Happy New Year from Bearpark & Esh Colliery Band

Wow what a year 2016 was for the Band. It started off with appointing our new conductor Peter in January. We then hit contesting time and came 2nd at the North of England Brass Band Championships, which meant we qualified for the National Finals in Cheltenham for the second year running.

Devastation hit when sadly Ray Evans passed away in April. The Band pulled together and continued into the summer performing in lots of prestigious locations such as Fountains Abbey, Durham Cathedral and Ushaw College. We enjoyed performing with DMA Band in the Durham Hymns project. September came along and we were proud to represent the North East at the National Finals as we came home being the 19th best 3rd section band in the country. This is something we are proud of. We then hit the recording studio in November and started recording half of our new CD.

Christmas arrived and the Band have been extremely busy raising money to go towards the day to day running of the Band. The Band continues to be very popular with the general public with lots of bookings for 2017.

We would like to say a big thank you for all the support everyone has given the band throughout 2016 and Here is to a healthy and prosperous 2017 to all of our followers and supporters. We look forward to the challenges being promoted to the 2nd section will bring and all the opportunities awaiting us this year.