A joint ambition “to increase understanding and widen opportunity” will see The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain (NYBBGB) and The National Youth Brass Band of Switzerland (NJBB) spearhead a new reciprocal musical partnership.

Supported by Besson, Horizons will see two players given the opportunity to experience each other’s annual course — starting with two NYBBGB Ambassador Band players heading to Switzerland in July to join their senior band led by conductor Florent Didier.

In August the arrangement will be reversed, with two Swiss players heading to Stonyhurst College in Clitheroe to work under Guest Conductor Prof David King.

The only stipulation being that to apply for the exchange players must be over 18.

Speaking about the ‘Besson Horizons’ programme, Mark Bromley, CEO of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain told 4BR: “It is a shared ambition of our organisations to offer talented youngsters the opportunity to enjoy new experiences — both musical and cultural.

With this incredible support from Besson it is about enhancing what we all hope will be a lifelong passion for music by making connections and friendship that last just as long.”

It is an ambition shared by Monika Bandi Tanner, President of The National Youth Brass of Switzerland.

“We are thrilled to be able to offer incredible experiences for both Swiss and British players — ones that we also believe will ignite a lifelong passion for brass band music making.

We are a community that works best together — inspiring each other, learning from one another by understanding and respecting our cultural differences, but also what we share together in music.”

Supporting this programme allows us not only to help inspire talented young musicians but to also increase understanding and widen opportunity — broadening horizons for youngsters in so many ways through brass banding.

The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain was established in 1952 by Dr Denis Wright, whilst their Swiss counterpart was formed in 1976 by Markus Bach.

Over the years they have offered countless youngsters the opportunity to express their talents under inspirational conductors.

It is believed that the ‘Besson Horizons’ programme is the first official partnership link between the organisations, and builds on the other opportunities youngsters have enjoyed in participating in the European Youth Brass Band.

As Besson spokesperson Euan Meikle explained to 4BR, it is a collaboration that also shares their desire to build lasting links between brass band movements across Europe.

“The future is in the hands of young brass musicians wishing to achieve their potential.

Supporting this programme with the NYBBGB and NJBB allows us not only to help inspire talented young musicians but to also increase understanding and widen opportunity — broadening horizons for youngsters in so many ways through brass banding.”

6th April 2024 sees a special performance for The NYBBGB, as the Youth Band perform at Dora Stoutzker Hall, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama Cardiff, in tribute to their former Music Advisor and Conductor Mr. Geoffrey Brand.

Geoffrey sadly passed away on 5th February 2023, so the evening of 6th April will see The NYBBGB celebrate his life and musical contribution to their organisation, as well as the wider brass band community. With Dr Robert Childs as conductor for the evening, and Dr David Childs as the guest soloist, the programme features music connected to Geoffrey Brand either through his arrangement or significant moments with The NYBBGB.

Of the evening Mark Bromley, CEO, said  “Throughout his life Geoffrey Brand was a huge supporter of the NYBBGB and always enjoyed hearing about our latest activities, so it is a great honour to pay tribute to him and his achievements through this concert”.

Geoffrey Brand served as Music Adviser at THE NYBBGB from 1967-1975 and for many years continued an active Vice President and Trustee. His wife, Violet, served as a Member of the Pastoral team and they both looked forward greatly to the courses, watching and listening to young brass players. They realised that whilst the courses were primarily about music it was also an important time for young people to develop as adolescents.

On the occasion of The NYBBGB’s 40th birthday in 1992 Geoffrey wrote : “I still ‘hear’ performances and ‘see’ eager young faces producing them. A special joy is meeting former students who are now contributing to the brass band scene, as players, conductors, administrators- or as parents of future members”.

He followed The NYBBG’s activities closely for the rest of his life – hearing and seeing those young faces of grow up, and following their careers – and he and Violet enjoyed sharing their fond memories of The NYBBGB courses.

For more information and tickets for the evening, please go to What’s On.

The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, has just announced their second Conducting Competition. Supported by a donation from the Garrick Charitable Trust given in memory of Prince Philip, the winner will be offered a unique opportunity to work as Assistant Conductor to, and be mentored by, Professor David King on the Youth Band’s 2024 summer residential course and concert.

“The last competition was a great success, both in terms of the number and quality of applications, and the overall process, it was amazing to see so much enthusiasm and diversity in the entrants. Anna Beresford was a very worthy overall winner, and it was wonderful to see her working alongside Martyn Brabbins and the Band. I’m very much looking forward to seeing what this year’s competition may bring. A huge thank you as well to our partners British Army Music for hosting the live final in Tidworth.”
Mark Bromley, CEO, The NYBBGB

Competition Process
Entrants need to complete a short biography of their experience and upload a short video of their conducting work. Four entrants will be chosen by Dr Robert Chllds and Prof David King to go through to the live final in Tidworth (hosted by British Army Music) on 13th January 2024 in which they will rehearse an NYBBGB Ambassador Band in one of four significant, and well known, brass band works. The four finalists will have their conducting skills judged by a panel comprising Lt Col David Barringer, Capt Andy Porter and Dr Robert Childs.

“British Army Music has a strong affinity with NYBBGB, and it’s a privilege to be hosting the 2024 NYBBGB Conducting Competition. As Commanding Officer Household Division Bands, one of the country’s most iconic professional music organisations, I’m thrilled to have been asked to adjudicate alongside Andrew and Robert to mark the beginning of what I hope will be a long and prosperous partnership, and to help build on the success of the inaugural event in 2023. Young musicians are the life blood of music culture in the UK, and nowhere is this stronger than within the NYBBGB family. I’ve seen first-hand the talent, potential and extremely hard work which underpins these exceptional development opportunities for young musicians, and stepping into the world of conducting has the potential to be life changing for aspiring applicants.”
Lt Col David Barringer, Commanding Officer Household Division Bands, British Army Music.

In order to enter the competition, participants must be aged between 20 and 30 years old on 1st January 2024.

To enter the competition click here. Entries are now open and will close at midnight on 29th October 2023.

Prize
In addition to a £750 cash prize the overall winner will get to work as Assistant Conductor to Professor David King on the Youth Band’s 2024 summer course at Stonyhurst College, and conduct a work at the summer concert in Blackburn Cathedral.

2022 winner
Anna Beresford was the overall winner of the 2022 Young Conductors Competition and of her experience said: “It was a pleasure to work with such dedicated and accomplished young musicians, and alongside feedback from Martyn Brabbins and the staff, I learned a great deal. The experience has absolutely benefitted me as a musician, conductor and educator. Don’t hesitate in applying for the NYBBGB conducting competition!“

Following the success of Gavin Higgins’ ‘Concerto for Brass Band and Orchestra’ in claiming its second major artistic award, the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain will perform the composition with the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain in 2024.

Awards

The work, which added the prestigious South Bank Sky Arts Classical Music Award to its Royal Philharmonic Society accolade, will be performed by the National Youth Orchestra with 25 members of the National Youth Band in two performances next Easter under conductor Jessica Cottis. 

They will take place at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall and the Royal Festival Hall in London and will form part of a wider weekend of outreach music making which will also include a concert by the full National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain in Liverpool.

Immense accolade

Speaking about the collaboration, Mark Bromley, CEO said: “First and foremost our congratulations go to Gavin, as well as Tredegar Band, the National Orchestra of Wales and conductor Ryan Bancroft on winning a second major arts award.

This is an immense accolade — one that projects brass banding into a new sphere of artistic acceptance and admiration and one we are keen to build on ourselves.”

He added: “The National Youth Brass Band has enjoyed a long association Gavin and we are delighted that we will link up with the National Youth Orchestra for what are sure to be a brace of memorable performances at wonderful venues.

This is an immense accolade — one that projects brass banding into a new sphere of artistic acceptance and admiration and one we are keen to build on ourselves.”

Delighted

The National Orchestra of Wales (NOW) and Tredegar Band also offered their congratulations on the news.

Lisa Tregale, Director of NOW who commissioned the work added: “We are delighted that these leading national youth ensembles are going to collaborate give audiences the opportunity to enjoy Gavin’s ‘Concerto Grosso’ performance in the UK.

This is a great example of how a fantastic composer’s work can inspire the next generation of performers and everyone at the National Orchestra of Wales is looking forward to hearing the results.”

Vote of confidence

That was echoed by Tredegar MD, Ian Porthouse who said: “It’s brilliant that these young players will perform such an incredible work. What an experience is in store for them — and what a vote of confidence in their talent.”

The Children’s and Youth Bands of The NYBBGB will soon be taking their week long residencies followed by Summer concerts.This year, both residential courses will be at Wymondham College in Norfolk, the Children’s Band starting on 23rd July and the Youth Band on 29th July. Amongst the tutoring and social opportunities provided, the residential courses will see both bands able to engage with The NYBBGB’S new partner organisations – British Army Music and The Wildlife Trusts charity.

Lt Col David Berringer MBE (Commanding Officer of The Bands of the Household Division and BAM’s Principal Director of Music) who played a key role in the State Funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth II, the Coronation of King Charles III and the most recent Trooping of the Colour parade, will join the jury of the Mortimer competition. The Wildlife Trusts Arran Wilson (Youth Activism Manager) and Dom Higgins (Head of Health and Education) will coordinate a series of activities to engage the children and young people from the bands  in some of the issues facing the natural world. Members will also have the opportunity to learn more about the NYBBGB’s Brass Building Blocks programme of tutorials and hear from the ABRSM on the new brass syllabus which was launched at the end of 2022.

The Children’s Band will be lead by Guest Conductor Mareika Gray and the Guest Soloist will be percussionist Simone Rebello.

Mareika Gray is the Artistic Director and Professional Musical Director of the Ratby Cooperative Band Organisation and Musical Director of the Eccles Brass Band. She is among the leading brass band conductors, with her inspiring concert programs and her unique interpretations of major brass band works, and continues to appear at major concert halls including Symphony Hall Birmingham, the Royal Albert Hall in London, and the Grieg Hall in Bergen. She has also made several appearances at the Australian, Danish, Norwegian and British National Championships gaining podium finishes at each contest

Simone Rebello’s career has seen her recording, touring, and broadcasting nationally and internationally, and winning a collection of awards and prizes including Cosmopolitan Woman of the Year in the Performing Arts.She works frequently as a concerto soloist with wind orchestras and brass bands around the world and as a solo recitalist. In addition to her successful performing career, Simone was appointed as Director of Percussion at The Royal Northern College of Music in 2010 and became Head of School of Wind, Brass and Percussion in 2022.

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The work with Mareika and Simone during the week long residential course will culminate in a concert for the Children’s Band at The Halls in Norwich on 28th July. The programme for the evening is themed around ‘Rhythm’ and will feature the world premier of young Belgium composer Lennert Van Laenen’s new work ‘Sparkle’.  It was this piece that Lennert entered into the NYBBGB’s 2022 Young Composer Competition and for which he claimed the runner up spot.
This year, the Youth Band residential will be under the direction of Guest Conductor Sarah Ioannides, and featuring Guest Soloist, trombonist Scott Hartmann.

Sarah Ioannides, is Music Director of Symphony Tacoma, and is recognised as one of the most inspiring and creative conductors today, performing internationally and working as a coach and mentor for many young musicians and conductors. She is Artistic Director of Cascade Conducting and Composing, and coaches for The Curtis Institute of Music’s Mentor Network. Sarah also appears as a guest conductor with orchestras such as the Tonkünstler, Orchestre Nationale de Lyon, Seattle Symphony (Untitled Series), Calgary Philharmonic and Philadelphia Chamber Orchestra.

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‍Scott Hartmann is our Guest Soloist. He is Professor of Trombone at Yale University and has taught and played in concerts in all 50 U.S states, as well as being Principal Trombone of the Brass Band of Battle Creek for 30 years. An accomplished musician and educator, Scott has taught and played concerts in all 50 U.S. states and throughout the world as a trombone soloist and with various chamber groups. He is a longtime member of the Summit Brass, and has been principal trombone of the Brass Band of Battle Creek since 1993. The Youth Band will be taking their experience of working alongside Sarah and Scott into their concert on Saturday 5th August at Saffron Hall in Saffron Walden, the for which will be ‘Music from Around the World’.

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The concert will feature two brand new commissions taken from entries into The NYBBGB’s 2022 Young Composer Competition. The first will be ‘Open World’ from Jack Yagerline, a highly commended entry, and then the overall winning piece ‘Dieu Et Mon Droit’ by Daniel Hall.

The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain (NYBBGB) has entered into an exciting new partnership with The Wildlife Trusts with the aim of bringing together young people in understanding the importance of tackling the nature and climate crises.

The Wildlife Trusts is a grassroots movement of 46 independent charities. It has more than 900,000 members and 38,000 volunteers that share an ethos of developing a thriving natural world where sustainable wildlife and natural habitats play a central role in addressing the climate crisis.

Jenkins commission

The innovative initiative has seen the NYBBGB commission composer Sir Karl Jenkins to create his first major work for the brass band medium, themed around endangered species and biodiversity loss. It will receive its world premiere in 2024.

The partnership will also see members of both the Children’s and Youth Bands gain opportunities to learn about the effects of climate change on British wildlife, and what can be done to turn the tide.

Thoughts and feelings

The exciting link between the organisations was officially sealed at Camley Street Natural Park in London, where young people from both organisations came together to meet Sir Karl and Lady Jenkins and discuss their thoughts and feelings about nature, and the effects of climate change on local wildlife.

The inspiration from the day will be used by Sir Karl to inform the themes of his major new work, and Lady Jenkins to inform her writing of the accompanying verse.

Thrilled

Speaking about the partnership, Mark Bromley, chief executive of NYBBGB, said: “I’m thrilled to announce this collaboration with Sir Karl Jenkins on his first major work for the brass band medium.

This remarkable endeavour is further enhanced by our partnership with the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts. In a world that is alarmingly fragile, the combination of Sir Karl’s captivating music and the invaluable support of the Wildlife Trusts holds immense potential to raise awareness about the state of our environment.”

He added: “By inspiring contemplation and driving transformative action, I hope this collaboration will contribute significantly to positive change.”

“In a world that is alarmingly fragile, the combination of Sir Karl’s captivating music and the invaluable support of the Wildlife Trusts holds immense potential to raise awareness about the state of our environment”.

Incredibly exciting

In response, Dom Higgins, Head of Health and Education at The Wildlife Trusts added: “We couldn’t be happier with this partnership with the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, Sir Karl, and Lady Jenkins.

If we are to truly tackle the climate and nature crises, we are going to need people from all backgrounds — diverse, growing communities of people — to join together.

So, it is incredibly exciting to have young, talented musicians, premiering a commissioned piece of music that expresses the fragility of our natural world, and of course the hope that we all must have.”

Building on the success of The NYBBGB’s partnership with Royal Marines Band Service, this new venture with British Army Music promises a series of exciting performance and educational projects starting with a joint concert in December.

Mark Bromley, NYBBGB CEO said “As a charity, we strive to give our young musicians access to world-class musical opportunities, and this exciting new partnership represents our commitment to that. British Army Music is the UK’s largest employer of professional musicians, with opportunities to perform brass band music at the highest level, and the partnership will give our young people aspirational mentors to work alongside and learn from.”

Warrant Officer Class One Jonathan Spencer, Corps Bandmaster, added ‘The formation of the partnership between the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain and British Army Music represents an opportunity for Army musicians to work alongside and invest in some of the finest young brass players in the country; as a brass player myself, this is an incredibly exciting prospect.’

The two organisations already have a link via alumnus and current British Army Music Tenor Horn player, Musician Bobby Corkish who was a member of the NYBBGB for five years under the musical direction of the late Bramwell Tovey. Following his studies at the Royal Northern College of Music and performances with the world-famous Cory Band, Musician Corkish now occupies the first Horn seat in British Army Band Tidworth, one of the full-time professional Brass Bands

British Army musicians are all part of The Royal Corps of Army Music which was formed in 1994 under the Options for Change Defence Review. On the 11th of January 2021, HRH The Countess of Wessex presented the Royal Title to the Corps on behalf of Her Majesty The Queen.

British Army Music supports the ethos, tradition, and identity of the UK Armed Forces around the globe. As the UK’s largest employer of professional musicians, specialist musical capabilities include Brass Bands, as well as, Symphonic Wind Bands, the Mounted Band of the Household Cavalry, a String Orchestra, Rock and Pop Groups and Fanfare Trumpeters. Their world-famous musical abilities cross international languages and cultures.

Click here to find out more about British Army Music.

This engaging concert in the splendid 450 seat auditorium tucked away in the grounds of King Edward’s private school in the leafy suburbs of Edgbaston in Birmingham, showed that in full.

At over £5,000 a term, inclusion for pupils here sees participation in symphony, concert, string, swing and wind orchestras, as well as choirs, guitar and ‘garageband’ ensembles. No brass bands yet on the curriculum, but after this event they may want to find out more about the benefits.

The MDs had picked a complementary programme, with reprises of some of the youth band’s recent excellent appearance at Stoller Hall set against the Marine’s polished professionalism and some cleverly realised joint items.

Classy rendition

The Marines Fanfare Team and Corps of Drums set the standard with a ringing ‘Olympic Fanfare’  – the level maintained with Stephen Cobb leading the youth band through a first half of Kenneth Downie’s ‘Sunset over the River Exe’,  Paul Sharman’s ‘Fuego’  and three movements from Karl Jenkins’ ‘Stabat Mater’  suite.

The MDs had picked a complementary programme, with reprises of some of the youth band’s recent excellent appearance at Stoller Hall set against the Marine’s polished professionalism and some cleverly realised joint items.

The fun of ‘Buglers Holiday’  (with a trio of Marines in the solo roles) did come with the now traditional ‘blob’ second intro entry (an in-tune triad though) ito raise a smile on faces, although seriousness was quicky re-established with a classy rendition of Peter Graham’s ‘Renaissance’ to close.

Tradition from the Marines came with the stirring sounds of their march medley (with precision drummers) and the heroic span of Philip Sparke’s ‘Invictus’,  set against Paul Saggers’ ‘Vivaldi’s Mission to Saturn on a Dog named Bongo’.  

A seriously written touch of ‘Red Priest meets Frank Zappa on a space ride with Wallace & Gromit’, it just cried out for an accompanying narration rather than introduction to have really worked a treat.

Informed appreciation

Phoebe Mallinson’s rendition of the languid, bluesy central section of the William Himes‘Concertino for Flugel Horn’  (without music) was that and more in a performance of mature, informed appreciation. With former principal cornet Tom Nielsen, the latest NYBBGB alumni to now hold a leading role in a UK orchestra, her musical future holds remarkable potential.

The massed items of a touchingly shaped‘Prelude on Lavenham’,  full bore funky pulse‘Andromeda’  and Irish theme pub music encore (complete with fiddlers and penny whistle) brought things to an energised close.

Iwan Fox