Welcome to Macclesfield Concert Band. Founded in 2005, we are a friendly community wind band who enjoy making music together.
Under the baton of our talented Musical Director Julia Harding, we rehearse and perform a diverse range of repertoire including wind orchestra and concert band classics, film scores, songs from the musicals, jazz and classical arrangements.
We rehearse weekly during term time and generally give five or six performances during the year. These include Christmas carols at Tatton Park and summer bandstand performances, as well as indoor concerts in local churches and other venues. We have also enjoyed several summer Music Tours – great social and musical experiences.
At present we are particularly looking for trumpet, trombone, baritone saxophone, euphonium and tuned percussion players.
However, we are always happy for any new players to join us, without audition.
We currently rehearse on Wednesday evenings during term time, 7:45-9:45pm at
St Peter’s Church, Windmill Street, Macclesfield, SK11 7HS
If you are interested in learning more about joining, please contact us here
Musical Director
Julia Harding studied at Dartington College of Arts followed by MAs at the Universities of Reading and Sheffield – a clarinet and saxophone specialist, she also plays the recorder, guitar, oboe, flute, ukulele and viola.
After studying for a PGCE, Julia worked in primary education as a classroom teacher – she is a now a manager for Entrust Music Service Staffordshire, teaching instrumental and curriculum music in several Staffordshire schools.
Julia is the leader of KEMS Contemporary and joint Musical Director of the Macclesfield Branch of the Society of Recorder Players, in addition to being a member of KEMS Macclesfield Symphony Orchestra. Until June 2025, she was Conductor of Newcastle-under-Lyme String Orchestra. She has performed with the Beckford String Quartet, KEMS Macclesfield Concert Band and Newcastle-under-Lyme String Orchestra as a soloist and is particularly interested in the flute and clarinet duet repertoire which she performs with her duet partner, Tim Ward. Other projects have included compositions for KEMS Contemporary in collaboration with sculptor and environmental artist Lorna Green, which have been performed at Manchester Art Gallery, Chester Cathedral, Buxton Fringe Festival and Bollington Festival.
Julia is a founder member of KEMS Macclesfield Concert Band and, having now been its Musical Director and Conductor for over a decade, is immensely proud and humbled to be leading the band in its twenty-first season!