Get paid to play music in your spare time!
The Band of the Royal Yorkshire Regiment was formed in 2008 and is one of 19 UK-based Army Reserve Bands. We are a military wind band based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire and provide musical support to The Royal Yorkshire Regiment and the British Army both at home, and abroad.
The Band is an integral part of 4 YORKS and is made up of Army Reserve Musicians. In recent years the Band performed in at the Loreley Military Tattoo on the Rhine in Germany, at the ever-popular annual Festival of Remembrance in Huddersfield Town Hall. In late 2018 they deployed to Lithuania in support of the British Embassy and performed an equally successful series of engagements in Denmark the following year. The Band also performed in France at D-Day 75 as well as delivering digital tributes to Dame Vera Lynn and Remembrance 2020 - all of which achieved national recognition.
What We Do
As a member of the Band, most of your time will be spent improving your musical skills rehearsing in concert band and ensembles. We undertake a varied programme of engagements, such as; regimental dinner nights, marching displays, concerts, parades and church services. As we are an Army Reserve band, our rehearsals and engagements are usually outside of “normal” working hours.
What You'll Get
Army Reserve musicians get paid to play music to a high standard, in their spare time, with like-minded people from all walks of life. You’ll get to meet new friends while improving your overall musicianship and gain both civilian and military qualifications. You will be offered fantastic opportunities to travel too!
All rehearsals and band engagements are paid daily rates of pay with travel expenses and you will even earn holiday pay. Army Reservists also qualify for an Army pension (pro rata). Furthermore, you will be rewarded for your commitment to the Band, with a tax-free Training Bounty at the end of each financial year (Conditions apply).
What We Expect From You
- Grade 8+ on your primary instrument
- Aged 18-49
- Have British Nationality and Citizenship or be a Commonwealth Citizen with indefinite leave to remain in the country.
- Be medically fit
- Commitment
There is a minimum yearly commitment of 27 days, which includes a 16-day Annual Musical Training Event, weekend training, engagements and weekly rehearsals. The Army Reserve acknowledges the personal and professional obligations of civilian life, giving flexibility to individuals to enable you to commit according to your needs.
Performance Variety
Very often performs as a traditional military marching band but variety is the spice of life. The Band forms in a variety of formations ...
- Concert Band
- Mess/Dinner Band
- Fanfare Band
- Brass Quintet
- Saxophone Ensemble
- Trombone Quartet
- Woodwind Quintet
Regimental Music
The Yorkshire Regiment has a large number of musical pieces, notably the Regimental Quick March - Ca Ira - the only piece of music to have been won in action when the 14th Regiment of Foot struck up the French revolutionary song to then defeat the old enemy at the battle of Famars in 1793.
- 'Ca Ira' - The Regimental Quick March
- 'The Duke of York' - The Regimental Slow March
- ''Yorkshire Lass' - Quick March
- 'Bonnie English Rose' - Quick March
- 'The Wellesley' - Quick March
- 'On Ilkley Moor' - Quick March
- 'God Bless The Prince of Wales' - Slow March
- 'Maria Theresa' - Slow March
- 'Destiny' - Slow March
- 'The Duchess of Kent' - Slow March
- 'The Green Howards Funeral March' - Regimental Funeral March
Overseas Travel
As an Army Reserve musician you will have the opportunity to train overseas, join other bands during their training or take part in training packages designed to support foreign military bands.
In the last few years alone, we have seen musicians from the Band travel to; Austria, Malawi, Cyprus, Germany, Zimbabwe, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Botswana, South Africa, Macedonia, Netherlands, Sardinia and Uganda.
The Band has performed as far afield as the Falkland Islands, France, the Netherlands, Germany and at prestigious home events such as Goodwood and York Races. In 2018, the Band deployed with 4 YORKS on Ex IRON WOLF 2 to a multi-national exercise in Lithuania and accompanied the Battalion to Denmark in 2019. The Band also played at the 75th D-Day commemorations at Bayeux Memorial in Normandy, France.
Sport and Adventure Training
Band members also get the opportunity to take part in sports, adventurous training, battlefield studies with other members of 4 YORKS.
In recent years our musicians have skied in Austria (pictured), taken part in ocean diving in Gibraltar, Egypt and Ascension Island, and mountaineered in Sardinia. They have also joined battlefield studies in France, Germany and Italy.
Become an Army Musician
Contact us
The Band of The Yorkshire Regiment
If you are interested in enquiring about vacancies in the band, Email us on [email protected] or contact our full-time Permanent Staff instructor (PSI) Mon-Fri 8.30 am - 4.30 pm. Alternatively, contact the Director of Music (DoM) on our weekly Wednesday evening training night, between 7.30 pm - 9.30 pm.
Please note, band bookings should me made 6-9 months in advance of any appearance.
