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Today saw the band perform at the return of DCBBA's Picnic in the Park Entertainment Contest - this time, performing at the new venue of The Story, in Durham. The band were placed in 6th place and our Flugel player, Nicola Evans - took away the prize for the Best Instrumentalist with a fabulous solo performance of First Light and feature in Light Walk and also Light as Air. She wholeheartedly deserved this prize. A big congratulations goes to Jason Smith, a good friend of the band, and his band - the Felling Band - for winning the contest overall. A big thank you goes to Gavin for working us hard to prepare our 'Light' Theme programme which the adjudicator, Stephanie Binns, thoroughly enjoyed. Another thank you goes to all of the committee of the DCBBA and the volunteers who made the day possible. Your hard work and dedication made it a wonderful day of brass banding at a lovely venue. Photo credits: Kevin Creaghan
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Today has seen our Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer support the Northern Regional Brass Band Trust Open Learning Day. Lindsey (our Chairman) delivered a very informative presentation on Safeguarding and shared with everyone some of the good work that is done as a band in this area over the last few years. All three played in the scratch band, which was supporting Alan Fernie and the coaching of four conductors. A fantastic day of sharing good practice and learning new things. Thank you to everyone involved and the Trust for organising. Tonight saw the band come together with the Ingleby Barwick Community Choir, performing a joint concert in the wonderful venue of St Francis of Assisi Church. Together, the programme performed was a variety for everyone. There was also a friendly rivalry between Gavin, our MD & his wife Catherine who just so happens to conduct the choir. Our soloist for the evening, was David Thomas - our principal Euphonium player, who played Eric Wilson's Czardas. Dan Nixon - our solo Trombone player, Dan Nixon, was also featured in I Want to Break Free. Thank you goes to our helpers for tonight, which were Michael, Gareth and Claire. Your help is very much appreciated. All of the proceeds from the concert are being donated to Teesside Hospice, which is a very worthy cause. The band look forward to working with the choir again in the future. Today has seen two of our members competing in the Durham County Brass Band Association solo, duet and quartet competition. Our Solo Trombone player Dan Nixon was awarded 1st place and our Soprano player Alex Cockling came 2nd in the junior solo up to 17 years category, whereas Alex went on to win the junior up to 17 duet section. A fantastic result and achievement for both of them, and we are extremely proud to have both Dan and Alex in the band. Congratulations from us all! Our very own David Young also accompanied many of the soloist today on the piano. Photos are courtesy of Hugh Stephenson Ray Lee, one of our euphonium players, celebrates his 90th birthday on Monday (27th April) and the band couldn't let this special birthday pass without taking him to his favourite restaurant, Le Raaj at Chester-le-Street tonight. Who doesn't love a good Indian and a quiz all about Ray. A big thank you goes to Joanna for yet another fantastic quiz and for sorting decorations and Lindsey, our chairman, for booking and coordinating everyone. Ray was also awarded a special award, in recognition of his 40 years continuous and outstanding service to the Band. Ray actually has been in the band a lot longer but broke his service and then returned. Marion, our secretary, wrote the following which was included on his award. We think this sums him up perfectly. "A committed and dedicated “old-style” bandsman in every way, Ray has enjoyed a playing career spanning many years, both in service in the RAF, the EverReady band and as a member of Bearpark & Esh Colliery Band. He has been a true team player. He has moved within the sections as required playing flugel horn, Eb bass, Tenor Horn and Euphonium. His knowledge, expertise and generous nature know no bounds and should never be underestimated." Always ready to help and a true gentleman, whom we will never forget. Ray’s willingness to share his talent will be a lasting legacy to the band. He always has a twinkle in his eye and can be very mischievous. "Thank you for your time, enthusiasm and being a true constant within the band. Words will never be enough!!" Ray has now decided to hang up his instrument and retire from playing. He wants to take life a little easier now he has reached the ripe old age of 90. Ray continues to support the band by coming along and listening to our concerts and promises to visit the bandhall regularly. Congratulations on all of your banding achievements over the years Ray and we will miss seeing you every week. Tonight has seen the band and the amazing Ushaw Chapel Choir perform to a sell out performance of The Armed Man - A Mass for Peace, by Karl Jenkins. The atmosphere in the chapel was absolutely fantastic and it was great to see many people who had come to listen to the stunning work by Karl Jenkins. To get a full audience standing ovation at the end was very emotional and very touching. It's always a pleasure to work with the choir but last night was something very special. Well done to all of you and especially the soloists, you all sounded amazing. We especially want to say a massive thank you and well done to Mark Anyan, musical director of the choir, who conducted the band and choir for the performance. We also want to say thank you to our own MD Gavin Brown for all his hard work preparing the band for last night as well. Thank you to our deps Andrew H, Andrew P, Paul, Tracy and good friends of the band, Gareth and Ben. Your help and time is very much appreciated. Another thank you goes to Steve Jack who came and recorded the performance. A final thank you goes to Ushaw Historic House, Chapels & Gardens. The support you show us as your local band is fantastic. Thanks to Charlotte, Mark and all the team for everything that goes on behind the scenes and to our Secretary, Marion who has worked hard alongside them to make tonight happen. Tonight has seen the band give a warm welcome to Mark Anyan - Choir Master of Ushaw Choir. Mark will be conducting both the band and choir for the upcoming performance of The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace at Ushaw Historic House, Chapels & Gardens on Saturday 18th April at 7pm. It's exciting to be part of this amazing project and rehearsals are going well. Today has seen the band perform at the 2026 North of England Brass Band Championships, performing Three Haworth Impressions by Gordon Langford in the 3rd Section at the Gala Theatre, Durham. The band were placed in a creditable 4th Place with some good comments from the adjudicators. A big thank you goes to Gavin for all of his hard work preparing us and to all of our playing members for all of their hard work and dedication over the last 3 months. Some of the band then went to ASK Italian after the results for lunch and to celebrate. Congratulations to goes to Barton Community Band for becoming champions, and East Riding of Yorkshire Band on placing in 2nd place, and also qualifying for the National Finals in York. A massive congratulations also goes to Gavin and his band, The EverReady Band for winning the Championship Section as well Today saw the band celebrate, albeit belatedly - our 75th Birthday. Our very appreciative audience thoroughly enjoyed the choice of programme. There was something in it for everyone. On his address at the end, Rev. Alan summed up the programme with "Gresford to Grease via Henry VIII". Today's soloist was our Solo Horn player, Lindsey - who played Darrol Barry's "One Day in your Life". A special mention also goes to our Solo Trombone player, Dan Nixon, who featured with small solos in Grease and I Want to Break Free. There are a few thanks which need to be given out as well following on from this concert.
Bearpark & Esh Colliery Band would like to wish our followers a very Happy Christmas to all of our members, followers and supporters. After a busy December we have put all of our instruments away for a well deserved rest and to have some family time. We hope you have a lovely day however you are spending it.
The last 2 nights (22nd/2rd December) has seen the band perform at Sainsbury's at the Arnison Centre in Durham for the final two band engagements of the Christmas season. A massive thank you goes to everyone who has donated across the two nights either in our physical collecting buckets, or our virtual collecting buckets. A small band tonight, were honoured to play outside of St. Nic's Church in Durham Market Place to provide festive music prior to their carol service. Thank you goes to our helper Corinne, for helping us out tonight on Solo Cornet. A big thank you goes to everyone who put a little something into our collecting bucket as they passed by. The band has spread some Christmas cheer in Durham Market Place this morning. A big thank you goes to James, from Durham Markets for your continued support. Also, a massive thank you goes to all the shoppers who donated into our collecting buckets or virtual collecting buckets. Your support is highly apprieciated. Tonight saw the band perform at Ushaw Historic House, Chapels & Gardens, for their Christmas Carols event. A full standing ovation from our very appreciative full audience makes what we do all the more special. The stunning chapel was in full glory last night as the band filled it with festive music and with lots of audience participation. We featured two of our fantastic soloists, our Solo Horn player Lindsey Rowell played In the Bleak Mid Winter and our Solo Euphonium player David Thomas played O Holy Night. There was also a lovely vocal rendition of Silent Night in Alan Beaumont's Festive Brass by Helen Miller, our 3rd Cornet Player. A big thank you to Stephen Jack for coming along to record and take photos of our concert. Another thank you goes to David Petherick who has been a great help on Soprano Cornet over the last 7 months. You're help is greatly appreciated. Finally, we would like to thank Jonathan Ward, who is the Co-CEO and all of his staff at Ushaw for their valued and constant support of the band. The band class this venue as our home and it is always an absolute privilege to play in the chapel. There are lots planned in 2026 with them so keep an eye out on all social media platforms. Tonight saw the band join forces with the wonderful Crook & Weardale Choral Society to perform an amazing sell out concert in St. Catherine's Church, Crook & Howden le Wear. It was amazing to see such a fabulous audience with only standing room available as the concert started. The band played a mixture of Christmas music along with two joint pieces with the choir. Our featured soloist for the evening was our Solo Euphonium player, David Thomas who played Keith Wilkinson's O Holy Night. It is always a joy to join together with other musical groups to perform together and Crook and Weardale Choral Society are no exception. This concert has always been a firm favourite of the band over the last decade or so. This morning saw half the band playing for the residents at West Lodge Care Home in Billy Row. They were in fine voice and loved having the band play some festive favourites. Tonight has seen the band perform at Quebec Village Hall. The band were honoured to play to such an amazing audience with only standing room left in the hall. Thank you to each and every one of you for turning out and joining in with all of the singing. Your rendition of Alan Beaumont's 12 Days of Christmas was fantastic. The local support means a lot to us and tonight you didn't disappoint. We featured two wonderful soloists, our Principal Cornet Michael Evans played Alan Beaumont's Santa Baby, and also our Flugel player Nicola Evans played If Everyday was Like Christmas. The band would also like to say a Happy 80th birthday to George, the grandad of Leila - our 3rd Cornet player and a huge supporter of the band. We would like to say a big thank you to Ellie and all the trustees at Quebec Village Hall for organising such a great night and for all your support to us as your local band. Tonight saw the band perform again, at Beamish Museum as part of their Christmas evening events. It was lovely to see so many people visiting the museum and enjoying the festivities. Tonight saw the band perform a fabulous concert at Birtley Masonics. It has become a firm favourite of the band and tonight certainly didn't disappoint with a super audience. There was rivalry between the ladies and gentlemen in the carol singing competition and lots of new music to enjoy. We featured two wonderful soloists, our Principal Cornet, Michael Evans played Alan Beaumont's Lonely this Christmas. Our Flugel Horn player, Nicola Evans played If Everyday was Like Christmas, which is also a new arrangement by Alan. A big thank you to our two helpers, Dave and Jeremy. This morning saw the band entertain the busy crowds, as they visited the Durham Christmas Festival in the Market Place. A big thank you goes to our collectors and to everyone who donated in either our physical collection buckets and our virtual collection buckets. Tonight has seen the band play at the wonderful Christmas evening at Beamish Museum. Due to the rather wet weather, it was unsure if we were going to be able to perform in the town bandstand. With some quick thinking between the band and the staff at the museum, we were able to get set up in the main entrance and play for everyone arriving and leaving. The band performed today at the wonderful St. Edmund's Church in Bearpark as part of Bearpark Parish Council's Christmas Events. We started our concert playing Slaidburn and Gresford to officially welcome the new Bearpark Banner into the church, it's home for the foreseeable future. We then continued the afternoon entertaining a full church with some carol singing and some new festive music. After our concert in the church, the band split so that half performed at the christmas tree in Bearpark and the other half went to the christmas tree in Ushaw Moor (at The Flass Inn) to help both villages turn on their Christmas tree lights. Today has seen the start of the 2025 Christmas Season for the band - performing at Dalton Park. The band played a variety of festive favourites to busy shoppers as they prepare for Christmas. A big thank you goes to you who dug deep in their pockets and donated to our bucket collection. Your support is greatly appreciated. Tonight has seen the band have it's AGM and Presentation of Awards. The following players below were awarded with service awards & individual awards.
Remembrance 2025 saw the band perform in certain events across the county, paying our respects in a variety of ways. On Thursday 6th November, our principal cornet player Michael Evans played the Last Post at Ushaw College's Service of Remembrance. On Sunday 9th November, the band were honoured to play at Sunderland Remembrance Parade, alongside the British Army Band Catterick. A big thank you goes to Iain, Ben and Brian for helping us out today - your help is very much appreciated. On Tuesday 11th November, our solo cornet player Joanna played the Last Post as part of the short service of Remembrance at the Pit Wheel in Bearpark. |
