March 2024
Our journey into the Third Section has started with a very commendable 4th place. This consolidates our place in the Third Section where we will sit in 3rd place when the 2024 gradings are announced.
This amazing journey would not be possible without our conductor at the contests, John Hopkinson. He inspires every player to play to the best of their ability and we all respect his dedication. Thank you also to our supporters. It is really good to know that there are people in the audience routing for us.
September 2023
Our fundraising journey is nearly over for this year. Thank you to everyone who supported us during this exciting adventure. We travelled to Cheltenham on Friday 15th September to prepare for our section on Saturday 16th September and after been drawn to play in 16th place we achieved a credible 3rd place. This means we are the top fourth section band in Yorkshire and the 3rd best Fourth Section band in the country. Our adventure going forwards is to be promoted to the Third Section from January 2024. Please keep following us, and if we are in your area please come and say hello.
June 2023
Our fundraising journey starts here!!
This September, we will be representing Yorkshire in The National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain, for the 2nd year running! It doesn’t come cheap though, as we will need a coach to get us all down there and a hotel to stay in! We succeeded in fundraising for our new uniforms, which make us look very professional, but now we need your help so we can get down to the Finals in Cheltenham and represent our lovely Village!
Please scan the QR code or click the link below where you will be able to find our GoFundMe. There are also other ways you can help us on our fundraising journey to the National Finals, so please give us a follow on our social media to find out more!
April 2023
As you may have seen in national brass band media, Gavin Somerset will be stepping down as the Musical Director of Oughtibridge Brass Band.
Gavin has had 12 successful years conducting the band and made his decision after leading us to two consecutive Regional Championship victories and another trip down to the National Brass Band Finals in September.
Gavin said, ‘It was an incredibly hard decision to make, however my four children are now at that young age where they’re just getting into everything – and I don’t want to miss out!’
‘I knew one day the time would come to step aside, however I didn’t want to do that until I knew the band were in a good place. Right now, they have a full complement of players with excellent attendance at rehearsals, two amazing years on the contest stage with 6th place at the Nationals last year, another trip to Cheltenham to look forward to in the autumn and promotion as well. I know whoever comes in to take over from me will be walking into a very special band and in an amazing position’.
‘My personal thanks go to each of the players over the last 12 years who have been part of the journey.’
Gavin has been a vital part of the band over the past 12 years and we are sorry to see him go, but it is for the right reasons and completely understandable. The band’s successes over the past couple of years are in no small part down to Gavin’s musical talent and his ability to get just what he wants from the players. Gavin will not become a stranger to the band and has kindly offered to help us appoint a new musical director with the skills and experience to build on these achievements as we move up to the third section.
We wish Gavin and his family all the very best for the future.
Please feel free to post below your good wishes for Gavin.
May 2020
The funeral of one of our long serving members of the band, Bob Croft will take place on Saturday 30th May at 10am. The band will be paying their respects (social distanced of course) ourside the band room at approximately 9.30am. Anyone who would like to join us will be very welcome. If you currently play we would like you to wear your uniform to honour this amazing gentleman
