National Youth takes joint step to virtual music making

The National Childrens and National Youth Brass Bands of Great Britain take the exciting steps to hold virtual courses culminating in an innovative joint concert.

The new venture contains a number of firsts for the organisation formed in 1952

Thursday, 25 June 2020

The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain (NYBB) & National Children's Brass Band of Great Britain (NCBB) have unveiled plans for their joint Summer 'National Youth at Home' courses and concert.

Made up of 140 of the UK's most young talented brass and percussion players, they will perform together for the first time in a virtual concert on Friday 7th August.

Virtual courses

It will be the culmination two back-to-back 'virtual' courses — another innovative 'first' for the organisation since it was founded in 1952.

The Childrens Band course led by Prof Nicholas Childs will be held from the 19th — 21st July, with the National Youth course, directed by Bramwell Tovey taking place between the 27th — 30th July.

Soloists and new works

The concert will feature international renowned soloists, David Childs and Brett Baker and will also feature the premieres of two new compositions specially written for the new 'virtual brass band' medium — Bramwell Tovey's 'Madrigali for Brass Band & Percussion' and Peter Graham's 'Strange New World'.

The technical delivery of the course will be led by former Children and Youth band member Ben Stratford, who now runs the successful Mango Design company and who has created a new 'National Youth at Home' brand identity.

Exciting move

Speaking about the new venture, Dr Robert Childs, Chairman of the NYBB and NCBB told 4BR: "We're really excited about our forthcoming virtual courses and end of courses joint concert.

This will the first time that the two bands have performed together in concert and the first time that we've taken this gone on-line approach, a necessary but exciting new move."

This will the first time that the two bands have performed together in concert and the first time that we've taken this gone on-line approach, a necessary but exciting new moveDr Robert Childs

Special

He added: "Although we will never be able to replace the traditional courses, our artistic directors, trustees and I really felt that the young musicians shouldn't miss out.

We're therefore delighted to have created two courses which will offer something really special for the young musicians."

Further details

Further details will be announced in the near future:

Find the organisations on Facebook, via Twitter @nybbgb or via www.nybbgb.com

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