NYBBGB to Première Major New Tribute to Victoria Wood at Easter Concerts 2026

The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain is preparing to unveil a very special world première at its Easter Concerts 2026, as part of this year’s inspiring theme, New Horizons.

Currently in residence in Harrogate, The NYBBGB, 90 of the UK’s most talented young brass and percussion players are working intensively under the direction of Professor Nicholas Childs to prepare a dynamic concert programme for performances on:

• Saturday 11 April – The Garden Rooms at Tennants, Leyburn, DL8 5SG. 🔗 Tickets
• Saturday 18 April – Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, M13 9RD. 🔗 Tickets

A highlight of both concerts will be the world première of Victoria Wood: A Laugh Less Ordinary, a major new commission by acclaimed composer Andrea Price, generously funded by the Victoria Wood Foundation.

The work marks almost exactly ten years since the passing of Victoria Wood and stands as a powerful musical tribute to her extraordinary legacy as a comedian, writer, musician and performer.

The NYBBGB recently caught up with Andrea, who spoke in-depth about her new composition honouring Victoria, and how she approached creating a brand-new brass band work inspired by and celebrating her life and artistry.

A Commission of Real Meaning

For Andrea Price, the commission was both an honour and a significant creative challenge.

“It’s always a privilege to receive a commission,” she explains, “but this one carried a real sense of responsibility. Victoria Wood’s legacy is so vast—not just as a comedian and writer, but as a musician. When you look more closely, you realise just how instinctive and skilled she was as a composer.”

One of the central challenges lay in translating Victoria’s work into an instrumental form. Many of her most celebrated songs rely heavily on lyrics for their storytelling and humour.

“A lot of her music is deliberately simple because it serves the words,” Andrea says. “So removing the lyrics meant I had to find new ways for the music itself to carry that narrative and emotional weight.”

Finding the Story Beyond the Songs

Rather than creating a straightforward medley of well-known tunes, Andrea set out to build something deeper and more cohesive.

“What really struck me was that everything Victoria did was rooted in human connection—friendship, relationships, the way people interact. That became the foundation of the piece.”

This idea of connection is reflected throughout the work, particularly in the musical dialogue between instruments. The cornet and euphonium act as two distinct voices, representing Victoria and her long-time collaborator Julie Walters, whose friendship becomes a central thread running through the piece.

“It felt like a natural parallel with The NYBBGB itself,” Andrea adds. “The Band is all about connection—young people coming together, forming friendships that often last a lifetime.”

From Sitcom to Symphonic Scale

The work opens with a vibrant and theatrical reimagining of the iconic Dinnerladies theme, transformed into a dazzling fanfare.

“That theme perfectly captures Victoria’s genius—taking something ordinary and making it extraordinary,” Andrea explains. “I wanted to celebrate that by giving it scale and glamour—putting it on a pedestal in a way she probably never would herself.”

In contrast, the music soon shifts into a more intimate and introspective space. A virtuosic solo cornet cadenza portrays Victoria’s well-known stage fright and self-doubt.

“I imagine her backstage, giving herself a talking-to before going on stage,” Andrea says. “The music is deliberately exposed and challenging—it creates tension for both the performer and the audience. It’s a reminder that even the most brilliant performers feel nervous.”

A particularly inventive moment sees this musical line echoed by muted trombone, creating the effect of an internal dialogue—“a reflection in the mirror,” as Andrea describes it.

Reimagining Victoria’s Musical World

One of the most inventive sections of the piece draws on Victoria’s song Reincarnation, reimagined through a sequence of contrasting brass band styles.

“Without lyrics, repeating verses doesn’t work in the same way,” Andrea explains. “So I used the idea of reincarnation itself—music returning in different forms—to explore different styles.”

The result is a vibrant musical journey, moving through operatic writing, New Orleans-inspired jazz and a high-energy march—showcasing both Victoria’s versatility and the exceptional range of The NYBBGB musicians.

“The Band is an elite ensemble—they need to be challenged,” Andrea adds. “So it was important to create something that is technically demanding, but also exciting and fun to perform.”

Friendship, Loss and a Powerful Musical Symbol

At the emotional core of the work lies a profound exploration of friendship and loss, culminating in one of its most striking musical moments: the inclusion of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Fugue in C minor.

“That fugue is famously used in Acorn Antiques: The Musical! to signal the arrival of Mrs Overall—Julie Walters’ wonderfully eccentric character,” Andrea explains. “So it immediately brings Julie into the narrative in a recognisable way.”

But its significance runs deeper.

“A fugue is made up of independent musical lines weaving around each other—sometimes separating, sometimes coming back together. For me, that perfectly mirrored Victoria and Julie’s lives and careers.”

As the music develops, this intricate texture builds toward a moment of stark emotional clarity, reflecting the loss of Victoria at the age of 62.

“It’s almost exactly halfway through the piece,” Andrea says. “Everything changes. There’s a real sense of what might have been.”

From this point, the music moves into a deeply moving reimagining of Love Song, offering a moment of reflection, remembrance and quiet emotional power.

A Celebration of Legacy

The final section of the work draws inspiration from Victoria’s own connection to brass banding, including her much-loved Brassed Up sketch.

“It was such a joy to discover that sketch,” Andrea says. “You can see how much she loved brass band music—and she’s genuinely playing the cornet.”

The piece builds to a triumphant, hymn-like conclusion—celebrating not only Victoria’s life and work, but the enduring impact of her artistry.

“I wanted it to feel uplifting,” Andrea reflects. “To look forward as well as back. Her work continues to inspire people, and it will for generations to come.”

Inspiring the Next Generation

For Andrea, writing for The NYBBGB adds an additional layer of meaning—particularly at a time when access to music education is under increasing pressure.

“Opportunities like this are absolutely vital,” she says. “They don’t just develop musicians—they build confidence, friendships and a sense of belonging.”

She also hopes the piece will introduce a new generation to Victoria’s work.

“For many of these young players, this might be their first real encounter with her,” Andrea explains. “If this piece sparks their curiosity—if it encourages them to explore her music and her writing—then that’s something really special.”

Be Part of the Première

As The NYBBGB prepares to take to the stage, audiences are invited to experience a truly unique musical event—one that celebrates a national treasure while showcasing the extraordinary talent of the UK’s leading young musicians.

Limited tickets for both concerts are available now. As with all NYBBGB concerts and events, tickets are FREE for under 18s.

🔗 Click here to book tickets for The NYBBGB Easter Concert on Saturday 11 April 2026 – The Garden Room at Tennants, Leyburn.

🔗 Click here to book tickets for The NYBBGB Easter Concert on Saturday 18 April 2026 – RNCM, Manchester.