Brass Bands England hopes to create national buzz with new initiative

Brass Bands England links up with Warwick Music Group for pBuzz initiative that aims to increase grass roots participation in brass banding.

An innovative partnership aimed at attracting a new generation of youthful talent to brass bands has been announced between Brass Bands England (BBE) and Warwick Music Group (WMG).

Nationwide competition

It will see a nationwide competition utilising the market-leading manufacturer and supplier's ground breaking 'pBuzz' instruments to help provide a key engagement foundation stone in Brass Band England's future strategy of introducing and sustaining the development of young brass players.

It is hoped that it will also enhance the ability of community bands to play a proactive role in attracting new, young players in an exciting, fun way.

Partner

The venture will see WMG become a lead 'Foundation Level' partner of BBE in its future national development strategy — one that see Brass Band England aim to increase grass-roots participation and create clear education and opportunity pathways within the brass band community.

The new 'Create a Buzz' competition will see Warwick Music Group donate pBuzz instruments to enable as many children as possible to begin their musical journey to playing a learner brass instrument.

Brass bands, schools or other voluntary organisations will be invited to apply for the use of up to 20 pBuzz instruments each, to give children aged between 5 and 11 a fantastic opportunity the chance to learn, play and perform.

pBuzzers

Groups awarded with sets of instruments will also be invited to submit a recording of a new piece of music, specially composed by Jonathan Bates, with the winning band of 'pBuzzers' picking up a set of 10 pBones and pCornets.

They will also be invited to perform at the BBE National Youth Brass Band Championship in front of a capacity crowd in the Butterworth Hall at Warwick Arts Centre in April 2018.

Entries will be judged by a panel of leading brass instrument educationalists including leading euphonium star David Thornton, in February 2018.

Exciting collaboration

BBE Interim CEO, Andrew Coe told 4BR: "We are delighted to announce this new partnership with Warwick Music Group.

Their innovative products and educational ethos are very much in-line with the BBE mission in the critical area of youth development. We would encourage our member bands to get involved and help create the players of tomorrow. We look forward to working with the WMG on this most exciting collaboration."

...this is something close to our hearts. We hope that our first joint initiative 'Create a Buzz' will enable 20 new beginner bands to be formed across England in the next 12 monthsSteve Greenall, CEO Warwick Music Group

Strategic partnership

In reply, Steve Greenall, CEO of Warwick Music Group, added: "With the imminent arrival of our new pCornet, Warwick Music Group is delighted to form this strategic grass roots partnership with Brass Bands England.

As players ourselves already active in the banding community, this is something close to our hearts. We hope that our first joint initiative 'Create a Buzz' will enable 20 new beginner bands to be formed across England in the next 12 months."