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Young Conductors’ Competition 2026

Finalists
Competition Details
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Young Conductors’ Competition 2026 Finalists Announced

The NYBBGB is delighted to announce the four finalists selected for the Young Conductors’ Competition 2026: Ammal Bhatia, Megan Bousfield, Tommy Tynan and Joey Wong.

Now in its third edition, this prestigious biannual competition — proudly supported by British Army Music — is designed to discover and develop the most outstanding emerging brass band conductors aged 20 to 30. This year’s competition attracted 19 exceptional entrants from both brass band and non-brass band backgrounds across the UK and beyond, reflecting the growing reach, ambition and prestige of the competition.

Ammal, Megan, Tommy and Joey will go head-to-head at The NYBBGB Young Conductors’ Competition Live Final on Saturday 17th January 2026 at Tidworth Garrison Theatre, Wiltshire. The competition live final is free and open to all, offering audiences the chance to witness live the artistry, energy and leadership of some of the UK’s most exciting emerging conductors. FREE tickets for the live final can be booked here.

At the final, each conductor will take to the podium to rehearse one of four iconic brass band works with a joint ensemble of players from The NYBBGB and British Army Music in front of a live audience. The judging on the day will be conducted by Major Craig Bywater (Chief Instructor at the Royal Military School of Music) and Dr Robert Childs (The NYBBGB’s Director of Artistic Planning and leading brass band conductor and educator).

The winner will earn the title NYBBGB Young Conductor 2026 and will be appointed Assistant Conductor for The NYBBGB summer course and concert 2026, working alongside Lieutenant Colonel Lauren Petritz-Watts and conducting at the Band’s flagship performance at The Forum, Bath on 8th August 2026.

During judges’ deliberations, the competition live final audience will also enjoy a special 45-minute performance from a brass quintet drawn from The Royal Corps of Army Music.

Dr Robert Childs, NYBBGB Director of Artistic Planning and judge, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled by the response to this year’s competition. The number and calibre of entries from such a wide range of musical and cultural backgrounds shows the remarkable reach and prestige of this event. The NYBBGB Young Conductors’ Competition is a springboard for musicians ready to take their place on the national stage. We’re looking for conductors who not only demonstrate technical command and musicianship, but who can communicate, inspire and lead with creativity and confidence. We’re very excited to see the four best entrants take to the podium in January. It promises to be a truly inspiring and exciting event.”

Mark Bromley, NYBBGB Chief Executive, added: “This competition is exactly what The NYBBGB stands for — backing the future of brass music by empowering young leaders with high-impact professional experience. We are hugely grateful to British Army Music for supporting this vital opportunity.”

We would like to thank everyone who entered this year’s competition. Huge congratulations to our four competition finalists! Find out more about these aspiring young conductors below.

Competition Finalists

This year’s competition closed at the beginning of November. In total, 19 aspiring conductors entered the competition. Our panel of judges were delighted by the quality and standard of all entries received and shortlisted the following four conductors who will now go on to compete in the competition live final at Tidworth Garrison Theatre in January 2026.

Are you a budding conductor aged 20 to 30? Then our Young Conductors’ Competition is waiting for you to enter!

This is the third time we’re running our biannual Young Conductors’ Competition, and this time we’re offering the opportunity to work as Assistant Conductor to Lieutenant Colonel Lauren Petritz-Watts on our Youth Band’s 2026 Summer Course at Taunton College, and to conduct a work at the Band’s Summer Concert at The Forum, Bath. In addition the overall winner gets a £750 cash prize.

Click here to watch a video of Joshua Parkhill, winner of the 2024 competition, talking about how this career-defining opportunity changed his life — and why you should apply.

Our third Young Conductors’ Competition closed on 1st November 2025. Thank you to everyone who has entered. Finalists will be announced shortly. If you have any queries about the competition, please don’t hesitate to contact us using the button below.

Join us for The NYBBGB Young Conductors’ Competition 2026 Live Final – a FREE event celebrating the next generation of brass band leaders!

Watch four exceptional young conductors take to the podium, leading a joint ensemble from The NYBBGB and British Army Music as they compete for the coveted role of Assistant Conductor for The NYBBGB’s 2026 summer course and concert. And while the judges deliberate, experience a spectacular 45-minute concert by British Army Music – a thrilling, must-see performance that will leave you inspired!

Book FREE tickets for The NYBBGB Young Conductors’ Competition 2026 Live Final here.

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Competition Rules

Entry to the competition is free of charge.

The competition winner will receive:

  • An invitation to work as Assistant Conductor alongside Lieutenant Lauren Petrizt-Watts and The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain during their 2026 Summer Residential Course at Taunton School between 1st and 8th August 2026
  • The opportunity to conduct a work at The NYBBGB’s Summer Concert on 8th August 2026 at The Forum, Bath
  • A cash prize of £750

Entries will be assessed by Lt Col Lauren Petritz-Watts and Dr Robert Childs. Finalists will be determined through the quality of entries (see below) and may also include a conversation with Dr Childs and/or Lt Col Petritz-Watts.

Our third Young Conductors’ Competition closed on 1st November 2025. Thank you to everyone who has entered. Finalists will be announced shortly. If you have any queries about the competition, please don’t hesitate to contact us using the button below.

Four entrants will be selected to proceed to the Final. The Final will take place on the 17th January 2026 at Tidworth Garrison Theatre, Wiltshire and will involve rehearsing a full brass band made up of players from The NYBBGB.

The Final will be live and the four finalists will be judged by a panel including Maestro Martyn Brabbins, Major Craig Bywater and Dr Robert Childs.

Each finalist will be given 35 minutes to rehearse one of the following well known brass band works:

  • ‘Resurgam’ by Eric Ball
  • ‘Music for a Festival’ by Philip Sparke
  • ‘Shine as the Light’ by Peter Graham
  • ‘Dimensions’ by Peter Graham.

Finalists should prepare all four set works. Each finalists’ set work and the running order will be drawn by lot on the day.

Entries

1. Your entry must be submitted by midnight on 1st November 2025.
2. All entrants must be aged 20 or over and 30 or under on 1st January 2026.
3. You must scan and upload an image of your passport’s information page for verification purposes.
4. You must submit a short biography outlining your experience and ambition (max. 5,000 characters), including your recent place(s) of study and/or the name of your teacher(s) as well as a concise list of recent and forthcoming engagements.
5. You must submit a video of yourself conducting. The video must be under 10 minutes in length.
6. Please be aware that the Final of the Competition may be photographed and recorded for online streaming. By entering the Competition you are giving your consent for your performance, should you reach the Final, to be photographed, filmed and streamed online. All rights will be owned by The NYBBGB in perpetuity.

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