Author: Simon Watts

Philip Harper to succeed Dr Robert Childs as Director of Artistic Planning on his retirement from the organisation at Easter 2027 and Martyn Brabbins named as new President of The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain.

The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain (NYBBGB) is proud to announce two major appointments that will shape the future of the organisation. Philip Harper will succeed Dr Robert Childs as Director of Artistic Planning. In a further landmark development, internationally renowned conductor Martyn Brabbins has accepted the invitation to become President of The NYBBGB, following the passing of the late Elgar Howarth.

Philip Harper Appointed as Next Director of Artistic Planning

The NYBBGB is delighted to confirm that Philip Harper will formally take up the role of Director of Artistic Planning from Easter 2027, bringing with him an exceptional breadth of experience and a deep, personal connection to the organisation.

Harper is internationally recognised as one of the most successful and forward-thinking conductors in the brass band world. As Musical Director of the Cory Band since 2012, he has led the ensemble to unprecedented success — winning all major titles multiple times, including the European Championships, British Open, National Finals and Brass in Concert. Under his leadership, the Cory Band became the first in history to achieve the coveted “Grand Slam” of all four titles in a single calendar year — an achievement he has now led twice, in 2016 and 2019.

Beyond competition success, Harper is renowned for his creative programming, musical storytelling and innovative artistic projects, which have redefined the possibilities of brass band performance and broadened its audience appeal. He has worked with numerous high-profile ensembles across Europe and beyond, including guest appearances with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Symphonic Brass, the National Youth Brass Bands of Great Britain, Wales, Switzerland and The Netherlands, and Norway’s Manger Musikklag.

He is also a prolific composer and arranger, with a vast catalogue of music performed worldwide. His 2016 work A Shakespearean Triptych, premiered at the Royal Albert Hall during the Schools Prom, showcased his ability to compose on a large scale for massed forces and youth ensembles alike.

Harper’s connection to The NYBBGB runs deep. He was a former Principal Tenor Horn in the Youth Band and reached the final of the BBC Young Musician of the Year (Brass) in 1991. He credits The NYBBGB as a formative influence on his early musical development — a connection that makes this appointment particularly meaningful. Philip Harper said: “The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain was hugely formative in my early musical journey, and it’s a genuine honour to return in this new role from Easter 2027. I have tremendous admiration for the work The NYBBGB does in nurturing young talent and I look forward to contributing to its continued success.”

The NYBBGB looks forward to welcoming Philip Harper into this important leadership role, building on the organisation’s strong foundation and artistic ambition. He will start programming the 2027 summer courses next year,

A Tribute to Dr Robert Childs

The NYBBGB takes this opportunity to pay tribute to Dr Robert Childs, who will retire as the organisation’s Director of Artistic Planning at Easter 2027.

Dr Childs who was Chair at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and led the organisation through an exceptionally difficult period by pioneering hybrid and blended course models. His leadership ensured continuity for many young musicians when so many other musical opportunities were halted. A former NYBBGB member himself, Dr Childs has also contributed to the Band as both a tutor and a trustee.
Later appointed as The NYBBGB’s first Director of Artistic Planning, he has been instrumental in shaping the organisation’s current artistic profile — broadening its musical scope and championing inclusivity, innovation and musical excellence.

John Gillam, Chair of The NYBBGB, said: “We are immensely grateful to Bob for his dedication to the organisation over five decades. He has not only guided us artistically through one of the most challenging periods in our history but has also played a key role in defining who we are today. We look forward to continuing to work closely with him until his retirement.”

Martyn Brabbins Named President of The NYBBGB

In another exciting development, The NYBBGB is honoured to announce that Martyn Brabbins has accepted the role of President of the organisation, with immediate effect.

Brabbins is one of the UK’s most respected and accomplished conductors. His prestigious career includes roles as Chief Conductor of the Malmö Symphony Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra of India, and Music Director of English National Opera (2016–2023). Though best known for his work across opera and symphonic repertoire, his musical roots are firmly planted in brass banding.

Martyn Brabbins said: “I’m thrilled to become President of The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain. Succeeding Elgar Howarth in this role is a wonderful privilege. My own musical roots are in brass bands, and this appointment feels like coming full circle. The NYBBGB is an institution that is absolutely fundamental. I’m excited to actively support the next generation of young musicians and to help build creative new partnerships across the musical landscape.”

Brabbins will take on an active and outward-facing role, using his international profile to advocate for the organisation and help build meaningful artistic collaborations.

Mark Bromley, CEO of The NYBBGB, added: “We’re entering another exciting new phase for The NYBBGB. Working with Bob over the past five years has been a real inspiration for me, and I’m equally excited to carry that forward with Philip and Martyn. Together we all share a passion for inspiring and developing young musicians. The Band is in a very strong place for the future.”

Video: Martyn Brabbins reflects on his new role as President of The NYBBGB

For media enquiries, please contact our Audience Development Manager, Simon Watts, on 01223 737825 or email [email protected].

DATE FOR YOUR DIARY! The NYBBGB Children’s Band Summer Concert 2025 streams in full at 7.30pm on Friday 12th September 2025.

Watch the full concert for free on our YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/lx-HrzcjCWE

The Beauty Of Their Dreams: The NYBBGB Children’s Band under the direction of Guest Conductor Dr David Thornton.

This concert entitled “The Beauty Of Their Dreams” is a celebration of youthful ambition, creativity and community. With original compositions from three extraordinarily talented young composers and the world première of Andrea Price’s beautifully evocative title work, this performance truly embodies The NYBBGB’s vision: to give the UK’s most talented young brass and percussion players a platform to shine.

Under the expert guidance of Guest Conductor Dr David Thornton and featuring the remarkable Lewis Barton – a proud alumnus of The NYBBGB – this concert showcases not only musical excellence, but also the spirit, dedication and imagination that define our young people.

The NYBBGB thanks all those who support the organisation: our families, audiences, donors, partners, funders and especially British Army Music, whose ongoing collaboration enriches our work in so many ways.

Find out more & download the concert programme here.

Martyn Brabbins focuses a far and wide approach with a musical eye to an immediate future closer to home for the stars of tomorrow.

Celebration
Conductors: Martyn Brabbins
Soloist: Tim De Maeseneer
The Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall, Royal College of Music
Saturday 9th August 2025

4BR Verdict: 4.5/5 stars

Although the musical vistas for this concert stretched far and wide, you suspect it also had a focus on a much closer horizon.

With the 2025 Proms in full flow a stone’s throw away at the Royal Albert Hall, Martyn Brabbins gave an eloquent poke in the ribs reminder to Radio 3 supremo Sam Jackson and his BBC apparatchiks of just what this particular ensemble could bring to the annual celebration of musical excellence.

A show of support came not only with a packed hall of family and friends, but also an impressive line-up of composers, some of whom having showcased their Proms talents in recent years, including Gavin Higgins, Sir Karl Jenkins, John Pickard, Martin Ellerby and Richard Blackford, whose new work ‘Orbital’ could well be the catalyst that pricks the future interest of the Proms fixers.

Serious inclinations

They in turn will have been heartened by the quality of the four new works by emerging writers that Brabbins generously included in a programme of serious musical inclinations. So too Herbert Howells (whose portrait adorned one of the walls), as the concert opened with the majestic intricacies of ‘Pageantry’. Arguably the most complete ‘test-piece’ work for the medium its substance was admirably broached by the ensemble and soloists.

The more intimate reflections of Edmund Rubbra’s ‘Variations on The Shining River’ proved more difficult to carry off given the 91 performers and the lively acoustic. Its romantic title is nothing but an illusion, the work itself a remarkable variation exposition based on a fragmentary line of a piano teaching piece. The variants though were finely judged, the complex solo lines in particular, played with artistic maturity.

Here and now

The link between past, present and future was carefully balanced by the MD throughout; Daniel Hall’s ‘Shapeshifter’, a very ‘here and now’ exploration of complex youthful experiences and emotions – bold and resilient on one hand, fragile and introspective on another as it weaved its path of emerging and evolving identity and acceptance. The underlying message as well as the music was splendidly understood by the performers.

So too the trio of cameo works provided by the NYBBGB Young Composer Competition winners, each different in structure and modulation, tempo and feel.

Will Everitt’s ‘Variations on an Enclosure’ was a compact academic exercise brought off with mature elan in its inventive explorations. The bucolic canvas of ‘Betws-y-Coed’ by Nina Martin brought a darkened beauty out of a tender landscape, whilst Samuel Thackray’s ‘Nocturnal Dances’ mixed mischief with mystery – like hearing an urban fox enjoying a rummage through the human detritus of the night.

Olympian presence

In between came the supreme talents of Belgian horn star Tim De Maesenner. His Olympian presence in Edward Gregson’s ‘Three Gods’ concerto brought Zeus, Hermes and Apollo to life – in turn capricious and omnipotent, fleet and waspish and finally triumphant and virtuous.

He really is up there with the tenor horn playing immortals, the rendition of ‘Dansul Focului’ an exotic display of fiery virtuosity.

Pertinant tribute

The very pertinant tribute to Elgar Howarth (a former President of the NYBBGB) came with ‘Baba Yaga’ and ‘The Great Gate of Kiev’ – part of his masterful arrangement of Mussorgsky’s ‘Pictures at an Exhibition’ that he created in full for the Philip Jones Brass Ensmeble. (The encore was his tongue in cheek ‘Hogarth’s Hoe-down’).

Almost 50 years to the day since he led Grimethorpe and Black Dyke at a Proms that also showcased brass band playing old and new (Bliss and Ireland against Gerhard and Henze), Martyn Brabbins brought a timely reminder to the powers that be that they should consider finding a space for us over the road again in the near future.

Iwan Fox
4barsrest

Full review available here: https://www.4barsrest.com/reviews/concerts/con879.asp

The NYBBGB is proud to announce Angus Ritchie (euphonium) as the winner of The 2025 Harry Mortimer Award, following a stunning performance of ‘Ziebekikos’ from Philip Wilby’s Euphonium Concerto and ‘Harlequin’ by Philip Sparke. Many congratulations to Angus!

The prestigious Harry Mortimer Award recognises individual musical excellence within the Band. Eight outstanding finalists were the section winners from the Katie Ogden Solo Competition, held during the Youth Band Easter Course at Pangbourne College in April. Each emerged as the top performer on their instrument in their sectional heats and advanced to compete for the coveted Harry Mortimer Award during our summer course at Oundle School.

Huge congratulations to our finalists: Stephanie Jonas (cornet), Darcie Dewhurst (cornet), Alice Clarke (tenor horn), Nicky Ogan-Palic (trombone), Alec Banner (percussion), Angus Ritchie (euphonium), Thomas Pyrah (tuba) and Carys Morgan (voice). Each delivered remarkable performances in The Great Hall at Oundle, showcasing the very best of youth brass talent in the UK.

We were honoured to welcome an esteemed panel of judges:

• Lieutenant Colonel Stewart Halliday – Commanding Officer, Bands of the Household Division
• Tracey Redfern – Principal Trumpet, Manchester Camerata, Northern Ballet and Northern Chamber Orchestras, and BBC Young Musician Brass Finalist
• Maestro Martyn Brabbins – International Conductor and champion of British music

And thanks also go out to Martyn Parkes who once again accompanied all of our finalists with exceptional artistry.

The Harry Mortimer Award not only includes a £250 prize but also the honour of performing as Guest Soloist with The NYBBGB Children’s Band next summer.

Thank you to our supporter Denis Wick Products, who generously sponsor both the Katie Ogden Solo Competition and the Harry Mortimer Award. Their dedication to craftsmanship and education continues to enrich the brass band community in the UK and worldwide.

Youthful talent showcases the best of the real American dream in Northampton.

The Beauty Of Their Dreams
Conductors: Dr David Thornton
Soloist: Lewis Barton
The Great Hall, Oundle School
Friday 1st August 2025

4BR Verdict: 4.5/5 stars

It was Eleanor Roosevelt who coined the phrase that the future belonged to those who believed in the beauty of their dreams.

However, the longest serving First Lady of the USA was not someone prone to fridge magnet aphorisms or self-help car bumper stickers. An imposing figure in times of war and peace, she was as pioneering as she was inspirational, her words backed by the substance of her actions.

Fully embraced

Her philosophy was fully embraced by the 56 young performers led by Dr David Thornton in providing a remarkably mature endorsement of the musical mission statement that now also drives the NYBBGB organisation as a whole.

The ambitious outlook weaved a rather unexpected and welcome pathway from start to finish – encapsulated by Andrea Price’s 10-minute work, inspired by the Roosevelt belief that dreams, both conscious and subconscious can inspire imagination and endeavour.

Bold and inventive, the trust it placed in the players to explore elements of self-doubt and self-expression as well as singular and communal endeavour was marked, the strands, vocal as well as instrumental culminating to an uplifting, joyful climax.

Additional layer

Equally impressive though was a sung version of ‘Mad World’  that followed (with an ensemble of tutors providing the simple accompaniment).  A song whose lyrics speak of the intensity of dreams (anyone who has seen the film ‘Donnie Darko’ will attest to) its inclusion brought an additional layer of understanding of the non-musical challenges now faced by the next generation of brass band performers.

Young composers whose own successful personal development has been marked came with Tamsin’s Crook’s ‘Clash of the Titans’,  a clever interplay of ensemble forces that evoked the mythical battles of Greeks Gods, and Amber Hooton’s ‘Sailor’s Hymn’  with its elegiac feel of dreams and aspirations yet to be fulfilled.

14-year-old Easher Austin will surely follow suit. His remarkably mature ‘Marche Triomphale’  infused with its own elements of Rimmer and Elgar character had a bold combination of brio and elegance.

Inspirational ambassador

Both elements were also displayed by the impressive guest soloist Lewis Barton, whose own musical dreams are being developed as a student at the RNCM in Manchester as well as with Leyland Band.

His performances were hallmarks of his talent – both lyrical and virtuosic in ‘Pater Noster’, ‘Under the Boardwalk’  (taking the flugel lead) and ‘Hejre Kati’.  He is the most admirable of inspirational ambassadors for the band and its vision.

Elsewhere the thematic thread was maintained with the tenderness of the opening ‘She Moved Through the Fair’  (with super lead lines), and the latter ‘Thula Baba’, as well as the verve of Goff Richards’ ‘Spirit of Youth’,  the Swiss chocolate box imagery of ‘The Old Chalet’  (with a few musical mountaineers perched on high), and Nordic mix of certainty and quirkiness with ‘Vitae Lux’  and ‘Gutte Og Mann’.   

‘A Malvern Suite’ was played with a mix of disciplined test-piece rigour and showcase musicality, whilst the encore of ‘Deep River’ rounded off a concert of ambition and aspiration with a vibrant joyfulness.

Iwan Fox
4barsrest

Full review available here: https://www.4barsrest.com/reviews/concerts/con873.asp