Gareth was introduced to brass playing at the age of 6 by his mother, Denise, initially following in her footsteps by playing the Tenor Horn. Soon after joining the East Riding Junior Brass Band, he opted to play Eb Bass, on a reduced-size Victorian instrument provided by his other band at the time, the Driffield Silver Band. During his teens, not only did he gain a new full-size bass, but he also progressed to the East Riding Youth Brass Band, and East Yorkshire Brass, going on three European tours, playing in many competitions and concerts, where he regularly featured as a soloist. He received the Norman Blades Memorial Trophy from Driffield Silver Band and the Margaret Spirit Trophy from the East Riding Youth Brass Band. 

On his arrival at university in Newcastle, Gareth joined the Northumbria Police Band working under the baton of conductors such as, David Hirst, Brian Grant, Roy Curran and Graham O’Connor. He went on further tours to Germany, was part of the ‘Best Bass Section’ winning the Bob Dales Memorial Trophy, and competed in the National Finals. He remained a member of the band until completing his Masters’ Degree at Leeds University. He relocated to London in September 2002, taking a break from banding until he was asked to ‘help out’ East London Brass. In August 2004, he joined Clacton-on-Sea Cooperative Band where he performed in two further National Final competitions. In 2005, Gareth additionally joined the ten-piece ensemble Harmony Brass, and the quintet Bespoke Brass. Gareth played with Redbridge Brass on their Listen To The Band recording for BBC Radio 2, and at Twickenham for the Powergen Cup Final. He also played with Aveley & Newham Brass Band on a recording with ‘The Guillemots’ for their latest album in the Air Studios in Hampstead. He competed at Butlins and the Grand Shield with Redbridge Brass in 2006, and joined Thundersley Brass Band, performing at the National Finals at Harrogate.

A career move has seen Gareth return to his East Yorkshire roots in December 2006, where he joined EYMS in January 2007. He now works for the East Riding of Yorkshire Council at County Hall in Beverley as a Senior Research Officer.

Previous Bands

Aunt Bessies East Yorkshire Brass

Northumbria Police Band

East London Brass

Clacton-on-Sea Cooperative Band

Redbridge Brass

Thundersley Brass Band

Calverton Colliery

Allerton Bywater Colliery

Ransomes

Stephen began his banding career in 1988 at the age of 12 with  the Horbury Victoria Youth Band, joining the senior band a couple of years later. He enjoyed many successes with them, including a solo appearance at the National Youth Championships in Salford, and playing at the 3^rd Section National Finals in the Royal Albert Hall in 2000. He still managed to continue playing with Horbury whilst at University in Ripon, where he trained to be a Primary School Teacher. 2001 brought a relocation to East Yorkshire and a move to play with the then Aunt Bessie’s East Yorkshire Brass (Now the East Riding of Yorkshire Band). He took a short break from banding at the end of 2003 (during which time he got married),  before receiving a request from the East Yorkshire Motor Services Band to help at the Grand Shield contest, and All England Masters in 2004, after which he was invited to join the band full time.  

Horbury Victoria Prize Band

Pete began his playing career at the age of 9, when he started to learn the Flugel Horn. This was to be a short lived experience as he swiftly moved down through the instruments, until at the age of 10 he joined The Lincoln Band on EEb Bass. In 1978, Pete moved to The Spillers (Gainsborough) Band, who had recently won the second section National Brass Band Championship Finals.

Taking a break from playing whilst he studied at the Hatfield Polytechnic, Pete joined the Beverley Borough Band, when a career move saw him relocate to the East Riding of Yorkshire. Pete was a founder member of East Yorkshire Brass, and switched to BBb Bass soon after joining the band. Having enjoyed contest success with East Yorkshire Brass, rising through the sections from Fourth section to Championship section. In 1996, he moved to local rivals, The Cottingham Band and enjoyed the same meteoric progress through the sections with them. Pete joined the East Yorkshire Motor Services Brass Band in December 2005. 

Pete works as a civil engineer with the East Riding of Yorkshire Council.

Previous Bands

The Lincoln Band

Spillers (Gainsborough) Band

Beverley Borough Band

East Yorkshire Brass

The Cottingham Band