Irvine & Dreghorn Brass is an open to all community brass band. We provide premises, equipment and resources that give opportunities for people to:

• Participate in music making
• Learn music including brass and percussion instruments
• Entertain the public and enhance community events.

We are the only brass band organisation in North Ayrshire and we have a contest brass band, a youth band, a community style fun band and a youth percussion ensemble. Each year many thousands of people are entertained by our bands performing in concerts, gala days, band competitions and a large variety of community events.

We also provide free or low cost after school music (brass and percussion) lessons and instruments to young people to facilitate learning. Our Percussion Academy commenced in 2024 and have been a big success:  

• We now have 20 young people participating in 2 percussion ensembles
• Young people are taught to read music and play a variety of percussion instruments including glockenspiel, xylophone, drum-kits, timpani etc.
• There are only a few percussion bands in Scotland and we are the only one in Ayrshire. There is a huge demand from young people to learn percussion.

We are seeking funding to provide communal percussion equipment for our youth percussion ensembles. We already have various drum kits, timpani, glockenspiels and a concert xylophone and would like to buy a good quality second hand professional percussion instrument e.g. a marimba or similar, which will cost c. £1,500 - £2,000. The cost of the instrument will exceed any grant received and we with provide extra funds as required.

Grant requested: £1,000

Marimba / large percussion instrument cost:  £1,500 - £2,000 Band contribution: £ 500 - £1,000. We have provided key facts about our organisation as an attached document.