Yorkshire Imperial Band


The Yorkshire Imperial Band, nicknamed the Yorkshire Imps, is a brass band from West Yorkshire, England. The band is listed as one of the top 10 bands of the second half of the 20th century in Dr Roy Newsome’s ‘The Modern Brass Band’.
Past players in the band include Cornet artist Philip McCann, Trombone virtuoso Ian Bousfield, and Euphonium artists Robert Childs, and Nicholas Childs.
The band have played at The Royal Albert Hall, Wembley Stadium and the World Music Festival in Kerkrade and have shared the concert stage with musicians Diana Ross, Eric Clapton, Barry Manilow and Shirley Bassey. In 2019 the band performed at BBC Countryfile Live which took place at Castle Howard, York.
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History

The Yorkshire Imperial Band was originally founded in 1936 as the Yorkshire Copper Works Band by the Yorkshire Copper Works company based in Stourton, Leeds. Kenneth Fraser was the band's first President. The band's first set of instruments, it is said, cost the company £2,500, but that was not their only expense because they also provided each member with two uniforms - one for the summer and one for the winter. Due to an industrial merger in 1958, between Yorkshire Imperial Metals and ICI Metals, the name was changed to The Band of Yorkshire Imperial Metals, but this was altered again in 1980 to IMI Yorkshire Imperial Band.
They had successive wins at Belle Vue - in 1970 under the direction of Trevor Walmsley DFC playing Herbert Howell's test piece 'Pageantry', and then again in 1971 playing Eric Ball's test piece 'Festival Music'. In 1978, under the direction of Denis Carr, they won their first national title playing 'Checkmate' by Sir Arthur Bliss.
Between 1970 and 1980 they had four major victories, Yorkshire area champions five times out of seven along with their triple success at the Edinburgh Festival Invitation Contest. In 1981 they won the Yorkshire Area Contest at St. George's Hall, Bradford.
When the Rothwell Band and Yorkshire Imperial Band merged in 1999, the name changed again to incorporate the name of their new sponsors and became the DUT Yorkshire Imperial Rothwell Band. In 2002 the name was revised to the shorter and more recognisable Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel Band. The Rothwell Temperance Band was founded in 1881, when the drinkers and non-drinkers of the Rothwell Model Band, established in 1841 or earlier, divided to form two bands, the other being the Rothwell Old Band. In 1999 it was renamed the Wallace Arnold Band, reflecting sponsorship by coach tour operator Wallace Arnold. The then "B" band retained the name Rothwell Temperance Band.
The band has added various titles including several Yorkshire Area titles, Brass in Concert Champions in 1995 and in 2005 the band were crowned "First Section National Champions of Great Britain" making the Imps the first band ever to win both a National and Lower Section National title. Under MD Garry Hallas, in 2024 the band was the "Yorkshire Area First Section Champions".
During its long history the band has been conducted by a number of well known names from the brass band world which included George Hespe, William Halliwell, H. Tompkins, A. H. Whitehead, B. Burns, Trevor Walmsley, Denis Carr, Peter Kitson, John Pryce Jones, James Scott, Ray Farr and Garry Hallas.
the band was ranked 13th in Yorkshire and 128th in the world in listings at the brass band website 4barsrest.com, and also ranked 97th in the world in the listings of BrassStats.com.

Recordings

The Yorkshire Imperial Band have a long history of successful recording contracts, dating as far back as the 1967 CBS Yorkshire Brass. Their most recent recording was released in May 2023 and is titled " Simply Imps" and includes titles such as Shostakovich's "Festive Overture", Andrew LLoyd Webber's "Don’t Cry For Me Argentina", and The Mamas & the Papas "California Dreamin’".
Some of the albums the band are included in are shown in the table below.
YearAlbum namePublisherNotes
2023Simply ImpsYorkshire Imperial Band
MD: Garry Hallas
2015Christmas with the Yorkshire ImpsCRS RecordsThe People's Friend
2006In Shining ArmourDoyenBrett Baker and Paul Woodward with Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel Band
MD: Chris Houlding
2006Beyond the Stars IIChameleon ArtsYorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel Band
MD: Roy Curran
2004Joy to the WorldChameleon ArtsYorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel Band with the Romsey Choral Society and Portsmouth Festival Choir
2003Brass in Concert Live 2003Doyen: DOYCD172Various
MD: David Evans
2003Now that's what I call Brass!World of Brass: CD-WOB102Various
2002Imps in ConcertDoyen: DOYCD145Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel Band
MD: David Evans
2000Brass from the New WorldWorld of BrassVarious
MD: David Hirst
1999Best of Brass - Popular Favourites Performed By The Greatest Brass BandsCastle Music LtdVarious
1998Beyond the StarsChameleon Arts 101CAMCDDUT Yorkshire Imperial Rothwell Band
MD: Simon Godfrey Wood
1998Virtuosity - Russel GrayBelburn Music LtdRothwell Band
MD: Thomas Wyss & Simon Wood
1996GalaxiesKirklees, KRCD1027IMI Yorkshire Imperial Band
MD: Ray Farr
1996Far and AwayPolyphonic, CPRL077DDUT Yorkshire Imperial Band
MD: Alan Exley
1993EndeavorDoyen: DOYCD006IMI Yorkshire Imperial Band
MD: David Hirst
1993Music for Brass: James CurnowWorld of BrassVarious
1992The Best of Listen to the Band - Vol 1Doyen: DOYCD016Various
MD: David Hirst
1992Versatile Virtuoso - Ian BousfieldDoyen: DOYCD014IMI Yorkshire Imperial Band
MD: Eric Crees
1991Space MovementsDe Haske RecordsIMI Yorkshire Imperial Band
MD: David Hirst
1989PageantryPolyphonicIMI Yorkshire Imperial Band
MD: James Scott
1988Sounds of the White RoseKirklees, KR1002DUT Yorkshire Imperial Band
MD: James Scott & Gary Cutt
1987British Bandsman Centenary ConcertChandos CHAN4513IMI Yorkshire Imperial Band
MD: Harry Mortimer & James Scott
1986Blue Rondo à la TurkKirklees, KRCD1014DUT Yorkshire Imperial Band
MD: Ray Farr
1984Yorkshire Imperial Band Play the Music of Noel GayNoal Gay Music LtdThe Yorkshire Imperial Band
MD: Ray Farr
1982ConcertoPolyphonicThe Yorkshire Imperial Band
Guest Soloist: Maurice Murphy Conducted by John Pryce-Jones & Peter Kitson
1980Mr Smith's Perennial FavouritesPolyphonicThe Yorkshire Imperial Band
MD: Major Peter Parkes
1979CheckmateTwo-Ten-RecordsThe Band of Yorkshire Imperial Metals
MD: Denis Carr
1978The Band of Yorkshire Imperial MetalsTwo-Ten-RecordsThe Band of Yorkshire Imperial Metals
MD: Denis Carr
197820 Brass Band FavouritesPickwick RecordsVarious
MD: Trevor Walmsley DFC
1976Golden Hour of TOP BRASSGolden Hour RecordingsVarious Bands including the Band of Yorkshire Imperial Metals
MD: Trevor Walmsley DFC
1976Superstar BrassPye RecordsThe Band of Yorkshire Imperial Metals
MD: Trevor Walmsley DFC
1975Brass InternationalPye RecordsThe Band of Yorkshire Imperial Metals
MD: Trevor Walmsley DFC
1974The Sound of Yorkshire ImperialSilverline RecordsThe Band of Yorkshire Imperial Metals
MD: Trevor Walmsley DFC
1973Yorkshire BrassEmbassy / CBS RecordsThe Band of Yorkshire Imperial Metals
MD: Trevor Walmsley DFC
1973Sound Of Brass Series Volume 6Decca Records LtdThe Band of Yorkshire Imperial Metals
MD: Trevor Walmsley DFC
1972Sound Of Brass Series Volume 2Decca Records LtdYorkshire Imperial Metals Band
MD: Trevor Walmsley DFC
1970Imperial BrassMarble Arch RecordsThe Band of Yorkshire Imperial Metals
MD: Trevor Walmsley DFC
1967Yorkshire BrassCBS, Inc.Yorkshire Imperial Metals Band
MD: Trevor Walmsley DFC

Contesting honours

National Championships of Great Britain – Winners 1978, Runners-up 1976
National Championships of Great Britain – Winners 2005
British Open Brass Band Championships – 4 wins: 1970, 1971, 1980, 1997*. Runners-up 1666
Yorkshire Area Regional Championships – 10 wins: 1968, 1970, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1988, 1993, 2024
Brass in Concert Championships – Winners 1995
BBC Band of the Year – Winners 1981
Granada Band of the Year – Runners-up: 1985, 1986
*As Rothwell Band