The NYBBGB Wows Packed Leyburn Audience as Excitement Builds for Manchester Performance

The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain delivered a spectacular opening to its Easter Concerts 2026 on Saturday evening, as 500 appreciative audience members packed into The Garden Rooms at Tennants, Leyburn for an unforgettable performance of New Horizons.

The concert marked the culmination of an intensive week-long Easter residential course, bringing together 90 of the UK’s most talented young brass and percussion musicians aged 13 to 18. Under the inspirational direction of acclaimed guest conductor Prof Nicholas Childs, the 90-strong NYBBGB ensemble delivered a performance of exceptional maturity, brilliance and musical depth that left audiences astonished.

Guest soloist Mike Cavanagh, Solo Baritone of the Black Dyke Band, gave spellbinding performances throughout the evening, captivating the audience with Peter Graham’s powerful Concerto for Baritone, Thomas Doss’s virtuosic Pulse, and a deeply moving rendition of Gounod’s Ave Maria, performed in tribute to the late Bramwell Tovey.

A major highlight of the evening was the world première of Andrea Price’s Victoria Wood: A Laugh Less Ordinary, a newly commissioned work funded by The Victoria Wood Foundation. Trustees from the Foundation were present in the audience and described the piece as a profoundly moving tribute to the much-loved comedian, writer and musician, marking ten years since Victoria Wood’s passing this month.

Audience reaction to the concert was overwhelmingly enthusiastic, with many praising not only the ambition of the programme but the extraordinary standard of performance achieved by such young musicians. Several concertgoers, including regular attendees of performances by leading ensembles such as Black Dyke Band and Foden’s Band, commented that they were blown away by the quality, precision and artistry on display.

Following the triumph in Leyburn, excitement is now building for the second and final performance of New Horizons, which takes place this coming Saturday, 18th April at 6pm in the Concert Hall at the Royal Northern College of Music.

Tickets are selling fast, with only a limited number remaining. Book now here.