The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain (NYBBGB), the UK’s leading brass bands for children and teenagers, has unveiled the repertoire for its forthcoming Easter course.

The news falls hot on the heels of the announcement of the partnership between the NYBBGB and the Royal Marines Band Service (RMBS), and the details of the 2021 season, which due to the ongoing pandemic, will be a mix of virtual and physical performances and educational opportunities.

Ian Porthouse, Guest Conductor, will work with the NYBBGB Youth Band on Peter Graham’s Triumph of Time, Gavin Higgins Ballet, Dark Arteries and Gareth Wood’s Brass Triumphant. Brass Triumphant will be recorded for use in the NYBBGB Easter Gala Concert, which is due to be broadcast on 21 April. Ian will also deliver a masterclass to the members on programming.

One of the UK’s finest brass musicians

Guest soloist, cornet star and principal cornet of the Cory Band, Tom Hutchinson, will perform a virtual recital. Featuring music by Oskar Böhme, Joy Webb, James Curnow and Harry James, he will be accompanied by pianist Chris Williams. Tom will also perform in the virtual Gala Concert a few weeks later accompanied by members of the NYBBGB. His programme will feature James Curnow’s Concertpiece, Hayden Wood’s A Brown Bird Singing and Clarence Williams’ Sugar Blues.

Dr Robert Childs, the NYBBGB’s Director of Artistic Planning, said:

“The forthcoming Easter course promises to be truly exciting, with some really major works programmed for the band. The combination of Ian Porthouse, one of the UK’s leading conductors, and Tom Hutchinson, one of the UK’s finest brass players, promises to be a fantastic cocktail, one that really inspires the youngsters to go on to greater things.”

Blended approach

The Easter Course is due to be held between 4th and 9th April, and subject to appropriate government guidance, the NYBBGB Youth Band is looking to hold a blended virtual/physical Easter Course which will see the band split into three smaller ensembles playing live at Chetham’s School of Music (Manchester), Malvern College (Worcestershire) and St Martin-in-the-Fields in London.

Search for the NYBBGB (funded by Arts Council England and the Department for Education) on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or visit www.nybbgb.org.uk to keep up-to-date.

The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain (NYBBGB), the UK’s leading brass bands for children and teenagers, has announced a partnership with the Royal Marines Band Service.

The collaboration, believed to be the first of its kind between a National Youth Music Organisation and the Armed Forces, will see the eighty-strong Youth Band and the sixty-strong Children’s Band join with the Royal Marines Band Service (RMBS) in a series of ongoing performance and educational projects.

Unique performance

The initiative will be marked by a joint online performance of Dan Price’s Andromeda, which has been reworked for brass band and wind band.

The partnership follows the NYBBGB’s recent announcement of its forthcoming season, which due to the ongoing pandemic, has drawn up a blended virtual and physical plan to help ensure that the the Youth and Children’s Bands can perform in 2021.

The partnership was born out of a conversation between NYBBGB CEO Mark Bromley and Youth Band alumnus Sam Hairsine, who is now a Director of Music in the Royal Marines Band Service.

‘I’m delighted that the Royal Marines Band Service is partnering with the young musicians and top professionals of the NYBBGB. To be able to offer performance and development opportunities, particularly in the current climate, is very important to us, and a real thrill.’ Capt. Hairsine, RM

Fantastic opportunity

Mark Bromley, NYBBGB Chief Executive, added: “This exciting partnership will see the two organisations collaborating on a number of music and education projects. The values of the RMBS align closely with our own, there is so much that our students can learn from the Royal Marines beyond music. This is a fantastic opportunity.”

Founded in 1903, The Royal Marines Band Service is regarded as one of the world’s most versatile military musical organisations, providing the Royal Navy, Defence and the State with musical and ceremonial excellence that underpins the fabric of the nation, Service ethos and national core values.

Search for The NYBBGB (funded by Arts Council England and the Department for Education) on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or visit www.nybbgb.org.uk to keep up-to-date. The Bands of HM Royal marines can also be found on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube, or visit www.royalnavy.mod.uk/rmbs

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Due to the ongoing pandemic the NYBBGB has drawn up a blended virtual and physical plan to help ensure that the two bands can perform in 2021.

The bands are to be led this year by a trio of guest conductors: Ian Porthouse, Philip Harper and Nicholas Childs, some of the biggest conducting names in the brass band world. Tredegar Town Band Musical Director, Ian Porthouse, is to lead the Youth Band’s Easter course and Cory Band Musical Director, Philip Harper, is to lead its annual Summer course. Dr Nicholas Childs, Musical Director of Black Dyke Band, is to lead the Children’s Band course in the Summer.

Cornet virtuoso, Tom Hutchinson, principal cornet of the world’s number one ranked brass band, Cory Band, will be Easter’s guest soloist, and Ian Bousfield, a former principal trombone of the acclaimed Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, will feature in the Summer. Guest soloist for the Children’s Band will be Gary Curtin, solo euphonium of one of the UK’s finest brass bands, Foden’s Band.

In what will be a break with tradition the band, subject to government guidance, is looking to hold a blended virtual and physical course at Easter which will see the Youth Band split into three smaller ensembles playing live at Chetham’s School of Music (Manchester), Malvern College (Worcestershire) and iconic London venue, St Martin-in-the-Fields.

Mark Bromley, CEO of the NYBBGB, said: “Although for the second year running we’ve had to cancel our Easter residential course and concerts due to the pandemic, we have planned a unique mixture of virtual and physical rehearsals and performance opportunities over the coming year.”

“We learnt a lot of lessons from our successful National Youth at Home virtual course and concert last Summer which we now apply to all that we do. We’ve done a lot of work to ensure we have options in place that enable us to be very flexible during these difficult days.”

“Supported by a stellar line up of music and pastoral staff we are really looking forward to the 2021 season.”

Youth Band courses: 4 – 9 April and 31 July – 7 August. Concerts: Online only (23 April), Repton School (6 August) and Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (7 August). Children’s Band course: 25 – 30 July (Repton School). Concert: Repton School (30 July). All subject to government guidance.

Find The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, funded by Arts Council England and the Department for Education on Facebook and Twitter @nybbgb or via www.nybbgb.org.uk.

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2020 has been a year we will remember for many reasons; the same is true for the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain. It has been a year of firsts.

We started the year wondering what COVID-19 was and how it might affect what we all love – making music. It very soon became clear that it was to have a huge impact on music making and, with a heavy heart, we made the decision to cancel the Easter residential course. This was the first time (as far as I’m aware) a course has been cancelled in the band’s 68 year history.

As we moved through lockdown we all got used to Zoom, a tool many of us hadn’t even heard of just a few months before. And then it happened! Music making transferred from the stage to the screen but with a difference; individuals performing from home in little boxes with technology blending it all together to make a performance.

In early Summer we decided that, if playing together live was still not going to be possible, we would give members the opportunity to do so virtually. We used our new found technological skills and NationalYouth@Home 2020 was born and along with it, a new brand identity which was fresh, hopeful and inclusive. In July we held virtual courses for both the Youth and the Children’s Bands, led by Bramwell Tovey and Nicholas Childs. For the first time ever we staged a joint concert performance on Facebook and Zoom. What a success that was, with over 11,000 hits from across the world. Members also told us they enjoyed it and that we should also keep the new branding, so we have.

In August we implemented our new strategy, “the NYBB experience” and recruited a fantastic new management team to deliver it. In just a few weeks I was joined by Louise Shaw as Funding Development Manager, Ben Stratford as Marketing and Communications Manager, Malcolm Marsden as Finance Manager and, last but not least, Richard Milton as Operations Manager taking over the reins from Alun Williams who had kept the band running since the passing of Philip Biggs twelve months earlier.

In October we held virtual auditions alongside a series of virtual master classes; another first. We wanted auditions to be a positive learning experience, so irrespective of whether students reached the standard on the day or not we ensured everyone came away with written feedback, tips and hints to help them develop. You told us in the post-event satisfaction survey that you really liked this new approach, thank you.

At the end of October we announced that Bramwell Tovey would be standing down as Artistic Director, with immediate effect, to focus on his health. We will all miss him immensely.

Three weeks ago we were delighted to announce that Robert Childs had agreed to be the band’s first ever Director of Artistic Planning. Bob is tasked with bringing a wide range of world class conductors, composers and soloists to the band to make our courses and events better than ever for our members and audiences.

Another first this year will be working in partnership with the Royal Marines Band Service over the Christmas break to produce a joint performance of Dan Price’s Andromeda. I very much look forward to seeing and hearing the result of this brilliant collaboration.

So that’s it, 2020 – what a year – a year of many firsts! I believe we will come out of it stronger and we’ve learned lots of new things that will make us better for the future. We have some very exciting plans for 2021, not least for the Easter and Summer courses which we will be announcing in the New Year.

But for now, on behalf of all the staff and trustees of the band, a huge thank you for your continuing support. We wish you a very happy and safe Christmas and look forward to seeing you all face-to-face in 2021.

Best wishes

Mark Bromley

CEO, The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain

The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain has appointed Dr Robert Childs as its first ever Director of Artistic Planning.

Dr Childs, who stood down as Chair of the Band earlier this year and will retire his role as a Trustee to take up the role, will be responsible for delivering the artistic vision of both the Youth Band and its sister ensemble, the Children’s Band.

The new post, which will report into the Band’s CEO, Mark Bromley, replaces the current roles of Artistic Director of the Youth Band and Musical Director of the Children’s Band. The Band will now look to invite a diverse range of conductors to lead its courses.

The role, which will be for up to six years, will oversee the artistic quality, education and performance standards of auditions, courses, touring programmes and concerts. NYBB alumnus Dr Childs is currently Director of Brass Band Studies at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

Mark Bromley, Chief Executive Officer, said: “We’re extremely fortunate to have someone as highly regarded and experienced as Bob join the team. It will allow us to build on the legacy of Bramwell Tovey and Prof Nicholas Childs and give our members the opportunity to experience a diverse range of conductors, composers and soloists from around the world.”

Dr Robert Childs commented: “I’m thrilled to be given this opportunity to continue working with the NYBBGB, a band I’ve been involved with for almost fifty years. This is a new chapter for the Band and I’m excited by the prospect of working with CEO Mark Bromley inviting conductors and tutors to share the invigorating feeling of working with Britain’s best of the best in youth music”.

Search for the band (funded by the Department for Education and Arts Council England) on Facebook and Twitter @nybbgb or via www.nybbgb.com

The 80-strong National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain is to perform a joint virtual performance of Dan Price’s Andromeda with the Royal Marines Band Service.

Musicians from the Royal Marines will record the military band parts in advance and support a series of online sectionals and masterclasses for members of the Youth Band after Christmas, allowing the members to record the music from the comfort of their own homes. The music, which Dan has reworked for military band and brass band specially for the occasion, will be aired online early next year.

The collaboration – a first for both Bands – came about through a conversation between NYBBGB CEO Mark Bromley and NYBBGB alumnus Captain Sam Hairsine RM, a Director of Music in the Royal Marines Band Service, who also volunteers with the UK’s premier youth brass band as a member of its pastoral staff.

Captain Sam Hairsine, said: “The NYBBGB is a brilliant organisation and I’m delighted that we can work together, especially in these challenging times.  It will be a real thrill for our professional musicians to work with and perform alongside these fantastic young people online.  It’s a fantastic project with an amazing band.”

Mark Bromley, NYBBGB CEO, added: “We have learned a lot about how to do music differently in 2020. This virtual collaboration with the Royal Marines Band Service promises to be a truly inspirational experience. A good end to a difficult year.”

Mark Bromley, NYBBGB CEO

Andromeda is dedicated to Elland Youth Band and its conductor, Sam Harrison, a former principal cornet of the NYBB. The band gave the premiere performance as part of its 2019 European Youth Brass Band programme in Montreux, Switzerland.

Search for the Royal Marines Band Service on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @RMBandService or via www.royalnavy.mod.uk/rmbsFurther information about the Arts Council England and the Department for Education funded National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, can be found on Facebook and Twitter @nybbgb or via www.nybbgb.com

Maestro Bramwell Tovey, the Grammy and Juno award-winning artistic director of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain (NYBBGB) has stepped down from the post he has held since 2006.

Tovey, Principal Conductor of the BBC Concert Orchestra and Music Director Emeritus of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, who made his BBC Proms debut with the NYBBGB at the Royal Albert Hall in London in 2012, told the Band that his decision to leave was as a result of the need for more personal time to address the reoccurrence of an ongoing health issue requiring immediate attention. This is not COVID-19 related. Tovey’s resignation followed his resignation from Calgary Opera for the same reason.

Past Chair Dr Robert Childs, who worked closely with Tovey for over a decade, said:

‍“Bramwell is one of the most inspirational musicians I have ever witnessed. His work with the NYBBGB over the past decade will be remembered by members and staff alike. The soloists he has brought to the band have been world class, as were the guest conductors, and his music commissions have added great quality to the brass band repertory. However, the overriding memory I have of his long and distinguished tenure was his humility and ability to communicate on so many levels with the young musicians of the Band. He knew them all by name and made them all feel like professional musicians. Bramwell will be dearly missed by all.”

Mark Bromley, NYBBGB’s Chief Executive Officer added:

“I’d only got to know Bramwell well over the last three months since joining the Band as CEO, but already I know I’m going to miss his wise counsel. He brought so much to his role, inspired so many youngsters and delivered so many special performances. I’m now focussed on ensuring we build on his legacy and that our future artistic direction is something he will be proud of.”

Bramwell is a graduate of the University of London and the Royal Academy of Music, of which he was elected an honorary Fellow (in 2004). He was elected an honorary Fellow of the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto (2005).

The National Youth and National Children’s Brass Bands of Great Britain (NYBBGB) has appointed its first ever Funding Development Manager, the last in the series of key management appointments for the organisation.

Louise Shaw, an experienced fundraiser and charity manager who has raised some £20 million for charity, joins from the University of Sheffield, where she worked as its Senior Philanthropy Manager – Foundations from December 2011. The University of Huddersfield graduate, will be responsible for raising vital funds for the organisation.

The new funding role complements the recent appointments of Mark Bromley (CEO),  Richard Milton (Operations Manager) and Ben Stratford (Communications and Marketing Manager.)

Mark Bromley, NYBB CEO, said: “We’re delighted to have appointed Louise to the new role. She will be a key member of the leadership team of the NYBBGB, with the purpose of helping develop and deliver the organisation’s funding development strategy, which in turn will support the organisation in its plans to make the Band more accessible to a broader range of people.”

Louise Shaw added “This is a very exciting opportunity and I really am looking forward to playing my part in the Band’s future. If you would like to support the Band in any way, big or small, please get in touch with me.”

Further information about the Arts Council England and the Department for Education funded National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, can be found on Facebook and Twitter @nybbgb or via www.nybbgb.com

Auditions for the National Youth and National Children’s Brass Bands of Great Britain will be on-line this year.

Young players from across the UK are being encouraged to audition for the National Youth and National Children’s Brass Bands of Great Britain this Autumn. The ongoing issues of COVID that are faced by us all mean that the auditions will not be in their usual format but will be carried out online. Prospective band members will be asked to upload their performances for assessment by Friday 16th October and then contacted for an online interview in the last week of October which will include sight reading and scales as in the normal audition process.

The process for applying is all online also and can be found on the NYBBGB website nybbgb.com  by following the “Join Us” links.

Richard Milton the new NYBBGB Operations Manager explained “As an organisation we are committed to getting young musicians making live music together as soon as possible and ensuring this is done safely is paramount. At this time the aim is still to run the Easter Course postponed from 2020 in 2021 and all the musicians who were expecting to be on that course have been invited back. The auditions this Autumn will be for the Summer Courses planned for July and August 2021.”

Find the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, funded by Arts Council England and the Department for Education on Facebook and Twitter @nybbgb or via www.nybbgb.com

Richard will replace Alun Williams who joined the organisation as interim administrator on a temporary basis last year.

Music educator, teacher and conductor, Alun Williams will stand down from his role as interim administer in late September.

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Richard has worked in music education for more than 30 years, played in brass bands for more than 40 years and was Head of Service for Music and Performing Arts Salford (MAPAS) until retiring that role earlier this month. The Salford University alumni is also regional secretary of the North West Regional Brass Band Championships and still plays with his local band Whitworth Vale & Healey Brass Band.

Mark Bromley, the band’s newly appointed CEO, said: “This is about building an organisation to secure the Band’s future. With more than 30 years’ experience in music education, I’m very pleased to have Richard on board. His experience with youth bands and music education will be invaluable in continuing the great work of Alun, our brilliant outgoing interim administrator.”

“Richard’s role is a key part of the new leadership team and critical to ensuring the Band continues to offer students and audiences one of the best experiences they can get in youth banding, just as it has since it began way back in 1952.”

Richard Milton commented: “I have always been an ardent follower of the NYBBGB and all that it does. I’m really very proud to have been given this opportunity at such an exciting time in the Band’s history.”

Alun Williams added: “It’s been an absolute thrill to have served the organisation the last 12 months and, due to the COVID pandemic which I wasn’t expecting, to have been a part of the development team for the truly inspiring NYBB at Home online initiative, a replacement for the Summer residential course.”

The eminent conductor and euphonium player, Dr Robert Childs, Chair of the National Youth and National Children’s Brass Bands of Great Britain (the Band), stands down after ten years in the voluntary role, following the organisation’s successful National Youth at Home initiative culminating in their Grand Finale virtual concert on 7th August. Robert, who is a former member, tutor, guest soloist and guest conductor of the organisation, will remain as a trustee and board member, alongside his wife, Lorraine Childs.

The newly appointed Chair of the Board of Trustees is former member, tutor, long time Trustee and past Chair, John Gillam.

Meanwhile, in a landmark move by the organisation, Mark Bromley, who has been a trustee since 2015, has been appointed to the newly created post of Chief Executive Officer. Mark, who was Chair of Orchestras Live for ten years, is currently also Vice Chair of St Martin in the Fields Ltd, Vice Chair of the Hinrichsen Foundation and a member of the Supervisory Board of iconic music publishers Edition Peters.

Also joining the team in the new position of Marketing and Communications Manager is Ben Stratford – who so skilfully pulled together the technical aspects of the National Youth at Home Initiative and Grand Finale virtual concert.

Dr Robert Childs, the organisation’s outgoing Chair, said: “The past year has been one of the most difficult years in the history of the Band, for various reasons, but I’m confident that the new managerial structure with Mark Bromley and John Gillam at the helm will herald a new and prosperous future for the Band”.

Incoming Chair, John Gillam, added: “In these most challenging of times the Band is very quickly learning new ways of working. I am extremely impressed we were able to deliver a virtual course this Summer for both the Children’s Band and the Youth Band, largely due to the extraordinary efforts of Alun Williams, our interim administrator, and Robert Childs who skilfully led the team to make this happen. We are a busy Board with lots of exciting opportunities ahead of us and we look forward to further announcements around our structure for the future in due course.”

Mark Bromley the Chief Executive Officer, commented: “The Band has a long proud heritage but has also demonstrated, through its National Youth at Homeinitiative, that it is able to change. My vision is simple, to equip the present generation of young musicians to inspire the next. Our culture will be open and inclusive and give people from all backgrounds experiences that make them advocates for brass music. I am delighted to be working alongside John, Bob and the rest of the team who together have a huge wealth of experience.”

Find the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, funded by Arts Council England and the Department for Education on Facebook and Twitter @nybbgb or via www.nybbgb.com

The National Youth (NYBB) and National Children’s (NCBB) Brass Bands of Great Britain are to feature two brand new works for virtual brass band at their inaugural joint concert on Friday 7th August.

Broadcast live as part of its National Youth at home initiative, the NCBB will include the premiere of Peter Graham’s Strange New Worlds and the NYBB will include the premiere of Bramwell Tovey’s Madrigali, both written for virtual performance.  Professor Nicholas Childs will lead the NCBB and Bramwell Tovey will lead the NYBB.

The NCBB recorded Peter Graham’s Strange New Worlds during its recent virtual course. A five-movement work, which in the words of the composer, “some may interpret … as being one from the ancients while others might identify with the science-fiction of H.G. Wells. Others still will relate to the recent surge of interest in1980s culture and the Netflix series Stranger Things (to which the title of my work pays homage). Nor would it be unreasonable to consider the piece an analogy reflecting events in 2020.

Meanwhile, the NYBB will perform Bramwell Tovey’s Madrigali, which in the words of the composer, “is a set of instrumental madrigals for each section of the band which will use a specially prepared click-track and involve individual and sectional preparation. The full band sections will be edited and pieced together post-course.”

Guest soloist for the NCBB will be Black Dyke Band principal trombone, Brett Baker. Viewers will hear La chica sin nombre (The girl with no name), by Rob Wiffin, completed during lockdown by the former conductor of the RAF Central Band. Spiritual Sometimes I feel like a motherless child, arranged by the soloist during lockdown, “focuses on the higher aspects of the range for the trombone”; and the challenging Autumn Dreams by Leo Zimmerman, a trombone soloist with the J P Sousa Band.

Soloist for the NYBB will be international euphonium soloist, David Childs. Childs will play one of his favourite solos, The Better World by Norman Bearcroft, The Song: I’ll Make Music by Karl Jenkins, and Carnival of Venice by Paganini / Arban, a work he previously played under Bramwell Tovey with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. The Better World, will be performed in tribute to the composer, who passed away recently.

Alun Williams, the Band’s interim administrator, said: “The concert will feature 140 of the UK’s finest young brass and percussion soloists from across the UK, led by two leading conductors, with two of the UK’s best brass soloists, what’s not to like?

Featuring brand-new compositions and arrangements for brass band coupled with the opportunity to hear the winner of the the NYBB’s Mortimer Prize, the broadcast will have something for everyone.”

The virtual concert will begin at 7pm on 7th August via the Band’s YouTube and Facebook sites.

Find the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain (funded by Arts Council England and the Department for Education) on Facebook, Twitter @nybbgb or at www.nybbgb.com