New Faces Bolster The Imps Ranks

The Yorkshire Imperial Urquart Travel Band are delighted to announce new signings as they continue to build solid foundations for the future. Kate Johnson and Adam Hofland Ward join on Repiano and Solo Cornet respectively, with Andi Cook completing the Bass line-up.

Kate started her playing career on flugel horn at the age of 7. She then spent many happy years playing at Maltby Miners Welfare Band, before joining Thoresby Colliery Band in 2003 on second cornet. In 2006 Kate became the bands flugel horn player and regular soloist. After a short break in 2010 she returned on repiano, taking part in the National Finals on Breath of Souls in 2011. Since then Kate has had the opportunity to return to flugel featuring as soloist at concerts and the 2016 National Finals on Journey of the Lone Wolf.

Adam, at the age of 15 is a fine young talent. He started playing at the age of 7, studying with David Essex at his local school. He is also a talented soprano player, and still plays with the Elland Silver Youth Band, the current European Youth Champions. He recently auditioned for the National Youth Band of Great Britain and successfully met the required standard.

Andi started his playing career with the Yorkshire Building Society Junior Band on Eb Bass before joining Yorkshire Co-op in 2004. He then received the call to join the Bb Bass ranks and has had successful spells with Wakefield Metropolitan, Hebden Bridge and Hammonds Saltaire, where he helped the band with their successful qualification for the British Open in 2014. More recently Andi has played with Slaithwaite and Drighlington, before joining the Imps. Andi is a keen writer and arranger and has worked on several notable projects, also writing solos for the principal players of Grimethorpe Colliery Band and James Shepherd Versatile Brass.

A spokesperson for the band told A4B: ‘We are delighted to welcome such talented players to the band as we prepare for an exciting programme of contest, concerts and CD recordings in 2018. It is a very exciting time to be part of the band.’