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 : George Bramfitt
Vice President : Councillor Neil Foster
Chair : Julie Carmichael
Vice Chair : Vaughan Evans
Secretary : Jo Wright
Minutes Secretary : Susan Hayton
Treasurer : Eric Schlosser
Auditor : Susan Webb BA(Hons) PECE
The Durham County Brass Band Association organises four contests annually.
The Festival of Brass is an Own Choice Test Piece Contest which is in Jan /Feb. 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 July, weather permitting in the grounds of Houghall College, Durham.
The Soloist Competition at Blackhall Community Centre, in the Autumn.