The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain (NYBBGB) is delighted to announce the launch of their Young Conductors’ Competition 2026, a prestigious and career-launching opportunity for aspiring conductors aged 20 to 30. Now running for the third time, this biennial competition offers the chance to work as Assistant Conductor on The NYBBGB’s 2026 Summer Residential Course and conduct in the Band’s flagship Summer Concert on 8th August 2026 at The Forum, Bath.

This unique competition continues to attract national attention for nurturing the UK’s most promising brass conducting talent. The winner will not only join Lieutenant Colonel Lauren Petritz-Watts and The NYBBGB Youth Band during their week-long 2026 Summer Course at Taunton School but will also receive a £750 cash prize.

“This is a springboard for conductors ready to step onto a national platform. We’re looking for musicians who can inspire, communicate and lead with both precision and passion,” said Dr Robert Childs, NYBBGB Director of Artistic Planning and long-time champion of emerging musical talent.

How It Works

The competition is free to enter, with submissions due by 1st November 2025. A shortlist of four finalists will be selected based on submitted materials, which may also include a conversation with the judges. The competition final will take place on 17th January 2026 at Tidworth Garrison Theatre, Wiltshire and will involve live rehearsals with a full brass band composed of NYBBGB musicians.

Each finalist will rehearse one of four iconic brass band works:

• ‘Resurgam’ by Eric Ball
• ‘Music for a Festival’ by Philip Sparke
• ‘Shine as the Light’ by Peter Graham
• ‘Dimensions’ by Peter Graham

A live audience and a distinguished judging panel, including Maestro Martyn Brabbins, Major Craig Bywater and Dr Robert Childs will assess each finalist based on musicality, leadership, rehearsal technique and interpretation.

“The standard is extraordinarily high,” said Lt Col Petritz-Watts. “We are looking for conductors with not only technical skill but also emotional intelligence, clarity and a passion for shaping young musical minds.”

Eligibility and Entry

Open to conductors aged 20 to 30 as of 1st January 2026.

Entrants must submit:

• A short biography (maximum 5,000 characters)
• A 10-minute conducting video
• A scan of their passport information page for age verification

Entries must be received by midnight on Saturday 1st November 2025.

The competition application form can be found here.

Full entry criteria can be found here.

Finalists must prepare all four set works in advance, with their assigned piece and order determined by a draw on the day.

A Proven Platform for Success

Since winning the 2024 Young Conductors’ Competition, Joshua Parkhill, a graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, performs regularly as a trombonist with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, works as a score reader for the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and freelances as a community music practitioner. Joshua was recently appointed Musical Director of the Irvine and Dreghorn Brass Band, leading them to multiple awards at the West of Scotland Contest. His diverse experience also includes performing in musical theatre pits, recording for video games and films, and winning Best Trombone at both the 2025 Scottish Championships and Solo Championships. Additionally, he teaches brass players part-time for the City of Edinburgh Council.

“It was an unforgettable experience – working with both The NYBBGB and The British Army Band was incredibly inspiring,” said Joshua. “This competition has given me the confidence and exposure to build a meaningful career in brass conducting.”

NYBBGB CEO Mark Bromley added: “This competition represents a vital investment in the future of brass music. Thanks to our invaluable partner, British Army Music, we continue to provide world-class opportunities to the most promising young conductors in the UK.”

Meet the 2026 Judges

• Lieutenant Colonel Lauren Petritz-Watts – Pioneering Principal Director of Music (Army), the first woman to hold the role since 1857
• Maestro Martyn Brabbins – Celebrated British conductor and former Music Director of English National Opera
• Major Craig Bywater – Chief Instructor at the Royal Military School of Music
• Dr Robert Childs – A distinguished figure in brass education and performance with a five-decade legacy at The NYBBGB

Applications Close: Midnight on Saturday 1st November 2025
Competition Final: 17th January 2026 at Tidworth Garrison Theatre
NYBBGB Summer Course & Concert: 1st to 8th August 2026 at Taunton School and The Forum, Bath

Our Young Composers’ Competition closes in just under 3 weeks on 31st December 2024

In our second Young Composers’ Competition, we are looking for six new works (three winners and three runners up). The winning pieces will be rehearsed at the NYBBGB summer course and will be performed at the Youth Band summer concert in the magnificent Amaryllis Fleming Hall of the Royal College of Music, London under the baton of Maestro Martyn Brabbins on 9th August 2025.

Our first Young Composers’ Competition was won by Daniel Hall with his piece ‘Dieu Et Mon Droit’, which was performed by the Youth Band at Saffron Hall last Summer, conducted by Sarah Ioannides.

The entries will be judged by Composer Gavin Higgins, Maestro Martyn Brabbins and Conductor and Educator Dr Robert Childs.

For more details on our Composer’s Competition and to enter, please go here.

In our second Young Composers’ Competition, we are looking for six new works (three winners and three runners up). The winning pieces will be rehearsed at the NYBBGB summer course and performed at the Youth Band summer concert in the magnificent Amaryllis Fleming Hall of the Royal College of Music, London under the baton of Maestro Martyn Brabbins on 9th August 2025.

Our first Young Composers’ Competition was won by Daniel Hall with his piece ‘Dieu Et Mon Droit’, which was performed by the Youth Band, conducted by Sarah Ioannides. Lennert Van Laenen from Belgium was the runner up and had his piece performed by the Children’s Band, conducted by Mareika Gray. The judges also highly commended pieces submitted by Jack Yagerline (which was also performed by the Youth Band) and Charlotte McGregor Graham.

The NYBBGB has subsequently commissioned both Daniel Hall and Charlotte McGregor-Graham to write new works.

The entries will be judged by Composer Gavin Higgins, Maestro Martyn Brabbins and Conductor and Educator Dr Robert Childs.

For more go here.

24-year-old Royal Conservatoire of Scotland graduate Joshua Parkhill has won our second Young Conductors Competition.

In a high-quality final hosted by British Army Music in Tidworth and sponsored by The Garrick Charitable Trust, Joshua was joined by Andreas Ashkikis, Felicity Cliffe and Craig Sanders as they were in turn asked to work on one of four demanding compositions.

British Army Band Tidworth musicians not only worked alongside the conductors but also with the musicians of The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain who were part of the day. Army Director of Music Captain Andrew Porter and Principal Director of Music Lieutenant Colonel Dave Barringer were also on hand to put the band through their paces and assist in the adjudication process.

Super day
At the end of a super day it was Joshua who won the cash prize of £750. He will now get to work as Assistant Conductor to Prof David King on the Youth Band’s 2024 summer course at Stonyhurst College, as well as conduct a work at the summer course concert in Blackburn Cathedral.

Speaking to 4BR, Joshua said: “I’m thrilled of course, and my congratulations go to the other superb finalists. Prof King is a bit of a brass band musical icon for me, and I regularly go through a play list of works he has conducted to get inspiration.”

He added: “It was fantastic to work with such great musicians from both the youth band and British Army on Peter Graham’s ‘Shine as the Light’ — and I was so lucky that I was able to ring him for a quick pep talk before I took to the stage.

I think it really gave me an extra boost of confidence. My thanks also go to the adjudicators for their helpful feedback and constructive comments which will help me continue to improve my brass band conducting skills.”

Draw
Earlier there was a draw for the order to direct with the bands, as well as for the music they would work on, with the other finalists showcasing their qualities on Eric Ball’s ‘Resurgam’, ‘Music for a Festival’ by Philip Sparke and ‘Dimensions’ by Peter Graham.

Speaking about the excellent overall standard, NYBBGB Artistic Director and competition judge chair Dr Robert Childs told 4BR: “All four finalists were excellent and demonstrated elegance, clarity and great communication skills.

Joshua had clearly done thorough research of the score and not only guided the band through a very efficient and musical interpretation of ‘Shine As The Light’, but he also gave the band great insight into the deeper meaning of this work.”

This competition has also benefitted me enormously and I would recommend any young conductor to enter in the future.”

Bright and busy future
The future is certainly bright and busy for Joshua as he balances a freelance trombone playing career with his brass band conducting.

He added: “Since graduating I’ve managed to build up playing and conducting commitments and I’m really enjoying working as MD with Brass Sounds Inverclyde and Johnston as well as with UNISON Kinneil as Resident Conductor.

It has also meant getting to grips with some pretty demanding test-pieces for the Regional Championships, so that has also helped me a great deal in my conducting. This competition has also benefitted me enormously and I would recommend any young conductor to enter in the future.”

Foundation stone support
Adding his congratulations, NYBBGB CEO Mark Bromley commented: “Congratulations to Joshua and to Andreas, Felicity and Craig, all of whom have outstanding conducting careers ahead of them.

My thanks also to our partners British Army Music and The Garrick Charitable Trust who have recognised and supported the importance of this competition as a foundation stone to developing future brass band conducting talent.”