In 1975, local peripatetic teachers of brass found that there were insufficient children or instruments at any 1 school to form a brass band, but this could be achieved by bringing together children from different schools.
To meet this demand, Irvine Youth Band was formed with the co-operation of the Education Department.
The band had no funds, but with the support of parents, it was able to play a small part in the community. Gradually through undertaking to play at various functions, support for Irvine Youth Band started to grow.
Irvine Youth Band had achieved it's initial purpose of creating an environment where individual students learning to play brass instruments could come together and play as a band.
All of the instruments used by the band belonged to the education department and children leaving school had to hand back their instruments and relinquish their positions in the band.
In 1978 an appeal was made to parents to join a committee to manage the bands affairs was made.
In 1983, the band took part in it’s first competitions and chalked up it’s first win at the Whitburn Invitational Contest. Later in this year, Dreghorn Youth Band combines with the Irvine Band to create Irvine and Dreghorn Brass Band.
1984 was a busy year for the band, taking part in 40 engagements including a full house at Magnum Theatre for first annual concert and an overseas gig in Dublin. Trophies also came flooding in, including 1st place in 4th section in Strathclyde Charities, Edinburgh & Forth Valley Charities and Whitburn Invitational Contest
The band has had successes in the Scottish Championship on 5 occasions, all of which entitled the band to represent Scotland at the National Finals;
1985; 1st Place in 4th Section
1987; 2nd Place in 3rd Section (Test Piece ‘A Scottish Festival Overture’ by Eric Ball)
1998; 2nd Place in 3rd Section (Test Piece ’Three Saints’ by Goff Richards). . National Finals 1998; The band came 3rd out of 18 bands playing ‘Three Miniatures’ by Philip Sparke.
2008; 2nd Place in 4th Section (Test Piece ‘Four Cities Symphony’ by Rodney Newton). National Finals 2008; The band came 11th out of 20 bands playing ‘The Shipbuilders’ by Peter Yorke.
2010; 2nd Place in 3rd Section (Test Piece ‘Labour and Love’ by Percy Fletcher)