The NYBBGB and St Martin-in-the-Fields launch exciting new three-year partnership
A new three-year partnership between The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain and St Martin-in-the-Fields will create exciting new performance, training and professional development opportunities for young brass musicians – strengthening pathways from youth music-making towards professional musical careers.
The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain (NYBBGB) and St Martin-in-the-Fields are delighted to announce an exciting new three-year partnership, bringing together two organisations with a shared commitment to musical excellence, developing talent and creating opportunities for the next generation.
Running until August 2029, the partnership will support talented young musicians at different stages of their development – from auditions and training, through high-quality performance opportunities, to conservatoire study and the first steps towards a professional musical career.
Together, the two organisations will combine their expertise, networks and platforms to open up new opportunities for young brass musicians – helping them develop their talent, gain valuable performance and professional experience, and progress from youth music-making towards professional musical life.
For The NYBBGB, the partnership establishes a meaningful London presence and creates new performance and development opportunities for members and alumni. For St Martin-in-the-Fields, it introduces a significant new youth-brass strand to its music programme, builds relationships with emerging brass musicians from across the UK and creates opportunities to bring outstanding brass music to new and existing audiences.
Hear from Mark Bromley and Chris Denton
Mark Bromley, Chief Executive of The NYBBGB, and Chris Denton, Chief Executive of St Martin-in-the-Fields, share their ambitions for the new partnership and the opportunities and stronger pathways it will create for the next generation of young brass musicians.
Watch Mark and Chris discuss the new partnership on YouTube →
Creating pathways into professional music
At the heart of the partnership is a shared ambition to help young musicians perform, develop and progress.
Performance will form a major part of the partnership, giving NYBBGB musicians and alumni opportunities to appear at St Martin-in-the-Fields while bringing a regular programme of outstanding youth and emerging professional brass performance to audiences in the heart of London.
Three performance streams will form the foundation of the partnership: appearances by NYBBGB alumni within St Martin’s Friday Lunchtime Recital Series; Christmas and seasonal concert opportunities for conservatoire-level and principal-standard NYBBGB musicians; and an annual summer performance by The NYBBGB Ambassador Ensemble.
But the partnership goes beyond performance. St Martin-in-the-Fields will host annual NYBBGB auditions and elements of NYBBGB audition training activity. Young musicians will also benefit from seminars and shared-learning opportunities with St Martin’s staff and artistic partners, providing insights into programming, arts administration, audience development and production alongside wider professional and career development.
The two organisations also aspire, subject to funding, to establish a Brass Scholars Programme for recent NYBBGB alumni studying at UK conservatoires. Between two and four musicians would be selected annually for solo and chamber performances, participation in services and seasonal concerts, education and outreach activity, mentoring and professional development through St Martin’s networks.
Mark Bromley, Chief Executive of The NYBBGB, said:
“Our ambition is to give talented young brass and percussion musicians not only exceptional musical experiences, but the opportunities, confidence and connections that can help them fulfil their potential.
“This partnership with St Martin-in-the-Fields allows us to build that support across different stages of a young musician’s development. From auditions and training to performing in the heart of London, learning from experienced professionals and creating opportunities for our alumni as they begin to establish their careers, there is enormous potential in what we can achieve together.
“As The NYBBGB approaches its 75th anniversary in 2027, we want to celebrate everything the organisation has achieved while continuing to invest in what comes next. This partnership is an important part of that future.”
Chris Denton, Chief Executive of St Martin-in-the-Fields, said:
“St Martin-in-the-Fields has a longstanding commitment to musical excellence, developing talent and bringing exceptional live music to the widest possible audience. This partnership enables us to build on that commitment by establishing a new youth-brass strand within our programme and developing lasting relationships with some of the country’s most talented emerging brass musicians.
“We are excited not only by the performances this will bring to St Martin’s, but by the opportunity to share our experience, networks and artistic community with young musicians at important stages in their development. At the same time, their talent, energy and perspectives will enrich our own musical life and introduce our audiences to another vibrant part of the UK’s musical culture.
“By bringing the strengths of our two organisations together, we hope to create something with a lasting impact – for young musicians, for our audiences and for the future of brass music.”
The partnership in action
The partnership’s pilot programme is already under way.
In May, St Martin-in-the-Fields hosted the London leg of The NYBBGB’s free Ready To Shine audition training programme, helping young brass and percussion musicians develop their skills and confidence ahead of future NYBBGB auditions.
Then, on 15 August, 40 members of The NYBBGB Ambassador Ensemble, directed by Dr Robert Childs, performed a free outdoor concert at St Martin-in-the-Fields. The concert brought young musicians into one of London’s most prominent cultural locations while introducing audiences in Trafalgar Square to the energy and quality of youth brass music.
The autumn and winter programme will demonstrate another important aspect of the partnership: creating connections between young musicians, emerging professionals and St Martin’s established concert programme.
Supporting the next generation through NYBBGB auditions
St Martin-in-the-Fields will also host NYBBGB audition activity this autumn, helping the next generation of talented young brass and percussion musicians seeking to join the NYBBGB Youth Band and Children’s Band.
Auditions and audition training form an important part of the partnership’s wider ambition to support young musicians at different stages of their development – creating pathways from their first experiences with The NYBBGB through high-quality youth music-making, conservatoire study and towards professional musical life.
A4 Brass Quartet – Friday 30 October, 1pm
On Friday 30 October, A4 Brass Quartet will perform as part of St Martin-in-the-Fields’ Friday Lunchtime Recital Series.
Three of the quartet’s four members are NYBBGB alumni, making the concert a fitting example of the journey from youth music-making into professional performance that the partnership aims to support.
Book tickets for A4 Brass Quartet →
St Martin-in-the-Fields 300th Anniversary Concert – Thursday 12 November
On Thursday 12 November, NYBBGB musicians will take part in the St Martin-in-the-Fields 300th Anniversary Concert, including the performance of a specially commissioned fanfare by Philip Wilby.
The occasion will provide a major artistic expression of the partnership, bringing young musicians into St Martin’s own landmark anniversary celebrations.
Book tickets for the St Martin-in-the-Fields 300th Anniversary Concert →
The partnership will continue into the festive season, with small ensembles of current NYBBGB players performing free Christmas carol concerts at St Martin-in-the-Fields on Saturdays 5, 12 and 19 December.
The performances will give young musicians additional ensemble and performance experience while bringing festive brass music to audiences at St Martin-in-the-Fields.
Further lunchtime recitals and chamber performances involving NYBBGB alumni will follow during 2027, alongside professional development and shared-learning activity and the return of the NYBBGB Ambassador Ensemble for its annual summer performance.
As the programme develops through its first full delivery year from September 2027, the two organisations aim to deepen these connections, expand opportunities for young musicians and, subject to funding, establish the Brass Scholars Programme.
Looking ahead to The NYBBGB’s 75th anniversary
The partnership also comes at an especially significant moment for The NYBBGB as the organisation prepares to celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2027.
The anniversary will celebrate 75 years of developing extraordinary young musicians, while also looking firmly towards the future. The new relationship with St Martin-in-the-Fields is an important part of that story – creating new opportunities and stronger pathways for the next generation of young musicians to perform, develop and progress.
Together, the partnership demonstrates a shared commitment to what comes next – creating new opportunities for young musicians, enriching musical life at St Martin’s and bringing outstanding brass music to audiences in the heart of London.
