*
banner

New youth venture spearheads participation, inspiration and enjoyment

An exciting new initiative spearheaded by Sam Harrison of Elland Youth Band aims to bring a different approach to showcasing youth band musical talent.

Harrison
  Sam Harrison hopes the event will showcase the importance of participation, inspiration and enjoyment in youth banding...

An exciting new youth band venture is being spearheaded next month by the award winning Elland Silver Youth Band.

Following the cancellation of the Action Research Championships, the organisation has decided to promote its own non-competitive youth brass band festival, aimed at providing ensembles with the opportunity to showcase their performance talents at an outstanding venue.

Six ensembles

The Halifax Youth Brass Band Festival will be held on Saturday 9th February at Halifax Minster (HX1 1QL) and will see six junior and youth ensembles each perform a 20-minute programme, culminating a massed band finale to round off the day.

Those taking part are Elland Silver Youth & Training Bands, Wardle Junior Band from Rochdale, HD9 Youth Band from Huddersfield and the Red Admiral Youth Band from Mawdesley.

It will start at 2.00pm and will finish at around 5.30pm.

Participation, inspiration and enjoyment

The festival is being jointly organised jointly Samantha Harrison, MD of Elland Silver Youth & Training bands and Canon Hilary Barber from Halifax Minster.

"We want to provide an event which brings young people from different bands together to perform, watch and listen to each other,"Sam told 4BR.

"Halifax Minster is a wonderful venue, with excellent acoustics, and was keen to help promote a youth initiative. It's an exciting new venture for us and a first for the Minster.

We also hope we can now link up with others to add to the event and bring an ever greater emphasis on participation, inspiration and enjoyment — the core elements that we all believe are essential for encouraging the development of youth players in community bands."

We hope we link up with others to add to the event and bring an ever greater emphasis on participation, inspiration and enjoyment — the core elements that we all believe are essential for encouraging the development of youth playersSam Harrison

Tickets:

Tickets for the event will be £8 and FREE to under 16's and can be purchased in ordered in advance from Kathleen Harrison on 01484 717126 or directly from Halifax Minster or online at: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/halifax-youth-brass-band-festival-tickets-54972806143?aff=efbeventtix&fbclid=IwAR08Qlv-ubvCuRRKj5NyPY8dsvVHgiP5F8G7boe88PZXWZJdEV6xuC4tVQA

Become a supporter and help make our future secure.

4barsrest continues to be a proudly independent voice. There are no paywalls to overcome to be able to enjoy what we do to keep our journalism at the heart of the brass banding world. Support us with a one-off donation or subscribe from just £2.50 per month.

Support us    


Blackford

Orbital set for publishing take-off

August 5 • The acclaimed major work from composer Richard Blackford will be available for bands to purchase from 4th September.


BBSS

BBSS delegates prepare for 40th anniversary concert

August 5 • Over 160 musicians from 12 countries will provide the 40th anniversary celebrations on the Brass Band Summer School course in Gloucestershire on Friday.


Fairlop Brass

Busy Fairlop help make brass on the grass pay

August 5 • Fairlop Brass has been busy providing entertainment for good causes and great people.


DOODLES

Don't be late to get prepared

August 5 • Doodles Mouthpiece replating services is reminding players to get that essential summer refurbishment done in time for the start of the second half of the contesting year.


Sherborne Town Band - Free Summer Concert- Trowbridge Park

Sunday 9 August • Summer Concert- Trowbridge Park BA14 8AH


Regent Hall Concerts - Cross Bones Trombone Quintet

Friday 21 August • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Sherborne Town Band - Free-Music in the park

Sunday 23 August • Sherborne, Dorset-Pageant Gardens DT9 3NP


Sherborne Town Band - Free-Music in the park

Sunday 13 September • Sherborne, Dorset-Pageant Gardens DT9 3NP


Regent Hall Concerts - The Band of the Grenadier Guards

Thursday 17 September • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Brunel Brass Organisation

August 5 • Brunel Brass is looking for a SOLO HORN to complete the band. Challenging for promotion to the Championship Section in 2027 and achieving our highest ever result at the British Open Senior Trophy in 2026, it's an exciting time to join the band!


Wantage Silver Band

August 5 • Wantage Band (Championship Section) are looking for a BACK ROW CORNET player to complete the band. As current Welsh Open Champions and being placed third in Stevenage, it's an exciting time to join the band with a fantastic schedule of concerts coming up.


Alder Valley Brass

August 4 • Alder Valley Brass, an ambitious, busy and sociable 2nd section band seek a BBb bass . We rehearse Mon & Thu 8-10pm in Farnham. New MD Ollie Hallstead-Brooks starts with us in September. Come and join the team!


Kevin Wadsworth


Conductor, adjudicator, teacher (ABBA)


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd