Listen to the Band
We have a selection of "sound bites" from some of our more recent CDs to enable you to listen to the Band.
Band Vacancies
Assistant principal cornet
principal Eb bass
Contact
Secretary
News Letter
Autumn 2011
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News Items
ENGLISH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
PRESTON GUILD HALL, SAT 26TH JUNE 2011
The 2011 English National Championships brought together nine of the top ranked English bands to compete for the right to represent England at next years European Championships in Rotterdam and the title of English champions...[read more]
A FEAST OF SUMMER BRASS
The great British weather played its part in the bands recent series of summer events in Hepworth...[read more]
SADDLEWORTH WHIT FRIDAY MARCHES
Michael Howley led the band’s defence of its title at this years Saddleworth Whit Friday Marches.
The threat of inclement weather, that didn't quite materialise on the night meant that the villages seemed a little quieter than in previous years but nevertheless there was a strong line up of bands competing for the overall prize with Hepworth, Marsden, Rothwell Temerance, Leyland, Pemberton and Brighouse all out on the Saddleworth circuit.
Hepworth, playing George Allan’s march "The Wizard" finished with with three 2nds, two 3rds and a 4th for its six best results, giving the band 4th overall behind Marsden 3rd , Leyland 2nd and Brighouse 1st.
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Hepworth Takes Grand Shield Title at Spring Festival
Hepworth band made an immediate return to the British Open Championships in the most emphatic musical fashion by winning the Grand Shield for the second time in their history at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool on Saturday.
Directed by Russell Gray, they delivered a scintillating performance of Peter Grahams set work "On the Shoulders of Giants" to give them one of the most clear cut victories seen at the contest for many years.
"A super performance full of drama and detail - so musically shaped,"
wrote adjudicator Dr Robert Childs, whilst fellow judge, Malcolm Brownbill was equally effusive. "A very strong, very well presented performance. So musical and authoritative as required."
The band celebrated its qualification for the British Open with the players taking it in turn to raise the famous trophy high into the air on the Winter Garden’s stage amid the rousing strains of "Pratty Flowers".
Winning Musical Director Russell Gray congratulated the whole Hepworth organisation for what he called, "a great team effort". "The players have put in a great deal of hard work and the organisation has been first rate. All I had to do was put on the final layer of contest polish."
It’s a busy few months ahead for the band with the Spring and Summer contest season. It’s now straight into preparations for the Saddleworth Whit Friday Marches on 1st June and the English National Championships at Preston Guild Hall at the end of June.
GRAND SHIELD, WHIT FRIDAY & ENGLISH NATIONALS
It’s a busy few months ahead for the band with preparations well underway for the Spring and Summer contest season.
Spring Festival
First up is the Spring Festival at the Blackpool Winter Gardens in May, where the band will compete for the Grand Shield and an invitation to the British Open Championships.
Peter Graham's work "On the Shoulders of Giants" provides a tough challenge for the field of 20 bands, with Russell Gray back at the helm hoping to steer Hepworth into one of the two qualification places.
Whit Friday Marches
The famous Whit Friday Marches take place on 1st June with the prospect of over 100 bands being out on the circuit around the villages of Saddleworth and Tameside.
Phil Chalk leads the band as we look to repeat the success of recent years
.English National Championships
Mike Fowles returns to direct the band at the English National Championships at the Guild Hall, Preston at the end of June where 9 bands will compete for the English title and the prospect of representing the Country at the 2013
European Championships.
The contest follows last year’s format with the set piece, this year Phillip Wilby’s "Masquerade" in the morning and the own choice work in the afternoon.
Hepworth Feast
The traditional village feast celebrations on Monday 25th June brings a busy couple of months to a close and a well earned short break for the band before the Jubilee Summer Proms Concert in the village on 14th July.
Mike Howley stands down as resident of MD of Hepworth band.
Michael Howley has stood down as resident MD of the Hepworth band. Mike comments... "I’ve really enjoyed working with Hepworth as resident MD over the last 12 months. It’s been good experience for me, but I feel that the time is now right to develop my conducting career further and to pursue opportunities to work with bands for contests. I’d like to thank the band for all their support and wish them every success for the future"
Band Manager Steve Hopwood comments..."We’d like to thank Mike for his work with the band over the year and we wish him well for the future. The band is looking forward to the opening concert of its 2012 season in February and to working with Russell Grey and Mike Fowles again for the forthcoming contest season.
RUSSELL GRAY & MICHAEL FOWLES TO LEAD HEPWORTH FOR FORTHCOMING CONTEST SEASON
Russell Gray returns to lead the band at the Yorkshire Regional Championships at St George’s Hall, Bradford in March and at the Grand Shield at the Blackpool Winter Gardens in May.
Michael Fowles continues his association with the band, directing the band at the English National Championships at the Guild Hall, Preston in June.
The band is delighted to be working with Russell and Michael again for the 2012 contest season.
Hepworth Band Introduction
There has long been a strong tradition of brass bands and music making in the Holme Valley and Hepworth Band has been a part of this since its formation in 1882. The bands long history puts it amongst the oldest brass bands in the country and throughout this time it has enjoyed it’s fair share of contesting success.
Images by Ian Clowes
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www.goldysolutions.co.uk/
As well as the bands impressive record on the contest platform, it is equally at home on the concert stage, where it has gained a reputation for presenting varied,exciting and polished performances.
The band promotes its own annual concert series in venues around the Huddersfield area and also performs further afield in Championship Brass concert series promotions and Brass & Voices concerts with some of the Country’s leading Choirs. The flexibility of the brass band enables it to embrace a range of programme concepts, be it Classical Brass - Original Brass or Brass in Concert
Albert Hall 2009
Albert Hall 2011
