Where to find us
York Railway Institute, Queen Street, York, YO24 1AD (close to York Station)
Rehearsal times
Mondays and Thursdays from 8pm to 10pm
Contact details
Please telephone our Secretary, Dawn Groves, on 01904 659945 or send an email to secretary@yrib.org.uk
We are grateful for the continuing support of York Co-operative Funeralcare
Next Public Concert
Thursday 15 March
Guiseley School
Future Concerts
Vacancies
We have a vacancy on Back Row Cornet. If you are interested, please contact secretary@yrib.org.uk
Latest Recording
Our latest recording, MAINLINE BRASS, is available.
Order Form (PDF)
All photographs are by members and friends of the Band, unless otherwise stated.
York Railway Institute Band is a contesting band, competing in the Second Section in the Northern Area of the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain.
Recent News
Christmas Joy!
The Band enjoyed a highly successful and busy Christmas of music making. The Band’s annual Christmas Concert was once again held at St Chad’s Church with a highly challenging and suitably festive programme. Our soloists Sam Lovatt, James West and Richard Lovatt were on stunning form as were ‘Santa’s Little Helpers’ in the massed ranks trombone section feature of Nick Eastwood, Clive Marshall, Pearce Abbey, Tom Byrne and Tom Western!
The Band was honoured to play at Leeds Parish Church for the annual Cooperative Funeralcare Carol Service, earning plaudits for
the quality of our playing from the renowned musician Simon Lindley. Other engagements included the Shoppers Carol Service in Coney Street
on Christmas Eve and of course our carol ‘sing-along’ in the RI Bar with Uncles Clive and Gordon entertaining the appreciative
audience royally!
One particular highlight this year was playing live on Radio York on the morning of Christmas Eve for listeners' carol requests with our Musical Director Gordon Eddison showcasing on cornet. Rumours that Gordon was off to Grimethorpe were scotched when it was announced that Roger Webster was rejoining as their new Principal Cornet! Along the way, we also entertained shoppers at Clifton Moor Tesco’s and raised £1,500 for Band funds.
York Celebrates John Barry
The Band was proud to play at a sell out (1500) concert in York Barbican on Sunday 30th October to pay tribute to the life and music of John Barry who died earlier this year. The concert featured over 200 York musicians and performers including the York Guildhall Orchestra, the Steve Cassidy Band, Prima Vocal & Millegro and Ewa Salecka, amongst others.
The Band has enjoyed rave reviews for its performance including "Just to say congratulations on yesterday's performance. YRI band were mesmerising, fabulous dynamics, I especially enjoyed the contrast of On Her Majesty's Secret Service and Chaplin. Many of our friends in the audience have also commented on how much they enjoyed the sound of the band..." and "Please can you pass on my congratulations to the band for a superb performance at the Barbican last night. I'd never heard the band before but for me they were best in show. The musical skill and sensitivity were second to none and the dignity, pride and enjoyment of the musicians & director were very evident..."
The Band will next perform at the Theatre Royal in York on Thursday 17th November. Tickets are available through the Theatre Royal Box Office and online.
Looking Forward
The Band recently competed
at the National Brass Band finals in Cheltenham and were placed 9th. The result,
whilst a little disappointing given the excellent reaction to our performance in the hall and by 4barsrest who described
it as "A marker of quality from the North East contenders", didn't spoil what was an excellent weekend and our 2nd
appearance at the finals in two years!
The next few months are incredibly busy for the Band, including our performance as part of York's tribute to John Barry, which takes place at the Barbican on the 30th October with all 1,500 seats already sold out, and other concerts at Stamford Bridge and York Theatre Royal to look forward to.
The Band is also busy rehearsing for its first ever appearance at the Butlin's Mineworkers Championship that is taking place in Skegness on the weekend of the 21st and 22nd January. This will be our first contest since being promoted to the 2nd Section and we have the hugely challenging "The Frogs" by Bantock arr Frank Wright to keep us on our toes.
Death of Trevor Bousfield
The Band is very sad to announce the death of Trevor Bousfield. Trevor had a long and successful association with the Band as player, conductor and teacher and has left a legacy of fine arrangements. Our sincere condolences go to his wife Joan, sons Ian and Howard, twin brother Brian and to all his family and friends. Read a tribute to Trevor.
Whit Friday Successes!
The Band enjoyed a highly successful day at the Whit Friday March Contest on Friday 17th June. Setting off from York at 1.30pm the weather looked very ominous, but the Band was in high and confident spirits and what a brilliant day it proved to be! Playing consistently well on our contest march The Wizard at 8 different venues, the Band secured an incredible tally of 4 prizes for Third Section Bands.
Lydgate - 1st Prize (overall 17th out of 60 bands)
Denshaw - 2nd Prize (overall 21st out of 52 bands)
Greenacres - 2nd Prize (overall 17th out of 40 bands)
Grotton - 2nd Prize (overall 14th out of 46 bands)
In addition to this James West won the prize for best soprano cornet of the day at Grotton where 46 bands competed including Brighouse & Rastrick and Rothwell Temperance Band! The Band took some other notable scalps along the way, beating the Championship Section bands Fodens, Leyland, Wingates and Marsden at different venues.
A recording of the band at Grotton featuring James’s prizewinning performance can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Li9g8D6riP0
Press Coverage
This report was published in The Press on Friday 22 April 2011, following our success in Darlington.
Updates from the 'Area'
Have a look at the comments on the 4barsrest.com website about our performance at Darlington - they are well worth a read! The adjudicator's remarks can be read here.
Tameside Runners-Up Again
We went to the Tamseide Open on 27 March hoping to continue our winning streak with a reprise of our performance of Philip Wilby's 'A Little Light Music' from the previous week. On the day we had to settle for being beaten into 2nd Place by a single point but have yet another trophy to add to our growing collection. Nigel was unable to be with us in the prize winning percussion section, having had to return to London, but Sheila bravely stepped into the breach and took over very ably on glock, tambourine and tam-tam.
North of England Champions 2011 !!
On Saturday 19 March 2011, York Railway Institute Band became 3rd Section Champions of the North of England! In the Dolphin Centre hall the tension was mounting. After the excitement of retaining the Best Percussion trophy, and the awarding of 3rd and 2nd places to East Riding of Yorkshire and Ripon City Bands,
announcer Alan Hope kept everyone waiting for what seemed like an eternity before declaring the winners of the 3rd Section were the band drawn Number ............. Six,
York Railway Institute. We had finally managed to go one better than last year and have come home with an enormous and very impressive looking shield, a trophy for Gordon
as Conductor of the winning band and not forgetting the trophy for Best Percussion for the second year running. Many congratulations to everyone!
Mark the date in your diaries now for the finals on 24th and 25th September at The Centaur, Cheltenham.
York Minster Carol Service
The Band was pleased to be able to step in at the last minute to play a carol concert for FSID
(Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths) at York Minster on Sunday 5th December after the band
who were booked were unable to undertake the engagement due to adverse weather. Our thanks go to members of
the York RI Golden Rail, Shepherd Group and Otley Bands who kindly helped us.
Press Coverage
This report was published in The Press on Monday 29 November, following our success at the Northern Open Championships.
Northern Open Champions 2010!
Travelling across the Pennines and into the very heartland of our Lancastrian rivals, the Band gained first prize at the Northern Open Championships held in St Helens on Sunday 21st November. Soprano cornet player Jack Capstaff was awarded the certificate for the Best Soloist and Gordon Eddison was presented with the William Lyon Memorial Trophy as MD of the winning band.
Playing the incredibly difficult test piece Diadem of Gold, Mr Michael Hughes commended the Band for taking on such a tough challenge and for our all round musicianship. Jack gave a first class display of high pressure and high wire soprano playing and richly deserved his award. Gordon has worked tirelessly since his appointment in January instilling in the Band a sense of drive, enthusiasm and ambition to succeed which we are confident will continue through to 2011 and further contesting success!
Even a slight mishap involving the Band coach, an Eb bass and a tarmac road didn't spoil a very enjoyable and satisfying day.
Vacancy
Want to join a band that is going places and winning prizes, playing challenging music and enjoying fun and fulfilling rehearsals?
Following our highly credible 5th placing in the 3rd Section National Finals (the highest placed North of England band in any section of the National Championships!), the Band is now seeking to appoint a FRONT ROW CORNET PLAYER.
Under our highly enthusiastic and hugely experienced Musical Director Gordon Eddison, the Band is driving forward with confidence with the aim of winning the Northern Area Contest next March, the National Finals in September and securing promotion to the 2nd Section!
Why not get in contact and drop us an email to secretary@yrib.org.uk
Yorkshire Post Article
Kate Lock from York RI Golden Rail Band travelled with us to the National Finals and has written this article which was published in the Yorkshire Post on 29th September:
Bands show that where there's brass there's young talent hitting a top note
National Finals 2010
The Band is proud to have come a very commendable 5th place in the National Finals on Sunday 26th September out of a field of 17. The eventual winners were Delph and we offer our sincere congratulations to Phil Goodwin and his team.
Photo by Steve Jack
Gordon has been quick to point out that we were the highest placed band from the North of England region over the whole weekend. He has also managed to decipher most of the adjudicators' remarks and these can be read here.
The weekend was a huge success in other ways. On Saturday after the afternoon rehearsal the Band, family members and supporters enjoyed a wonderful night at Millstones Restaurant. The food was wonderful, as was the company, and we were royally entertained by Chris Eddison with a quiz, very creative balloon modelling! and some great music to dance the night away.
Our thanks go to our MD Gordon Eddison and all members of the Band who worked so hard over many months to earn this success. We also thank everyone who sent us good luck messages and who were in the hall on the day, screaming and cheering bang on cue as the final chord sounded.
4barsrest.com comments:-
"Just a few clips to the opening starters but there is nice stuff being played
especially by a young tuba mandarin.
The lovers flee quicker than Bruce Lee on a Suzuki 750cc - Wow!
Great stuff and followed by a love scene that just
had odd misplaced fumble and the odd dropped match by the pyromanic mandarin.
Great old fashioned upbeat close.
Overall: A cracking effort from a young band. The odd moments but one to really enjoy.
Star Player: Matt Hoyle on Eb Bass - Fu Manchu eat your heart out!"
Press Coverage
This article was published in the York Press on Thursday 23 September:
York Railway Institute Band's bid to win National Brass Band Championships
Here's hoping for a good result on Sunday!