York Brass Against Cancer raises the roof

ALL PICTURES COURTESY OF CALLUM O’CONNELL

A vibrant afternoon of brass band music at York’s Grand Opera House is set to raise thousands for a city charity.

York Brass Against Cancer saw a packed audience enjoy sets by local favourites the Shepherd Group Brass Band and the world-renowned Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band, before both ensembles came together as massed bands to perform for the crowd.

The event was compered by David Hoyle, the presenter Yorkshire Brass on the BBC radio.

It was organised by Mike Pratt of the Shepherd Group band and Ian Surgenor of YAC Promotions, the organisation behind a range of musical events raising money for York Against Cancer.

The audience was delighted when at the end of the concert Ian was enlisted as an impromptu conductor to lead the bands in a rousing performance of The Floral Dance, the tune made famous when it was recorded by the Brighouse and Rastrick in the 1970s.

The final amount raised has still to be calculated, but almost 900 people attended the concert and a bucket collection alone has raised almost £1,500 for York Against Cancer’s work in cancer care, research and education.

The organisers were so delighted with the success of the event that they hope to hold another York Brass Against Cancer in future.

Mike Pratt revealed how the Brighouse and Rastrick stepped in when one of the Shepherd soloists was injured and had to pull out at the last minute.

Brighouse and Rastrick player Andy Moore came along to a Shepherd Group rehearsal and stood in for the injured musician on the day. “Andy was great,” said Mike. “It all worked out better than I could have hoped. Everything went like clockwork.”

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