About Us
The History of Worsbrough Brass
Formed in 1993 from a small group
of children and their parents, with no band room, no facilities, and
no instruments. What 
we did have was a bank account inherited from
the defunct "Barnsley Chronicle Band" with £14 to its name and an
abundance of enthusiasm.
Angela Dawson, one of the parents, was asked to take on the role of band secretary for a period of 12 months, to guide the band through those early times, it is testament to Angela's excellent organisational skills that she still holds this position today.
During the early years since
formation, the band went from strength to strength, not only in the
quality of its performances but also as an organisation. After
gaining charitable status, the
band's committee were successful in
securing a National Lottery award, at the time, one of the first in
the area. The band purchased a complete new set of instruments with
this funding.
The same year (1995) as the Lottery award, also saw the beginnings of the children's themed social events of which there are two or three a year. The band has visited such places as "Center Parcs", "The Boosey and Hawkes Factory", York for a "Ghost Walk" as well as ten pin bowling.
In 1997 the band continued to thrive and develop and in May of that year travelled to Saddleworth in Lancashire to take part in the famous Whit Friday Marches, sharing stage with some of the country's finest brass bands.
The band room has been at
various
locations through the years, from welfare halls to local schools,
but in 2000 we had the good fortune to acquire an ex-school,pre-fabricated
building which was to be located at Worsbrough Mill and Country
Park. It was in October of 2000 that the Worshipful, The Mayor of
Barnsley officially opened the band room, which is still our home to
this day.
In summer 2008, the band appointed their current conductor, John Hopkinson, who started a programme of improving the overall level of the band. In October 2008, the band entered the Bolsover Entertainment Contest and won the unregistered section. This feat was repeated by the beginners band a year later. Also in 2009, the main band entered the Yorkshire regional brass band contest in the 4th section for only the second time in their history. And in July, the band entered the Kiveton Park contest where our solo tenor horn player, Jenny Kril, won best soloist.
Worsbrough Brass has a full itinerary of concert events,
throughout the year. Some of these events are
annually repeated occasions, one in particular being the
Co-operative Music Festival. This festival spans a week of not only
individual contests for each musical instrument discipline, but also
awards Drama and Dance sections. At the end of the week, the
overall winner is selected and presented with the Rose Bowl Award.
Worsbrough Brass have been proud winners of this trophy 3 times
since 1996.
Other annual concerts are performed at Brodsworth Hall, Doncaster and Scarbrough's Spa Complex.
The band also enters a number of contests including the Old Silkstone March & Hymn Contest and the Bolsover Entertainment Contest.
For a list of our forthcoming concerts and contests, please click here
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