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York RI Golden Rail Band is a non-contesting brass band based in central York

We are a versatile brass band and play a wide range of engagements, from outdoor concerts in the grounds of stately homes and beautiful parks and gardens to marching for Remembrance Day and memorial concerts. We play on bandstands from Pocklington to Goole and have played prestigious venues including York Minster, Joseph Rowntree Theatre and the National Centre for Early Music (NCEM). We love playing community concerts, whether it's a village Christmas carol concert or to boost your local fete or fayre. 

For the latest news about the Golden Rail Band, please go to our News area.

For up-to date pictures & videos, please visit our Facebook page and our YouTube channel.

Golden Rail celebrates 40th anniversary in style!

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The Golden Rail Band is rounding off its 40th anniversary year with more ambitious concerts for the autumn and winter seasons.

Coming up on 19 October 2024, the band will be playing Tockwith Church near York, reprising 'The Mouse in the Moon', an original story for brass band penned by Music Director Nicholas Eastwood that was premiered at The Citadel in York recently.

On Friday 1 November, the band will perform a special anniversary concert at the stunning National Centre for Early Music with a programme that celebrates the band's railway connections, as well as telling an original story with narrator and soundtrack. Tickets for this concert are being kept deliberately low at just £5 to ensure the concert is accessible for everyone. 

Saturday 7 December sees us kicking off the festive season in style with Leeds Male Voice Choir for a concert celebrating the Spirit of Christmas at Selby Abbey, another glorious venue.

We'll also be playing carols for the ever-popular Community Carol Concert  at York Barbican on Sunday 15 December - always a wonderful family occasion, and a real honour for the band to be returning to the Barbican again!


York band and choir sound brass and voices

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Two of York’s well-loved music ensembles reunited on 20 September 2024 following a rapturously received sell-out 2023 concert saw them hailed as ‘outstanding’, ‘superb’ and ‘cracking value’ by fans on social media.

York RI Golden Rail Band and the York Philharmonic Male Voice Choir performed Sounding Brass and Voices  at The Citadel in York – and this time the programme included a brand-new story for brass band, written by Golden Rail’s conductor Nick Eastwood.

‘The Mouse and the Moon’ is the story of Theo, a mouse who thinks the moon is made of cheese and plans to plunder the moon to stock his larder but bites off more than he can chew on his lunar adventure.

Blending sound effects with narration, the tale is a structure around which the band plays a set of music from David Bowie, Kate Rusby, the Rolling Stones, and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, as well as classic brass and lush big-band style swing.

“It’s a bit of a homage to Wallace and Gromit,” said Nicholas. “It’s family friendly, but there’s something there for absolutely everybody.

“What’s so special about the concert is that it's an amalgamation of a choir and a brass band, those two synonymous sounds coming together, and that’s a glorious combination.”

The pairing with York Philharmonic Male Voice Choir, who performed their own set as well as some joint pieces, has proved a successful one – this was the third time choir and band have come together to demonstrate the uplifting sound of brass and voices.  The first time was in 2020, three weeks before the first national lockdown in the UK, and then again last year, both times at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre.

“There's nothing quite as evocative as a brass band mixed with a male voice choir,” said Nick, and Mike Wash, Chair of York Philharmonic Male Voice Choir, agrees.

“We can’t think of a better way of celebrating a very successful year than a collaboration with of one of York’s premier brass bands,” he said. “Together we make a great sound and separately we delight our audiences.”

Watch a promotional video interview (with music): https://youtu.be/hyLLnv1-6bw?si=gqzQHDtgZcU0zm35

Photo: Keith Meadley Photography

In memoriam: Hilary Meadley

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We are devastated to lose our beloved Golden Rail Band player Hilary Meadley (pictured here on the right, with fellow second cornet player Hen Goodchild), who died in the early hours of 15 July 2024. 
Hilary, who was also a founding member of the York RI Development Band, became an absolute stalwart of the York RI Golden Rail Band; a wonderful woman who always had a beautiful smile - as you can see here - a down-to-earth sense of humour, and a great appreciation of music and culture. Glamourous, sociable, and full of vitality, Hilary was an inspiration, setting an example for any adult wanting to take up music, having come to brass bands later in life herself. She started in 2010 aged 68, and, after briefly trying the tenor horn, settled on the cornet, taking it on with  typical determination and dedication. She continued to have regular brass lessons with private tutor Anna Marshall and progressed from the front row of the Development Band to Golden Rail, initially on third cornet before moving up to second. 
Together with husband Keith (band chauffeur, photographer, and much more) she fully embraced banding. She was also a regular with all-women band Femmes Fortissimo, went to rehearsals with a Dales band when she was on holiday, and latterly joined Malton White Star Band as well, initially as a dep and then on a regular basis. For a woman who often confessed to being nervous, there was no stopping Hilary!
Golden Rail conductor Nicholas Eastwood said: "Hilary always said that brass banding meant so much to her. But it was entirely reciprocated within Golden Rail. We are all entirely grief-stricken at her sudden and unexpected passing. Hilary's friendly and welcoming nature encouraged those around her, and her iconic laugh always filled the bandroom with joy and happiness. Losing her has left a huge void in our lives."
The band is honoured to be asked by Keith and family to be 'Hilary's Band' and play at her funeral at Holy Trinity Church in Micklegate, York, on 5 August, alongside players from Malton White Star and other bands.
Rest in peace, dear Hilary.

York bands make 'Beautiful Noise' for charity

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An “entertaining and surprising” introduction to brass music was provided by two of York’s brass bands, who came  together to make a ‘Beautiful Noise’ at Bootham School.

 

Some of Bootham’s own brass students also joined with York RI Golden Rail Band and Shepherd Group Concert Brass Band for the family-friendly concert on Sunday 12 May, profits from which were donated to York Against Cancer.

 

The bands demonstrated the many styles and genres that modern brass bands play, with an emphasis on pop, soul, funk, movie theme tunes and songs from musicals.

 

“From Chaka Khan to Chicago, and Robbie Williams to Elton John, the concert had something for everyone – except, on this occasion, traditionalists,” said Golden Rail Band’s conductor Nicholas Eastwood.


 “Sunday afternoon brass band concerts tend to be known for marches, hymn tunes and overtures, and, while we like playing those too, this, intentionally, had a different kind of vibe. We wanted to show how versatile and fun modern brass bands can be - and judging by the audience's enthusiastic reaction, we succeeded!"


Photo: Keith Meadley

 

Golden Rail Band celebrates 40th anniversary with special recording 

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Golden Rail Band is marking its 40th anniversary this year with a programme of special concerts and events.

First up is a recording for East Leeds-based Chapel FM's brass band show, From the Bandroom - which, of course, took take place in the York RI bandroom at Queen Street in York.  The band played a concert programme devised by MD Nicholas Eastwood and former players were invited to join in.

"It was a great opportunity for a bit of a reunion, especially before the old bandroom gets demolished," said Nick.  
"I really enjoyed conducting it - we made a powerful sound with that many players!"


Terry Suthers remembered

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We are sad to share news of the death of Golden Rail Band player Terry Suthers, who passed away at home after a long illness on 24 March 2024.

Terry, who joined Golden Rail in 2012, was coaxed back to the cornet and brass bands (an early passion) following an encounter with brass players at a ‘Late Learners’ jazz workshop at the National Centre for Early Music in 2011.

He soon became a stalwart on the back row, contributing enthusiastically to the life and music of the band. Together with Golden Rail Band players Bruce Jackson and Kate Lock and composer David Lancaster he formed Brassed On York, an organisation promoting brass band events. They staged the Proms in the Gardens on the York Mystery Plays stage in the Museum Gardens as part of the York 800 celebrations in 2012 with York Railway Institute Band and Shepherd Group Brass Band. The team subsequently co-ordinated brass band concerts across the region for the Tour de Brass as part of the Yorkshire Festival in 2014, including a Yorkshire Prom with the world-famous Black Dyke Band.

In later years, Terry switched instrument to the euphonium, which he enjoyed playing as part of a quartet with fellow musicians Bruce Jackson, Chris Stockton and John Stuart, something that continued to give him pleasure, company, and solace during his illness.

Terry was well connected, much respected, and well loved, professionally and personally. A conservator and archaeologist by training, he had been Director of the Yorkshire Museum, Assistant Director and Head of Public Services at the national Science Museum, and the CEO and director of Harewood House Charitable Trust in Leeds. He became Deputy Lieutenant for West Yorkshire in 2005 and was awarded an MBE for his services to museums and heritage in 2011.

“Terry Suthers was the epitome of the word ‘gentleman’,” said Nicholas Eastwood, Musical Director of Golden Rail Band. “He always knew what to say, and in such a positive, caring way, full of verve and enthusiasm. The selfless time and effort he put into everything he did leaves a legacy that we can be truly grateful to have been a part of.

“He will be dearly missed by us all at Golden Rail Band.”

The band were honoured to be asked by his wife Delma to play for Terry’s funeral, which was held in the Quire of York Minster on Thursday 25 April at 2pm. (Special thanks to members of York RI Band and Shepherd Group Brass Band for supporting us.)


York RI Golden Rail Band, and York RI Development Band are constituent parts of York RI - a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, registration number 1165513