Garforth Brass keeps community music alive

Garforth Brass is expanding opportunities for local musicians in East Leeds after receiving a £1,000 grant from a local community fund.

The four-figure sum comes from the community benefits fund linked to the Hook Moor Wind Farm, which is owned by ERG and managed by OnPath Energy.

The training band was launched a decade ago after the group noticed a decline in brass players as musical education became less of a priority in schools. Today it offers free instrument loans and tuition to people of all ages, from complete beginners to former players returning to music.

Garforth Brass treasurer Janet Lymath said: “Brass bands are a big part of Yorkshire’s heritage, especially in relation to our former mining villages, but there are far fewer opportunities available in schools and elsewhere for people to learn how to play brass instruments.

“Our training band is part of working to keep this legacy alive, both in terms of helping musicians progress to the standard required for our competition band and also for enjoying playing and performing with other people just for the joy that it brings.” 

Around 20 people currently attend the weekly Wednesday evening sessions. Some have gone on to join Garforth Brass’s competition band, while others perform in community concerts that help raise money for the group’s running costs.

Melissa Falconer, Head of Business Development UK at ERG, said the company saw the wind farm as a “shared asset” between the business and the local community, supporting both clean energy and local organisations.

The funding has also given the band confidence to plan ahead.

The band is now encouraging people of all ages to come along and try the training sessions.

Tom Chaplin, Partnership and Community Manager at OnPath Energy, said: “Garforth Brass is making a brilliant contribution to musical education within its community and the excellent results of their approach can be clearly seen, as well as heard.”