The Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band is a British brass band formed in 1881. The band is based in Brighouse, in Calderdale, West Yorkshire, England. The band is known across the world, and is regarded by many as the best and most consistent "public subscription band" in the world. They were the 2022 British Open champions, the current Brass in Concert, and Saddleworth Whit Friday champions, and were voted 2022 4Barsrest Band of the Year. The band are regarded as one of the finest brass bands in history, and are in high demand across the globe.
Throughout its history, the majority of premier band championships have been held by "Briggus", whilst the band has also attracted a formidable reputation for highly entertaining concerts for both the general public and brass band connoisseur.
The band was formed over 140 years ago in 1881, through public donations given by the townsfolk of the adjacent villages of Brighouse and Rastrick, that face each other across the River Calder in West Yorkshire, England.
Today, it still continues to be supported through public subscriptions and its own fund raising efforts. Its “amateur” members traditionally pride themselves on being financially independent, never having been beholden to any commercial interest, yet they are still regarded as one of the "elite" on the contest and concert platforms.
Since January 1995, the band has practised at their purpose-built hall and music library called West Ridings at Brighouse High School on Finkil Street in the north of Brighouse.
In 2009 (when conducted by Richard Evans), Brighouse and Rastrick achieved "Most Entertaining Band" at Brass in Concert. In 2010 (when conducted by Professor David King) they won the Regional Championship in Yorkshire, regarded as the strongest region for banding in the world[1] and the National Championships of Great Britain, a competition held at London's Royal Albert Hall, a feat replicated the following year, the Yorkshire Championship title in 2011 and the National Championship title. Along with the contest successes, followers of brass band website 4barsrest.com voted Brighouse & Rastrick and conductor David King "Band of the Year 2011" and "Conductor of the Year 2011" respectively.[2]
In 2012, the band were therefore aiming for a hat trick of wins at both events, only to be pipped to second place at each. With another second placing in Yorkshire and a fourth placing at the National Finals in 2013, it has taken until 2014 for B&R to reclaim the Yorkshire title under the leadership of David King. The band's principal cornet player Stuart Lingard was awarded the "Best Principal Cornet" for his contribution.
Since then, the band has had major successes across a number of contests, and has proven itself to be one of the finest brass bands in the world; while also maintaining a busy schedule of high profile performances across the UK and the globe.
In November 1977, the band reached number 2 in the UK Singles Chart with their recording of "The Floral Dance", where they stayed for six weeks, only surpassed at the time by "Mull of Kintyre" (the first UK single to sell more than two million copies, and third best selling UK single of all time).[3] It was arranged for the band by Derek Broadbent. The B-side was a version of "Girl with the Flaxen Hair", although some copies had a composition by Broadbent entitled "Bachelor Girls" as its B-side. The single also reached Number 37 on the Australian charts.[4] The corresponding album, The Floral Dance, reached Number 10 in the UK Albums Chart.[3] In 2016, the band performed the number on BBC One's The One Show special Terry Wogan tribute episode.[5] The piece is still a firm favourite with audiences to this day.
Musical Director - Professor David King
Australian by birth, David King has a distinguished career profile as an international conductor, instrumentalist, music educator and consultant spanning over 40 years.
David King was awarded the title ‘International Brass Musician of the Year’ in 1992 and completed his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in 2000 – the first recipient of a Performance research doctorate awarded within the British university sector. In 2003 he was awarded professorial status and prior to 2009 was Chair of Music – Performance at the University of Salford, England.
From 2004 – 2007 Professor David King was Course Director of the University of Salford MA music programme – the largest externally delivered music education programme linked with the Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom) and Her Majesty’s Royal Marines.
In 2002 Professor David King was appointed Conductor and Musical Director of the ‘Massed Bands of the North West of England’ performing in the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Manchester. He was also guest conductor at the World Expo, Switzerland 2002. David King has represented England in the European Brass Band Championships as a conductor on thirteen occasions winning the title an unprecedented ten times.
He has also won the Norwegian National Championships on ten occasions and has been awarded the Mortimer Award as winning conductor at the British Open Championships on four occasions (YBS Band) and the Royal Albert Hall National Championships of Great Britain in 2010, 2011 & 2017 (Brighouse & Rastrick Band).
Professor David King achieved an unprecedented ‘grand slam’ in 2003 as winning conductor at all four major international music festivals in the same year – Norwegian National Championships (Stavanger Band), European Championships (YBS Band), British Open Championships (YBS Band), and the North American National Brass Band Championships (Stavanger Band).
As Principal Conductor and Musical Director of the legendary YBS Band (1993 – 2006) David King’s performance research and recording portfolio includes a definitive three volume compilation, ‘Essays for Brass’ (Polyphonic Label), which has received unprecedented international acclaim within the World of Brass.
Regarded by his peers as a leading interpreter of wind music, Professor David King has commissioned, choreographed, directed and premiered award winning thematic projects for the concert platform working in collaboration with internationally acclaimed composers for the genre. These include Cry of the Celts, Voice of the Vikings, Hymn of the Highlands, Celtic Fusions, Symphonic Dances and War of the Worlds.
In 2005 Professor King conducted and directed the ‘Kings of Europe’ YBS Australian tour which culminated in the world premiere of two major commissioned works performed in the Sydney Opera House – Sunburnt Land (composer Professor Brenton Broadstock) and Terra Australis (composer Dr. Martin Ellerby).
A recipient of the Iles Medal from The Worshipful Company of Musicians (London), David King was awarded Emeritus Professorship by the University of Salford, UK in 2010.
For the past decade Professor King has maintained an active profile both as a freelance international conductor and music educator. From 2008 – 2015 he was Artistic Director of the National Australia Brass Festival (NABfest) and Music Director of Australia’s first National Youth Band (2013 – 2016).
Professor David King is currently the International Chair in Band Studies at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, UK. He is also Director of the National Australia Brass Academy and in 2018 was appointed Musical Director of the newly founded National Youth Brass Band of America.
David King is the current winning conductor of the North American National Championships (Fountain City Brass – Kansas, USA).
Resident Musical Director - Ian McElligott
A proud Yorkshire man with a background in military music, Ian rose to the rank of Major, and upon completion of a particularly successful and rewarding career as a Service musician, he relinquished his final appointment as Director of Music to the Regimental Bands of the Parachute Regiment, and the Band of her Her Majesty’s Coldstream Guards.
Between July 2002 and November 2003 and May through to September 2006 he was the Professional Conductor to the Brighouse and Rastrick Band. In 2007 he was appointed Musical Director to the Sandhurst Band, relinquished only to relocate to York in August, 2015. In January 2016, Ian was offered the exciting position of Resident Musical Director with Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band, an appointment he was thoroughly delighted to accept.
Ian has been the Resident Musical Director of the Brighouse and Rastrick Band since June 2022, and has been with the outfit during one of its most successful periods in history.
Other Conductors
Throughout the band’s long and illustrious history, there have been many conductors that have crossed the threshold of the West Yorkshire bandroom. Some of the most famous and successful conductors in the brass band world have been at the helm since 1881, including such names as:
Fred Berry
William Halliwell
Harry Mortimer
Eric Ball
Alex Mortimer
Walter Hargreaves
James Scott
Derek Broadbent
Geoffrey Brand
James Watson
Allan Withington
James Gourley
Richard Evans
Russell Gray
This is by no means an exhaustive list of all the conductors the band has had, yet shows the quality of musicians that the band attracts. Some of the very best and most renowned names have graced the band, and the band still continues to try to live up to their legacy to this day.
Principal Cornet
Tom Smith
Assistant Principal Cornet
Bethan Plant
Solo Cornets
Ginette Nurney
Nick Hamlett
Soprano Cornet
Martin Irwin
Repiano Cornet
Alicia Davis
Second Cornets
Samuel Gibson
Hayley Moore
Third Cornets
Natalie Morrison
Ian Broadbent
Flugel Horn
Mike Eccles
Solo Horn
Andy Moore
First Horn
Trevor McCormick
Second Horn
Ian Dust
Solo Baritone
Mick Morris
Second Baritone
Steve Cavanagh
Solo Trombone
Ellena Newton
Second Trombone
Charlotte Horsfield
Bass Trombone
Steve Lomas
Solo Euphonium
Chris Robertson
Second Euphonium
Luke Spence
E♭ Basses
Solo - Dave Hebb
2nd - Will Evans
B♭ Basses
Solo - Chris Hardy
2nd - Dave Long
Percussion
Sam Milton
Jon Kenna
Ross Alexander