The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, the UK’s leading brass bands for children and young people which next year celebrates its 70th anniversary, has just announced their first ever Conductors’ Competition is now open for entries. This, the Band’s inaugural conductors’ competition, supported by the Garfield Weston Foundation, is a major step in creating opportunities for up-and-coming musicians to make an impact on today’s youth music scene.

The competition offers a range of prizes for the winner, including conducting a work in the Band’s 70th Anniversary Celebration Concert and being tutored by Martyn Brabbins.

“The National Youth Brass Band traditionally nurtures young brass and percussion players, preparing them for further education, teaching and music making in the community. Many go on to become professional musicians in top orchestras. However, many diversify and develop into conductors. This new competition will give the winner the opportunity to work with maestro Martyn Brabbins for a full week. His expertise and experience will help nurture their talent and hopefully feed back into the brass band movement benefiting many others along the way.”

Dr. Robert Childs, NYBBGB Director of Artistic Planningand Competition Judge.

Competition Process

The competition will consist of an application stage followed by two further rounds. In order to enter the competition, participants must be aged between 20 and 30 years old on 1st January 2022. Entries will be accepted for the competition by October 1st 2021. To enter, complete a short biography, upload a video submission and provide your contact information to qualify.

Successful entrants will go through an online interview stage before being notified of their acceptance. Finally, from the interview stage six conductors will be selected and will get to work with a band made up of members of the NYBBGB, being assessed by Martyn Brabbins, Dr Robert Childs and Captain Sam Hairsine RM. For the final stage of the competition, three finalists will have their skills judged by these same panelists.

“Discovering new conducting talent, and then nurturing that talent is something I am passionately committed to. First though, one has to give the aspiring conductor a chance to show what he or she has to offer. This new competition will do just that, and by a process of selection and with careful guidance, new talent will be given the chance to flourish.”

Martyn Brabbins, NYBBGB Youth Band Guest Conductor Summer 2022 and Competition Judge.

For more detailed information regarding the competition process, please refer to the NYBBGB Weston Conductors Competition page on the NYBBGB website: https://www.nybbgb.org.uk/cc2022

The Weston Prize for Conducting

The winner of the Weston Prize for Conducting will join maestro Martyn Brabbins and the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain for their Summer Course at Taunton School between 30th July and 6th.

The opportunity includes working as Associate Conductor and rehearsing side-by-side with the Band’s music staff and young people. The winner not only will conduct a work at the NYBBGB’s 70th Anniversary concert on 6th August in London, but also receive £500 to explore their talents alongside and be mentored by Martyn Brabbins.

Entry process

To enter or to find out more please refer to the NYBBGB Weston Conductors’ Competition page on the NYBBGB website: https://www.nybbgb.org.uk/cc2022.

Search for The NYBBGB (funded by Arts Council England and the Department for Education and partnered with the Royal Marines Band Service) on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and Instagram or visit www.nybbgb.org.uk to keep up-to-date.

The 80-strong National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain (NYBBGB), which next year celebrates its 70th anniversary, has just completed the virtual component of its annual Easter course, run online by its new management team, with Operations Manager Richard Milton, Director of Artistic Planning Dr Robert Childs and CEO Mark Bromley at the helm.

Guest Conductor Ian Porthouse put the young people through a challenging programme of works including Peter Graham’s ‘Triumph of Time’ and Gareth Wood’s ‘Brass Triumphant’. Meanwhile, Guest Cornet Soloist Tom Hutchinson, principal cornet player of Cory Band, ran a masterclass.

Inspiring Highlights

Highlights of the three-day course included workshops with Ian Porthouse, alumnus Captain Samuel Hairsine RN and members of the Royal Marine Bands Service, composer Gavin Higgins (talking about his ballet suite, ‘Dark Arteries’) and Dr Clarence Adoo (trumpeter), who gave an inspiring and thought provoking presentation on his life, to more than 100 delegates. The band’s open day attracted more than 80 visitors, making it the most successful open day since they were first launched.

Helen Williams, flugel tutor, who plays flugel with Cory Band, said: “It was refreshing and extremely heartening to see such a great response to the Easter Course of the NYBBGB. The course combined practical sessions rehearsing repertoire in sectionals and full band with presentations from the Royal Marines and Gavin Higgins. Inspirational seems too weak a description of the session given by Clarence Adoo.

“I was particularly impressed with the last full day of the course on which all members of the band were offered one to one online tuition. I was treated to some fantastic playing from students in the flugel and cornet sections who were preparing for the Katie Ogden Solo Competition. Every timetabled student arrived on time and made the best use of their allocated time. Fabulous!”

Luke Barker, cornet commented:

“The Easter virtual course was a triumph. We were once again treated to amazing masterclasses and workshops, tuition from world class players, and brilliant leadership from Ian Porthouse. It is an incredible opportunity and one of the gems of the banding world, which no one should hesitate becoming a part of.  I can’t wait for the summer course!”

Bethan Spragg, cornet, added:

“What an action packed few days! From virtual sectionals and full band rehearsals to workshops and talks by the Royal Marines, Clarence Adoo and Gavin Higgins, we covered so much in such a short space of time! I feel as if I’ve learnt so much from all our incredible tutors and been inspired by the guest speakers. I thoroughly enjoyed the masterclass and concert by Tom Hutchinson, who gave some great tips on how to progress. I can’t wait for the live regional days to take place in June, what a difference it will be to hear people play rather than watch everyone’s muted box on zoom!”

Expert leadership

Coaching staff were James Fountain (cornet), Mark Wilkinson (cornet), Helen Williams (flugel), Owen Farr (horn), Chris Jeans (trombone), Glyn Williams (baritones and euphonium), Les Neish (utba), Andrea Price (percussion) and John Maines (librarian). The house staff were ably led by Lorraine Childs and Danny Stenhouse.

To complete the course, the band will reconvene on between 2 and 4 June split into three smaller ensembles playing at Chetham’s School of Music (Manchester), Malvern College (Worcestershire) and St Martin-in-the-Fields (London).

There will be an online gala concert on 18 June featuring excerpts from the digital course and a performance of Gareth Wood’s Brass Triumphant.

‍The NYBBGB Easter course 2021 is sponsored by Yamaha.

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

We’re delighted to share our 2020 Annual Review with you.

I’m sure 2020 seems quite distant, and hope you are able to feel positive about the future as the country recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic. We have exciting plans, as always! Our Easter course is blended this year, with a few days of online learning which took place last week, and some face-to-face small group meet ups in early June. The concert (comprising work from each part) will be held online on the 18th June at 7pm – I hope you’ll be able to join us.

We will shortly launch a Bursary Scheme to help support talented young persons who might otherwise be excluded from the NYBBGB experience due to cost. Initially this will provide a number of means tested bursaries for the summer residential courses. We hope you can share it on your social media, and would love to hear from you if you know of any sources of funding we could tap into to support these bursaries.

Please do feel free to contact our funding development manager about anything on 01223 737831 or by email at [email protected]

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The Ivor Novello Award winning British composer Gavin Higgins, whose iconic Dark Arteries, is to be a cornerstone of the Youth Band’s forthcoming Easter course, is just one of the many leading guests who will be visiting the young musicians.

In a short video released ahead of Easter, guest conductor, Ian Porthouse, one of the UK’s leading brass band conductors, has spoken to Gavin, a Youth Band alumnus, about the origins of Dark Arteries, a work which will be analysed during the online element of the band’s forthcoming course.

Blended educational space

The NYBBGB, the UK’s leading brass bands for young people, is holding its Easter Course online, complemented in June by a series of live performances, the result of the ongoing pandemic.

Ian Porthouse, the band’s guest conductor, said: “Dark Arteries was commissioned by Rambert Dance Company and first performed in May 2015 with my band, the Tredegar Town Band, in which we shared the stage with Rambert dancers. Dark Arteries is a personal and at times highly wrought response to the Miners’ Strike and its aftermath. The youngsters are going to love meeting Gavin.”

He added: “It is in three movements, the first and last are expansive, with widely contrasting sound worlds, from dark, brooding melodies and the haunting sounds of solo flugel-horn to wild syncopations on cornets, suggestive of an imposing, but often bleak mining landscape. In 2016 Higgins re-worked Dark Arteries into a virtuoso concert suite, which captures the essence of the work in three connected movements. It is this version, which the band will work on.”

Inspiring commissions

In addition to Dark Arteries, Gavin has been commissioned by leading orchestras, ensembles and soloists including the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, London Sinfonietta, Manchester Camerata, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Ensemble 10:10, Rambert, the Carducci Quartet, the Fidelio Trio, the Piatti Quartet, David Cohen and Mark Simpson.

The Youth Band’s Easter Course will be held between 4th and 6th April, and subject to appropriate government guidance, will be followed by live components between 2nd and 4th June which will see the band split into three smaller ensembles playing at Chetham’s School of Music (Manchester), Malvern College (Worcestershire) and St Martin-in-the-Fields (London).

Mark Bromley, CEO of the NYBBGB said “I’m very excited that Gavin is joining the course to talk to members about his inspiration for Dark Arteries. Not only from a musical perspective but from an historical perspective”.

Register for our free online events as part of the Easter Course!

Join the Youth Band Open Day & Masterclass

Join the Masterclass with Dr Clarence Adoo MBE

Search for The NYBBGB (funded by Arts Council England and the Department for Education and partnered with the Royal Marines Band Service) on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and Instagram or visit www.nybbgb.org.uk to keep up-to-date.

NYBBGB Easter 2021 is sponsored by Yamaha.

Young brass and percussion players between the age of 13 and 18 are invited to a virtual open day of the 80-strong National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, the UK’s leading brass band for young people.

The free-of-charge open day, which will be held on 6 April, will feature a masterclass with Cory Band principal cornet player, Tom Hutchinson, one of the world’s finest brass players and soloists.

The event will give the young musicians the chance to experience first-hand what it is like to be a member of the band, as well as the chance to ask questions with Richard Milton, the Youth Brass Bands Operations Manager, former Head of Service, Salford Music and Performing Arts Service and Dr Robert Childs, Director of Artistic Planning, Director of Brass Band Studies at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama.

Leading voices

Sectional rehearsals will be led by the band’s tutors, drawn largely from leading orchestras and brass bands.

James Fountain, cornets (joint principal trumpet, London Philharmonic Orchestra and trumpet professor at the Royal College of Music); Mark Wilkinson, cornets (principal cornet, Fodens Band); Andrea Price, percussion (Head of Academic Music at Malvern College and previously a Black Dyke Band percussionist), Les Neish, tubas (Tuba tutor, Royal Northern College of Music, RNCM Junior School, Salford University, Birmingham Conservatoire and Huddersfield University, and Eb bass, Brass Band of Battle Creek); Glyn Williams, baritones and euphoniums (solo euphonium, Cory Band), Helen Williams, flugel horns (flugel horn, Cory Band), Owen Farr, tenor horns (tenor horn tutor, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama solo horn, Brass Band of Battle Creek; and Chris Jeans, trombones (Musical Director, GUS Band)

The session will be held during the Youth Brass Band’s forthcoming Easter Course, which due to the ongoing pandemic, will be a mix of virtual and physical performances and educational opportunities.

The session will be held during the Youth Brass Band’s forthcoming Easter Course, which due to the ongoing pandemic, will be a mix of virtual and physical performances and educational opportunities.

Richard Milton, the Youth Brass Band’s Operations Manager, and who will also be taking part in the Open Day, said: “The Open Day will be a fantastic opportunity for youngsters who want to go on to develop. Not only will they get to listen to masterclass from Tom Hutchinson, arguably one of the world’s finest cornet soloists, but they’ll get to listen in to sectional rehearsals, led by a stellar cast of the best of the best.”

The Youth Band’s Easter Course will take place between 4th and 6th April and following the Government’s latest advice on Covid-19, the three live days will be held during the Spring half-term. The gala concert will be broadcast on Friday 18th June.

‍To book a place on the open day, which will be held between 10am and 1.30pm register below.

REGISTER HERE‍

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

Former professional trumpeter, Dr Clarence Adoo MBE, is to give a masterclass to members of the The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain (NYBBGB).

The masterclass will be delivered during the Youth Brass Band’s forthcoming Easter Course, which due to the ongoing pandemic, will be a mix of virtual and physical performances and educational opportunities. The inspirational webinar will also be open to members of the public.

Sign-up to webinar

The Youth Band’s Easter Course will take place between 4th and 6th April and following the Government’s latest advice on Covid-19, the three live days will be held during the Spring half-term. The gala concert will be broadcast on Friday 18th June.

Campaigner for Disability

Clarence, who in 1995 was involved in a tragic car accident which left him paralysed from the neck down, is a campaigner for disabled people in the North East of England. He played a key role in the design for disabled people of the SAGE, Gateshead, and is a special advisor to NYBBGB, with a focus on diversity and disability.

Although Clarence is no longer a full-time musician, he now plays the Headspace, an electronic instrument that was created specially for him.

A committed Christian, Clarence grew up within a Christian foster family in Essex, where he first took an active interest in music. At the age of six, he joined the Young People’s Salvation Army band where he began to learn to play the cornet, and later went on to study trumpet at the Royal College of Music. He then worked as a freelance musician in a range of genres, from pop, jazz (with Courtney Pine and the Jazz Warriors), to classical (including contemporary music with the London Sinfonietta). Then in 1992, Clarence moved to Newcastle to take up a contract with Royal Northern Sinfonia.

A True inspiration

Clarence Adoo is thrilled to have the opportunity to share with members of the National Youth Brass Band, his electronic instrument Headspace. This instrument has provided him with a valuable niche in the music profession which has challenged many barriers, traditions and musicians worldwide in Diversity and Inclusion in the arts, which could affect us all.

Mark Bromley, CEO of the NYBBGB added: “NYBBGB is an organisation that gives young people the opportunity to experience the best of music making and we are working hard to make what we do accessible to more people. Clarence exemplifies what we are about. This presentation to members of the band, promises to be something really special. I’m sure the young people will find Clarence’s talk truly inspirational, and to value music in all its forms.”

Search for The NYBBGB (funded by Arts Council England and the Department for Education) on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin 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 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