Stape Silver Band, your local brass band based in Pickering, needs your help! After a successful year last year representing the North of England in the National Brass Band Championships in Harrogate, the band is now trying to raise its profile in the area in order to attract new players to its line up. Since the National Finals in September 2010 the band has lost a number of players to university, family and work commitments, meaning our team is less than complete.

          The band has been in operation for over 125 years and since starting to compete in the Regional Brass Band Contest held each year in March, we have always fielded a band with some notable successes. Unfortunately this year the band needs players in many areas of the band in order that they can compete. Band Chairman, Tanya Rex, says “The band just can’t compete without a full line-up; it would be like a football team only playing 10 players and no goal keeper! The band has this year been promoted to the 3rd Section and therefore wants to attend the contest and put out the best band they can, to show their skills against tough competition. Unfortunately as the band stands we will not be able to attend the contest at all, which is a great shame for the players that remain and love to compete.”

          Brass bands in the UK have declined over the past 30 years to the point that they have died out in many towns and villages. Stape Silver Band are desperate to maintain the organisation in the local area, and provide a place for people to learn music, whatever the age of person. We have a thriving learners section which will hopefully provide members for the senior band in the future, but right at the moment we need to attract competent players to the band.

          The band is a real family friendly bunch, with at least 3 family groups all playing within the band. They enjoy the contesting as it provides a real focus each year in improving the level of the band. Members of the band pay £15 per year subscriptions and are given a good quality instrument and uniform.

          The band would like to hear from  anyone who plays a brass instrument and fancies joining our team in both contests and concerts throughout the year. Any players who have played in the past and fancy rekindling the hobby should also get in touch. The band meets on Tuesday and Thursday nights between 7.30pm and 9.30pm at its own bandroom in Pickering.

If you are interested in joining the band and helping them to achieve their wish of fielding a band for the Regional contest please contact them by email on: stapesilverband@btinternet.com  and a member of the band will be in touch.

Christmas Carol Playing 2010.

          Stape Silver Band would like to thank all residents of Pickering who donated during our Christmas Carol playing around the town’s residential area. The band   battled with the cold wintry weather and even had to give up a couple of nights due to the instruments freezing up! Despite this the donations collected will be a great help in purchasing new music and instruments. Thanks again for your continued support.

 Tanya Rex, Band Chairman.