Three groups from Harrogate and District Tewit Youth Band had a successful trip to Northampton last weekend for the National Youth Band Championships of Great Britain.

The group’s Tewit Junior Band, Tewit Intermediate Band and Tewit Senior Band were all awarded for their efforts.

Tewit Junior Band, comprising of eight to 11-year-olds who have never performed in a competition setting before played a 15 minute programme under musical director Allan Briggs.

Adjudicators praised the young musicians, saying “this was what banding should be all about”. They were awarded a merit.

The junior band with musical director Allan Briggs.

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Tewit Intermediate Band, performing under musical director Rebecca Marshall, they played circus-themed The Big Top before soloist Ella Simpson played The Lazy Trumpeter.

The adjudicators liked it so much they awarded her the title best soloist for the section. Overall the intermediates came second.

Tewit Senior Band with musical director Richard Marshall

The Tewit Senior Band performed in the last section against some of the top youth bands in the country, including bands from specialist music colleges.

Alongside musical director, Richard Marshall, the band played a programme that included a solo performance from 16-year-old tenor horn player, George Fearnley.

George was named best soloist for the competition and the band placed third with a gold adjudication for their efforts.

President Colin Gibbs said it was “an amazing achievement with such strong competition”.

Tewit Silver Band has won national recognition for a second consecutive year.

The band, which was only formed three years ago to give ex and current Tewit Youth Band members the opportunity to play in at a higher level, won the third section of the National Brass Band Championships in Cheltenham.

The result promotes the band to the second section next year and means it has now gone from fourth section to second section in consecutive years.

Band member Owen James also won the soloist award for his rendition of the test piece called Kaleidoscope.

A total of 61 bands and 2,000 performers took part in the event.

Tewit Silver Band has now won all but one of the competitions it has entered. The most recent competition pitted it against 15 other bands.

The band has a concert booked at Starbeck Methodist Church on Saturday, November 13 and will also perform its annual carol concert at Stockeld Park.

Colin Gibbs, chairman of Tewit Silver Band, said that the adjudicators gave extremely positive feedback about the band, such as ‘an almost flawless performance’.

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Jayne Fearnley, Tewit Silver Band secretary, said:

“Like all bands we were unable to play for many months due to covid but we remained a strong unit. Players practiced at home, we met once a week on zoom to address the social needs of our members and we returned to the band room as a full, committed band making this win a very proud moment.

“Tewit Youth Band has long been a successful formula, but once players reach the age of 18, they have to leave. Whilst many of our young members move onto university, plenty stay local. Tewit Silver Band offers the perfect solution: they can continue playing in a safe a secure and familiar setting alongside experienced players who mentor them.”

Tewit Youth Band is holding an open day tomorrow from at The Methodist Chapel in Huby from 2pm to 5pm.

For more information on Tewit Silver Band, click here.

Tewit Youth Band‘s first public performance for 18 months yesterday coincided with a huge thunderstorm in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens.

Because band members had to be spaced two metres apart die to covid, over half were outside the bandstand on the grass and fully exposed to the downpour.

Despite this, the band played on and completed the entire programme.

The local was joined by the world famous brass band Black Dyke Band, which filled in for some Tewit members who were isolating due to covid.

They were halfway through the programme when the heavens opened.

Colin Gibbs president of Tewit Youth Band, said:

“The band played on through it all and fully completed their program, which was exceedingly appreciated by the audience who bravely stayed on under cover of umbrellas and waterproofs.

“Their musical director, Martin Hall, and those band members out in the open were completely saturated but were delighted to have been able to play in a live concert for the first time in 18 months due to lockdown. A credit to the youth of today.”

Musical director Martin Hall

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After the youth band’s performance, Black Dyke Band took to the bandstand alone and due to its smaller size all of the musicians could fit under the shelter.

The concert was funded by Arts Council England‘s Culture Recovery Fund, which awarded Black Dyke Band a grant to play with a budding group of its choice.

The Tewit Band practises at the old Methodist Chapel in Huby. It has about 100 members and four groups ranging in ages.

Young Harrogate musicians will play alongside one of the most famous brass bands in the world at a free concert in Valley Gardens next month.

Tewit Youth Band will join Black Dyke Band at the event at 3pm on July 4.

The event aims to kickstart live performances again after almost 18 months of lockdown.

The concert has been funded by Arts Council England‘s Culture Recovery Fund, which awarded Black Dyke Band a grant to play with a budding group of its choice.

Tewit Youth Band, which is a charity that encourages young people to learn brass and percussion instruments, meets on Wednesday evenings in an old Methodist Chapel in Huby. It has about 100 members.

Many former members have gone on to play for the country’s top brass bands.

It has four groups ranging from ages six to 18 and its senior band will perform at this event.

Colin Gibbs, president of the Tewit Youth Band for 30 years, said:

“We’ve always had a friendly link with the Black Dyke Band, with a couple of our former members going on to join their ranks.

“So when they were given a grant from the Arts Council, they chose to come and do a concert with us, which is very exciting for everyone.”

Black Dyke Band, which is based in Bradford, dates back to 1855 and has included some of the world’s most talented conductors and musicians.

The Queen’s Birthday Honours list has been revealed with several residents across the district awarded for their contributions.

MBE

Rachel Louise Bowes, has been made a MBE for services to the community during the coronavirus pandemic under her role as assistant director for care and support, North Yorkshire County Council.

Christopher John Bentley, from Harrogate, has been made an MBE for services to business and culture.

Kathleen Shirley Clegg, from Harrogate, has been made an MBE for services to prisoners.

Colin William Gibbs, from Harrogate, will receive a BEM honour this year for voluntary service to young people. He has been one of the driving forces behind Tewit Youth Band for almost four decades.

As president of the group for 29 years, he has been part of its ambition to provide instruments, musical tuition and uniforms to all children, whatever their background. Colin and the committee are always finding new ways to raise money for the band, as well as local charities.

With the help of a private investor, Colin was able to secure a 125-year lease on a building to ensure the band can continue offering “a place for everyone”.

On receipt of his honour, Colin said:

“It was very unexpected but I am delighted. It all started when my son wanted to play a brass instrument, I started helping volunteering and working with the band.

“When my son turned 18 he left and the band was going through a hard time and they asked me to take over. I knew I couldn’t let it disappear so I got stuck in straight away.

“As a president I am there to keep it going, we sing for our supper and are always performing to raise money.”

Colin said the honour was also in recognition of the band and the “hard-working committee”. Following lockdown, Tewit Youth Band has only just started rehearsing in quartets, to comply with the rule of six, but it hopes to resume full rehearsals as soon as possible.