The Yorkshire Imperial Band, nicknamed the Yorkshire Imps, is a brass band from West Yorkshire, England, conducted by Ian McElligott. 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.
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 (National Champions 1978, and British Open Champions), 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 (Rothwell) 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 and 2024 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.
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 and Ray Farr.. Imps is currently under the baton of Ian McElligott, who is the Musical Director of the band while also working as Musical Consultant for Brighouse & Rastrick Band.
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 namePublisherNotes2023Simply ImpsYorkshire Imperial Band2015Christmas with the Yorkshire ImpsCRS RecordsThe People's Friend2006In Shining ArmourDoyenBrett Baker and Paul Woodward (Trombones) with Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel Band MD: Chris Houlding2006Beyond the Stars IIChameleon ArtsYorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel Band MD: Roy Curran2004Joy to the WorldChameleon ArtsYorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel Band with the Romsey Choral Society and Portsmouth Festival Choir 2003Brass in Concert Live 2003Doyen: DOYCD172Various (inc Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel Band) MD: David Evans2003Now that's what I call Brass!World of Brass: CD-WOB102Various (inc Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel Band)2002Imps in ConcertDoyen: DOYCD145 Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel Band MD: David Evans2000Brass from the New WorldWorld of BrassVarious (inc Yorkshire Imperial Band) MD: David Hirst1999Best of Brass – Popular Favourites Performed By The Greatest Brass BandsCastle Music LtdVarious (inc The Band of the Yorkshire Imperial Metals)1998Beyond the StarsChameleon Arts 101CAMCDDUT Yorkshire Imperial Rothwell Band MD: Simon Godfrey Wood1998Virtuosity – Russel GrayBelburn Music LtdRothwell Band (Leeds) MD: Thomas Wyss & Simon Wood1996GalaxiesKirklees, KRCD1027IMI Yorkshire Imperial Band MD: Ray Farr1996Far and AwayPolyphonic, CPRL077DDUT Yorkshire Imperial Band MD: Alan Exley1993EndeavorDoyen: DOYCD006IMI Yorkshire Imperial Band MD: David Hirst1993Music for Brass: James CurnowWorld of BrassVarious (inc Yorkshire Imperial Band)1992The Best of Listen to the Band – Vol 1Doyen: DOYCD016Various (inc Yorkshire Imperial Band) MD: David Hirst1992Versatile Virtuoso – Ian BousfieldDoyen: DOYCD014IMI Yorkshire Imperial Band MD: Eric Crees1991Space MovementsDe Haske RecordsIMI Yorkshire Imperial Band MD: David Hirst1989PageantryPolyphonicIMI Yorkshire Imperial Band MD: James Scott1988Sounds of the White RoseKirklees, KR1002DUT Yorkshire Imperial Band MD: James Scott & Gary Cutt1987British Bandsman Centenary ConcertChandos CHAN4513IMI Yorkshire Imperial Band MD: Harry Mortimer & James Scott1986Blue Rondo à la TurkKirklees, KRCD1014DUT Yorkshire Imperial Band MD: Ray Farr1984Yorkshire Imperial Band Play the Music of Noel GayNoal Gay Music LtdThe Yorkshire Imperial Band MD: Ray Farr1982ConcertoPolyphonicThe Yorkshire Imperial Band Guest Soloist: Maurice Murphy Conducted by John Pryce-Jones & Peter Kitson1980Mr Smith's Perennial FavouritesPolyphonicThe Yorkshire Imperial Band MD: Major Peter Parkes1979CheckmateTwo-Ten-RecordsThe Band of Yorkshire Imperial Metals MD: Denis Carr1978The Band of Yorkshire Imperial MetalsTwo-Ten-RecordsThe Band of Yorkshire Imperial Metals MD: Denis Carr197820 Brass Band FavouritesPickwick RecordsVarious (inc The Yorkshire Imperial Band) MD: Trevor Walmsley DFC1976Golden Hour of TOP BRASSGolden Hour RecordingsVarious Bands including the Band of Yorkshire Imperial Metals MD: Trevor Walmsley DFC1976Superstar BrassPye RecordsThe Band of Yorkshire Imperial Metals MD: Trevor Walmsley DFC1975Brass InternationalPye RecordsThe Band of Yorkshire Imperial Metals MD: Trevor Walmsley DFC1974The Sound of Yorkshire ImperialSilverline RecordsThe Band of Yorkshire Imperial Metals MD: Trevor Walmsley DFC1973Yorkshire BrassEmbassy / CBS RecordsThe Band of Yorkshire Imperial Metals MD: Trevor Walmsley DFC1973Sound Of Brass Series Volume 6Decca Records LtdThe Band of Yorkshire Imperial Metals MD: Trevor Walmsley DFC1972Sound Of Brass Series Volume 2Decca Records LtdYorkshire Imperial Metals Band MD: Trevor Walmsley DFC1970Imperial BrassMarble Arch RecordsThe Band of Yorkshire Imperial Metals MD: Trevor Walmsley DFC1967Yorkshire BrassCBS (USA), 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 (First Section) – Winners 2005
British Open Brass Band Championships – 4 wins: 1970, 1971, 1980, 1997* (Grand Shield). Runners-up 1666
Yorkshire Area Regional Championships – 10 wins: 1968, 1970, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1988, 1993, 2024 (1st section)
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
References
External links
Results in contests 1938–present