Town Band for the use of their facilities for the rehearsal.

Then, on the Sunday morning, the band arrived at Cheltenham racecourse. We were drawn third in the playing order. The contest was under way at 9.30am and ran for 6 hours with the adjudicators, Steve Pritchard-Jones and Simone Rebello, announcing the results around 4.00pm. A long day with a journey back to East Yorkshire still to come.

LGB Brass earned a deserved first place at Cheltenham although there were some surprises with the bottom bands. Achieving 7^th place at Cheltenham made the ERYB the most successful of the Northern area 3^rd section qualifying bands. Another good day for the ERYB under Musical Director Ian Scott.

John Butt, Publicity Officer

Following our success at the North of England Regional Championships in March, the Band is now building up to the National Finals on September 22nd in Cheltenham.

The Band has been riding high through the summer after qualifying for the Nationals as one of two bands from the North of England. The Autumn concerts have now got off to a great start with a highly acclaimed performance at Filey last Sunday. This Saturday (14th) the Band will be performing at Harrogate Flower Show between 11.30am  and 1.15pm.

For all fans of Brass Band music and supporters of the ERYB, this Sunday (15th) at Clowes Methodist Church, Greenwood Avenue, Hull at 7.45 pm, there will be an open rehearsal prior to the National Championships the following Sunday.

The format of the evening will be:  A 30 minute rehearsal on the test piece “Penlee” by Simon Dobson, followed by a first public performance. Then a further hour of rehearsal to conclude with a second performance of “Penlee”. The audience will have the opportunity to stay for the full two hour rehearsal or alternatively leave after the 1st performance. The evening will give a wonderful insight into the preparations required for a competition such as this which have been going on throughout the summer. There is no charge for this evening.

We trust that many will be able to join us as we start the last week of preparation.

On Saturday 9^th March the Band played for the “Shirley Levitt Memorial Concert” at Cottingham Methodist Church. This was a well supported event and raised almost £500 for the Teenage Cancer Trust. The Concert celebrated the life of Shirley who sadly passed away last year. She had played in Brass Bands in the area for about 50 years and was playing with the East Riding of Yorkshire Band up until a few weeks before her death.

This was followed by success at the North of England Regional Championships in Darlington on Sunday 17^th March where the Band gained three prizes and an invitation to the National Finals in September.

The test piece was “Hollywood!” by Goff Richards which was performed by the 8 competing bands in the third section. After the performances the tension began to rise as the audience waited for the results to be announced following the adjudication by David Read MBE. The first result is announced; “Best cornet goes to the band that played number 6 – East Riding of Yorkshire Band” – very well done to our James Kerridge.

Then to the next announcement; “Best percussion section goes to the band that played number 6 – East Riding of Yorkshire Band” – congratulations to Garry Hallas, Sue Shepherd, Richard Mackinder and Gareth Greetham”.

Then to the results for best bands with ERYB qualifying in 2^nd place for the National Finals in September. The trophy was received by Band Secretary, Michael Kerridge. Undoubtedly a day to remember for the ERYB under their Musical Director, Ian Scott.

The next performances by the ERYB will be at the Harrogate Spring Flower Show on April 27^th and then at Clowes Methodist Church (1^st Avenue, Hull) on May 11^th at 7.00pm.

Saturday March 9^th, 7.30pm at Cottingham Methodist Church, Hallgate, Cottingham

The Memorial Concert celebrates the life of Shirley Levitt who sadly passed away last year. She had played in Brass Bands in the Humberside area for about 50 years and was playing with the East Riding of Yorkshire Band up until a few weeks before her death. Shirley was married to Charles Levitt, a former news reader with Radio Humberside.

Many of the pieces being played were among her favourites including “Strike up the band”, “Hey Jude”, “You’ll never walk alone” and the hymn “Crimond”. There will also be a wide range of brass classics from “Suite Gothique” to “Hollywood!”.

The concert will be a fund raising event for the Teenage Cancer Trust, Cottingham Methodist Church and the East Riding of Yorkshire Band. Tickets are £6.00 and are available from Barkers (159 Hallgate, Cottingham) or Mike Kerridge (ERYB Secretary) on 01482 854042.

John Butt – ERYB Publicity Officer

The Band’s first concert of the year took place on Saturday 2^nd February at the Anlaby Park Methodist Church as part of their “Ignition” appeal to benefit the local community. The programme was well received and an excellent start for 2013. Musical Director, Ian Scott received much positive comment from the audience and said “there was some slick playing and good sounds being made”. There were solos from James Kerridge, Jim Johnson, Mike Waudby and Mike Hedley. With music ranging from Army of the Nile, to Strike up the Band and Suite Gothique, there was certainly plenty of variety for everyone.

The Band has been pleased to welcome a number of new players to it’s ranks over the winter: Karen Wain (solo horn), Gill Rice and Jenny Russell (cornet) and Shane Foster (BBb bass). Garry Hallas (percussion) will also be helping the band out over the next few weeks. They, along with the other members of ERYB, will be working hard as we approach the Regional Contest at Darlington on March 17^th. The test piece this year is “Hollywood” by Goff Richards and we will be giving our first performance of it on Saturday March 9^th  at Cottingham Methodist Church in the “Shirley Levitt Memorial Concert”. Shirley was a loyal member of the band until she sadly passed away last year. Further information is available on this website.

John Butt – ERYB Publicity Officer