Derwent Brass is one of the recent success stories in East Midlands brass banding. Formed in 1992 with the aim of establishing a quality brass band in Derby, Derwent Brass very quickly established itself as a most popular concert attraction. With a wide reaching repertoire from overture to big band, hymns to Broadway hits, and of course quality original brass music. The band
upholds this reputation and is constantly in demand to perform at various venues throughout the region.
Over recent years in addition to the usual local concerts, the band has included performances in the Derby Assembly Rooms and Derby Cathedral, Harrogate, London Royal Parks, Loughborough Town Hall and Burton Town Hall. The tuba soloist Robin Norman, trombone virtuosi Chris Jeans and international euphonium soloist Steven Mead have all performed with Derwent Brass (Robin Norman recorded Tuby the Tuba with the band) . The band has worked & performed under the batons of distinguished conductors including Richard Evans, David Hirst, Russell Gray and Dr Robert Childs
The band was selected to provide the music for the NHS Golden Jubilee Celebrations in Derby, and appears regularly with the Derby Hospitals Choir in the annual Christmas concert at Derby Assembly
rooms. The band were invited by the Derbys Constabulary Male Voice Choir to join them in their Golden Jubilee Celebration concert also held in Derby Assembly Rooms and the band was selected by the Chief Constable.of Derbyshire to perform at the National Chief Police Officers Conference Banquet held at Chatsworth House.
In 2008 Derwent Brass shared the stage in a successful concert with the world famous Treorchy Male Voice Choir
In the recording studio Derwent Brass made a Christmas CD with the Derby Choral Union (Sounds Like Christmas) and in 2002 to celebrate the 10th Anniversary the band released a CD of
popular music including overtures, solos, film musis and big band, called Celebration) - Due to high demand this CD needed to be re-pressed when all stocks were sold! Subsequently a further Christmas CD was released called The Wonder of Christmas. This was followed with another CD titled Big Band Big Screen featuring well known movie themes and the ever popular big band swing music
Derwent Brass has also been extremely successful on the traditional brass band contest scene, being originally a 3rd section band and achieving Championship section status in 2004.. The route to this success included holding number one position in both 2nd & 3rd section league tables consecutively and four appearances at the Boosey & Hawkes National Championship Finals, achieving the runner up prize in that national competition in 1998 and 4th in 2002. The band have won local competitions over the years and soloists from the band have been regularly recognised. At the Dronfield invitation entertainment contest the band took first prize at their first visit along with the soloist prize awarded to principal cornet David Neville. The first Championship section victory came in 2004 when the band won the Gloucestershire Association contest, also being awarded prizes for best overall instrumentalist, best flugel and best euphonium.
In 2007 Derwent Brass were awarded the runner-up prize at the Preston Brss band contest, Championship, and quickly followed this with another 2nd place at the Area contest and subsequent promotion back to the Championship section. The band were then crowned Buxton Festival Champions after winning the Championship Section of that contest.
