News Items

A new ambassador in the band.

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Imogen Fewster

We are delighted to hear that our solo Baritone Player Imogen Fewster has been appointed as a Young Ambassador for Mercer and Barker mouthpieces.

Imogen started her playing career in the Shepherd Group Academy band and has progressed through our band organisation and is now our Solo Baritone player. She is a member of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain and has been the Principal Baritone player with the NYBBGB since 2021. This year Imogen won the Euphonium/Baritone section of the NYBBGB Katie Ogden solo competition and will represent her section in the concerto final at the forthcoming NYBBGB summer course playing the Ellerby Baritone Concerto.

We are so proud of Imogen and listening to her rehearsing her concerto piece in the bandroom before a recent rehearsal, the band were in awe at the virtuosity on display.

George Barker, one of the founders of Mercer and Barker mouthpieces said “We are looking forward to working with her and all the young ambassadors in the future. She’s a fabulous player”.

More details on the Young Ambassadors can be found on the Mercer and Barker Website along with details of their range of mouthpieces.

The website address is https://mercerandbarker.com

Shepherd Group Concert Band Require – A Kit Percussionist

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A Very Rare opportunity has arisen within The Shepherd Group Concert Band.

The Shepherd Group Concert Band are looking to recruit a KIT PERCUSSION PLAYER to join the ranks of our friendly band. We have a sensible concert programme, with the emphasis very much on quality entertaining concerts in a variety of exciting venues.

Our rehearsal facilities are second to none, based in York at the conference centre of the Head Office site of our sponsor, Shepherd Group. If you would like to find out more about the band, or just have an informal chat please contact our Musical Director, Mike Pratt on mikepratt61@gmail.com or call 07539522244.

Platimum Jubilee Concert Success!

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Jubilee Success!

What a fantastic night we had at the The Joseph Rowntree Theatre on June 18th. A packed out audience were treated to brilliant music, and super commitment from all 5 of the Shepherd Group Bands. It’s hard to pick out the highlights of the evening, but surely we have to mention the superb sounds we heard from the Youth Band who go from strength to strength. There was also the frankly mesmerising sound and spectacle of Scott Dawson demonstraing his exceptional skills on the Euphonium while managing to wave a flag. It was a performance that moved Mike Pratt to tears!

Speaking of Mike and the Concert Band, they never fail to entertain and after the concert there was a comment madeby a regular follower who comes all the way from Chesterfield for our concerts. He said “A great concert, but Mike Pratt’s jokes are getting worse.” Theres a challenge if we ever heard one. Next stop for the Concert Band is going to be Regents Park on July 3rd. Do the folk of London know what’s going to hit them?

The next outing for the Senior Band will be up in Durham for the Big Meet where they will lead the Silksworth Banner through the city.

Joint Concert with Black Dyke

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On February 5th 2023, the Senior Band will join forces with the World Famous Black Dyke Band from Queensbury near Bradford in order to raise money for York Against Cancer. This will be the second time the band has taken part in the York Against Cancer events with the last concert back in early 2020 with Brighouse and Rastrick.

This is a great opportunity to take in a great afternoon of Brass music held at York Grand Opera House, while contributing towards a great York charity. Do keep your eyes open for tickets, bookmark the date and we look forward to seeing you there.

Players perform to support Ukraine

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A group from Senior Band on stage at the Grand Opera House

A Group from our Senior Band were absolutely honoured to close the fantastic ‘Concert For Ukraine’ in York’s iconic Grand Opera House on May 24th, playing the Ukrainian national anthem.

The concert featured many of North Yorkshire’s finest cover bands, playing to a huge enthusiast audience.

Every penny raised by the concert will go the the DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Platinum Jubilee Concert

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Join five of the Shepherd Group Brass Bands as we celebrate HM Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee. 🇬🇧 
The concert will take at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre York, Saturday June 18th 7pm.
Grab your tickets now and don’t miss out 🎫 
👑🇬🇧🎺👑

https://www.josephrowntreetheatre.co.uk/whats-on/concert/platinum-brass/1517#

Instrument Amnesty

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With the increase of new members joining the Brass Academy we are starting to run short of instruments. 


We currently have a substantial list of missing instruments, some of which are still signed out to current and past members. 


This week we will be starting to contact ex players we believe to still have a loaned SGBB instrument. 
If you have more than one instrument at home not being used, or are an ex-member and still have a instrument, please drop off for me at the bandroom or contact me on 07973442249 or email richardwilton@nesyork.org to arrange collection. 


Your help and assistance in this matter would be very much appreciated, let’s keep the sound of Brass Alive at the SGBB organisation.

Spring Festival 2022

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The Senior Band made a return visit to Blackpool for the first time since 2019 when the the British Open Spring Festival returned to the contest calendar. The band performed Freedom by Hubert Bath in the Senior Cup after being promoted from the Senior Trophy in the 2019 contest. It seems such a long time ago that happened.

The test piece was originally chosen to mark the 100th spring festival but COVID intervened and the contest was delayed for 2 years. Freedom was originally written for the National Championships of 1922 so playing it in the Senior Cup 100 years later is still quite fitting.

It would have been great to come back with qualifiation for the Grand Shield next year, but the band produced a creditable 12th out of the 20 bands competing and saw a number of well known bands come below them. The result consolidates our place in the Senior Cup and will be something to build on next year.

A few photos from the day in Blackpool

Vacancies – Flugel Horn Senior Band

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Shepherd Group Brass Band Require – A flugelhorn Player.

A Very Rare opportunity has arisen within our North Of England Championship Section Band. The Shepherd Group Band are looking to recruit a FLUGELHORN PLAYER to join the ranks of our friendly band.

We have a sensible concert and contest diary, with the emphasis very much on quality entertaining concerts in a variety of exciting venues.

Our rehearsal facilities are second to none, based in York at the conference centre of the Head Office site of our sponsor, Shepherd Group.

If you would like to find out more about the band, or just have an informal chat please contact our Musical Director Richard Wilton richardwilton@nesyork.org or call 07973442249.

So proud of Imogen.

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Imogen being presented with her award at Harroogate Ladies College

The whole organisation are unbelievably proud of SGBB Principal Baritone Imogen Fewster, who recently attended The National Youth Brass Band Of Great Britain’s Easter course. After a seating audition with Euphonium Virtuoso Dr David Thornton, Imogen once again secured the solo Baritone seat. However, she didn’t stop there as she was later in the week awarded the Katie Ogden Euphonium/Baritone prize playing Vassily Brandt’s Concert Piece for trumpet. Imogen will now represent the Euph/Bari section in the concerto final held at the summer course in late July/August, where she will perform Martin Ellerby’s Baritone Concerto. 

The principal players at the easter NYBBGB course


The Easter course was held at Harrogate Ladies College and saw 70 of the best young brass and percussion players in the country attend. 
Well done Imogen.  


If any of our young players are interested in audition details for both the NYBBGB or the NYBB Children’s Band, please speak to Richard or Imogen.