The Durham County Brass Band Association was founded in 1940, as the Durham Brass Band League in order to further the camaraderie within the Brass bands of County Durham.
Since that time membership has expanded to include bands from Northumberland, Cumbria, Cleveland, North Yorkshire and Lancashire. In 1998 it was decided at the Annual General Meeting to become an Association and so changed name. At the same meeting a new constitution was accepted.
Current officials of the Durham County Brass Band Association are:
Life President : Hugh Stephenson
Vice President : Glenis Smith
Chair : Julie Carmichael
Vice Chair : Penny Walters
Secretary : Tony Griffiths
Minutes Secretary : Lisa Hill
Treasurer : Steve Hill
The Durham County Brass Band Association organises four contests annually.
The Festival of Brass is an Own Choice Test Piece Contest which is in November. For the past few years the venue has been East Durham College, Peterlee.
Brass at Beamish. A March and Hymn tune contest set in the heart of Beamish Musuem is run in June.
The Picnic in the Park Entertainment Contest in May, held at various venues in Durham City.
The Soloist Competition at ELCAP Easington Lane, in the April.