EASINGWOLD TOWN BAND

About the band

We're a non-contesting band, so we're not graded. Some of our players have long experience of brass band playing, others are less experienced. What brings us together is that we enjoy making music and performing for local audiences.

Our Musical Director

Alistair Shipman has conducted the Band since September 2009. A bass trombone player with championship-section East Yorkshire Motor Services Band in Hull, and former conductor of York Railway Institute's Golden Rail Band, Alistair has excellent brass 'pedigree' and brings invaluable experience and enthusiasm to the Band. Already, he has made his mark - no-one gets away with fudging the hard bits.

Alistair says: "I am pleased to bring my ideas and experience to Easingwold Town Band and am excited about the opportunity to develop the performance standards of the players. I like to try and enable all members to express themselves and to enjoy their music-making experience - particularly important in such a strong community organisation. I hope the band will continue to entertain its audiences and be a valued part of North Yorkshire's musical life"

Is there a minimum standard for players?

We welcome players of all standards, including beginners.

We can't promise to teach you to play a brass instrument from scratch, but we'll give you every encouragement to learn. If you don't already read music, don't worry, you soon will! Our aim is to provide a friendly and supportive environment in which you can develop your playing. If you don't possess your own instrument, the band has instruments available for loan. Provided you are prepared to practise, you'll soon find that you can make a useful contribution to the Band's sound.

Our Band Room

The Band owns its own bandroom, which we've made into a pleasant and welcoming place for rehearsals. There is parking in the road outside, and the public car park behind the Galtres Centre is only a few yards away.

Our current rehearsal times are 7:45 to 9:30 pm every Monday.
» Find our band room on Google Maps.

Town Bands - a centuries-old tradition

Town Bands have existed in Europe and Britain since medieval times. With stringed, woodwind, brass and percussion instruments, they were an important part of civic and religious ceremonies, family celebrations and the like.

Modern brass instruments with valves were invented in the early 19th century. Adolphe Sax, of saxophone fame, also developed the saxhorn family of instruments that, along with the trombone, make up the standard British brass band — cornet, flugelhorn, tenor & baritone horns, euphonium and tuba. Popularised by the demonstration of saxhorns' capabilities at the Great Exhibition of 1851, brass banding spread throughout the country, with many bands formed by miners and factory workers, as well as the armed services and of course the Salvation Army.

Below is a picture of Easingwold Town Band back in 1911!