Today the band has competed in the North of England Brass Band Championships in the 3rd Section & have become champions and has a place now at the National Finals at Cheltenham in September. Nicola Evans picked up the shield for Best Soprano Cornet and also the percussion section won the Best Percussion trophy. 

It has been a fabulous team effort from all the band which if we have worked the numbers out properly, the band are promoted back to the 2nd section (to be confirmed by the Area Committee). 

The band had a very productive day preparing for the North of England Area next week. The band will be competing in the 3rd Section and taking on First Suite in Eb. We would also like to take this opportunity to welcome our latest signings Fabio Sousa who joins us on 1st Trombone, and Lynne Thomson who joins us on 2nd horn ahead of next weekend. 
A big thank you also goes to Graeme Tindall and Adam Reed who have been working with the band in the last couple of weeks and took sectionals today, along with our conductor Phillip for his ongoing time and committment to the band and also Pittington Primary for the use of the school to host our workshop.

The band participated in the Durham County Brass Band Association Festival of Brass contest today at East Durham College, Peterlee today. We participated in Section B and managed to come in 1st Place Overall. Our Principal Cornet player, Michael Evans picked up the best Cornet trophy and Iain McNeil picked up the trophy for the best Bass Trombone. The first image below is of our chairman, Lindsey Rowell receiving our 1st Place trophy from the adjudicator, Mr Alan Fernie. Congratulations goes to Kippax who came 2nd and Jayess Newbiggin who came 3rd.

We had three new players join us to fill our ranks in preparation for today. Lucy Bramwell Dunn returns to the band after 10 years to help out on the Baritone section. Connor Martin joins us on 1st Trombone and Diane Cooper joins the band 2nd Cornet. 

A big thank you must go to Graeme Tindale for helping with our rehearsals and preparation when Phillip was stuck at work and of course Phillip for his dedication and enthusiasm in making the band sound better and for also getting his first win and trophy as a musical director.

To see the images from the day, click read more below.

The third and final weeks' worth of Christmas jobs has seen the band play at four jobs. The first job was alongside the Crook & Weardale Choral Society on Tuesday evening (18th December). The audience were wowed by a mix of tradition and up tempo music from both the band and the choir. The band also featured our Solo Horn player Lindsey playing Alan Fernie's arrangement of In The Bleak Midwinter. The band's programme finished with a new piece called Christmas Finale. would like to say a big thank you to Steve, Fiona, Jimmy, Adam and Becky for helping us out tonight. We really do appreciate your help and support.

On Thursday and Friday (20th & 21st December) the band played outside of Sainsbury's at The Arnison Centre. The band would like to say a massive thank you to everyone who dug deep in their pockets to put something in our collection buckets. 

Saturday saw the final band job of the Christmas season and of 2018 

Click read more to see the photos and videos from this week's jobs. They run in chronological order from the week's jobs.

The second weeks worth of Christmas jobs has seen the band play at two jobs. The first job was at Quebec Village Hall on Friday (14th December). It was great to see so many people turn out to hear the band and enjoy their mince pies and mulled wine. Thanks must also go to David & Jimmy for helping us out, your help is very much appreciated.

On Saturday (15th December) the band played at The Dairy Barn, North Bitchburn. As much as it was very windy and awfully cold, the band played inside of a gazebo and enjoyed the afternoon. 

Click read more to see the photos and videos from this week's jobs. They run in chronological order from the week's jobs.

The first full week of December has seen the band play at two jobs. The first job was at a very busy Beamish Museum on Friday (7th December)

On Saturday (8th December), the band played at Langley Park's Christmas Fair at the Miners Institute Hall.

Click read more to see the photos and videos from these two

The first weekend of December has seen the band play at three jobs. The first job was at a very wet and soggy Durham Christmas Festival. A big thank you to everyone who dug deep and put something in our collecting buckets and an even bigger thank you to our collectors who braved the rain to stand and hold a bucket. Thanks must also go to David for helping us out.

On Saturday Night, the band played at Birtley Masonics as part of their fundraising Christmas meal 

On Sunday morning, the band played at Pittington School's Christmas Fayre. There was a full hall and the children enjoyed dancing to the Christmas music.

Click read more to see the photos and videos from these three jobs.

Today has seen the band play at a very busy Beamish Museum. The general public and staff around the bandstand were very appreciative of the Christmas music and carols we played.

The band were very proud and honoured to take part in the Sunderland Remembrance Parade providing music alongside the Royal Signals (Northern) Band this morning. Thank you as always go to our helpers and friends of the band, David, Garry and Dave for boosting the ranks.

Below are Tonight has seen the band hold their Presentaton Evening at Redworth Hall. It was a fantastic night with a lovely meal, speeches, awards, bingo and a boogie on the dance floor. The band has also managed to raise an amazing £220 for the band funds from the bingo.

The Alan Beaumont Trophy for the Most Improved Player goes to Anna Bird, our 3rd Cornet player. Since joining the band, she has made great progress with her playing and has worked hard to get to where she is. Anna is building good foundations for moving up through the ranks.

The David Waterworth Trophy for the Player of the Year goes to Joanna Harrison. She has shown excellent dedication to the band and also stepped up to the mark on principal cornet for the League and Area Contests this year whilst Michael was out of action.

The Bearpark & Esh Colliery Band Trophy for Bandsperson of the Year (as voted for by the band members) was awarded to Ray Lee, our 2nd Euphonium player. As he wasn't at the presentation evening, he nominated Thompson to receive his award from our Life President, Dr. Bill Lamb. Below are some of the wonderful reasons why the band members voted for Ray.

The Bearpark & Esh Colliery Band Trophy for Most Improved Section was awarded to the Bass Section. Our conductor chose the basses for the progress they made preparing for the Area Contest and the solid foundations they are developing as a team. Helen, our Eb Bass player, was the only player available to collect the award.

Valerie Craig was awarded with her 5 years service

Lindsey Rowell & Daniel Maitre were both awarded with their 10 years service  (If Lindsey hadn't broken her service with the band when she lived away, she would have clocked up 25 years service. Daniel was unable to attend tonight, so he nominated Helen to receive his award).

Alan Beaumont was awarded with his 20 years service. Alan, our principal percussionist, is a loyal and dedicated member of the band who does a lot behind the scenes. He is our resident composer and arranger who has written many fantastic pieces for the band.

Finally, Marion Waterworth (the band's secretary) was awarded with her 50 years service, with 26 of them being in the secretary role. Marion is such a loyal and dedicated member who ensures professionalism on all levels. Not only keeping us all right, she also sorts out music and ensures the band has the reputation of being one of the most organised bands in the region.

To view the images from the night, please click read more.

The band played in Durham Market Place today.

Today has seen the band perform at Shadforth Show which also included their fabulous Scarecrow Trail. We played to a great audience and we even baked in the sun. A big thank you goes to David, Kath and Martin for helping us out today. We really appreciate the help.

It was a pleasure to catch up with Angelo Bearpark at Geneva Instruments' Bandroom Open Day today after quite a while.

During the band's exchange trip to Switzerland in 2010, Angelo met the Band (after a few entries on the Band's Guestbook prior) at one of the concerts which the Band performed at, along with playing with the Band. 

To read more about the band's exchange trip to Switzerland in 2010, click here

The band were delighted to provide evening entertainment at the wedding of Emma and Toby at the stunning venue of Lartington Hall tonight. The bride and groom chose all their own music and the guests danced the night away. It is definitely up there as being one of the best jobs the band has done. A massive thank you to Joe, Jim, Beth, Martin and Amy for helping us out.

Congratulations to the happy couple from all at Bearpark & Esh Colliery Band.

The band girls had a fabulous night out in Durham tonight. The first of many to come as it was decided to make this a regular event on the calendar.

This weekend has seen the band perform at Langley Park on Saturday for a World War One centenary event and at Beamish Museum on Sunday. 

The Band played in the Masonic Hall at Beamish Museum due to the rain and wind on Sunday. We had a steady flow of people listening to us all afternoon. A huge thank you goes to Kath for helping us out today. We really appreciate the help from all the deps that have come to help over our summer season. This is the last public job the band has for this summer and we now enjoy a well earned rest and the weekends band free to spend with our families. Thank you to all of our supporters and people who have engaged the band or donated over the last two months.

Today saw the band play at a very hot South Shields Amphitheatre. There was a fantastic crowd which enjoyed the programme we played. A big thank you goes to Kath for helping us out today.

The band have had a fabulous day at Durham Miners Gala and we enjoyed entertaining the general public and our trusty followers. We would like to say a massive well done to our youngest member Leila who made her debut today marching. We are very proud of her and how well she managed. 

We would also like to say a big thank you to Iain, Jordan, Yvan, Garry, Kevin, Jonny, Amy, Beth W, Beth J, Christian, Steady and Ben for helping us out.
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Thanks also to the banner groups of Esh Winning, West Rainton and Shotton Colliery for supporting the band. Together we help to keep the mining heritage of our area alive.

To see the images and videos from today, click read more

This weekend has seen the band perform at an engagement at Esh Village for a 1st World War commemoration event on Saturday (7th July) and at Wharton Park on Sunday (8th July). 

On Saturday, the band performed at a World War 1 commemoration event on Esh Village Green. There was a lovely community atmosphere with lots to offer everyone including somewhere to watch the England match. Thank you to Dave, Sean and James for helping us out on Saturday.

On Sunday, the band performed at Wharton Park in Durham. There was a great audience despite the sweltering heat as the sun came out. The band would also like to say a warm welcome to Devin Gaskell, who has joined the band on 2nd horn which has now completed our horn section. We would also like to say a big thank you to Dave and Abi for helping us out on Sunday, it is much appreciated.

To view the images from the jobs over this weekend, please click on read more.

The band would like to say a huge congratulations to our members Richard and Charlotte who have graduated today from New College Durham. Here they are with our conductor Phillip - well done guys.

Tonight the band performed at the opening concert for the Sunderland Armed forces Weekend in Seaburn. We had the chance to run out our entertainments programme for Sunday and we ended the night with the traditional Last Night of the Proms with the singer's Julie and John. To view the images from the night, click read more