With many families still enjoying their summer holidays it’s back to business for Hepworth Band.

The musicians have had a well earned summer break but are heading back to rehearsals. And there’s plenty to do as the band has a busy autumn schedule ahead.hep

The band will begin preparations for the British Open Championships in Birmingham and its debut appearance at the Great Northern Brass Arts Festival in Manchester (see panel, left). Then there is a return visit to St Paul’s Church, Mirfield to present its popular By Request concert with a programme of audience requests.

That opening engagement is a big one. Hepworth will be one of 17 bands taking part in the British Open at Symphony Hall in Birmingham on September 7.

Yorkshire has a strong contingent in the contest with Hepworth lining up alongside Black Dyke, Brighouse and Rastrick, Carlton Main Frickley Colliery and Grimethorpe.

All will be chasing the coveted Open title.

The test piece for the bands will be Arabian Nights, a newly commissioned work by composer Stephen Roberts based on Rimsky Korsakov’s famous orchestral suite Scheherazade.

Mike Fowles returns to lead Hepworth as it makes its ninth consecutive appearance at this major contest.

The band is also delighted to be making its debut this year at the Great Northern Brass Arts Festival.

This festival, just a week after the Open, is at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester.

Hepworth will play at the event’s opening concert on September 14 and is clearly thrilled to have been invited by festival director Philip Biggs to open this year’s programme.

And on the weekend which follows, the band plays nearer home at a concert at St Paul’s Church in Mirfield.

The band has been running its By Request concerts for a few seasons now and they've proved popular.

It is a chance for concertgoers to ask to hear particular pieces.

It could be an item chosen to celebrate a birthday or anniversary, as a thank you to friends and family, a favourite piece of a loved one or just as a special treat for yourself.

The concert is on September 21 and its programme will comprise items selected from those requests submitted by concertgoers.

There’s still time to email your requests to the band at secretary@hepworthband.com.

Tickets cost £7 and are available in advance from Colin Fretwell 01924 526711 or the band.