*
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    


Whitburn

Double boost for Whitburn

August 26 • New solo signings boost Scottish Champion's ranks ahead of major challenges.


Tertnes

New duo to lead Tertnes

August 26 • Margie Sutherland Antrobus and Katrina Marzella Wheeler will spearhead the musical approaches of Tertnes Brass on contest and concert stages over the next year.


wsbba

Troon set to welcome entertainers

August 26 • Defending champion Unite Scotland Kinneil leads the entertainers in Troon at the West of Scotland Entertainment Contest this weekend.


BrookWright

BrookWright Solo Competition finalists announced

August 25 • You can now vote for who you think should win the Under 18 and Over 18 categories of the 2026 BrookWright International Brass Solo Contest.


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


Regent Hall Concerts - The Duchess of Edinburgh String Orchestra

Friday 18 September • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Chinnor Silver

August 26 • Our COMMUNITY BAND is meeting again on Tuesday (1st) in our bandroom at 11am. Why not come along for a relaxed,friendly rehearsal with cake/coffee and it’s all free.. We welcome players of all abilities and blowing with us doesn’t affect your No1 band.


Wantage Silver Band

August 22 • Wantage Concert Brass (1st Section) are looking for a SOLO HORN and PERCUSSIONIST. Under the direction of our dynamic and inspiring MD Daniel Hall. This year we achieved 3rd at the L&SC regionals. We rehearse Tue & Fri 7:30pm- 9:30pm in our own bandhall


Ashington Colliery Band

August 20 • Front Row Cornet & Tenor Trombone. We're a friendly, ambitious Second Section band based in South East Northumberland just north of Blyth. We rehearse Tuesdays & Thursdays, 19:30-21:30, and transport can be provided depending on location.


Prof. Christopher Houlding

MMus, GGSM, LRAM
Conductor, Performer, Educator


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd