*
banner

Elland youth and friends pack the pews at Halifax Minster

The recent Halifax Minster Youth Band Festival was certainly a great success — with performers enjoying both spotlight and communal music making.

Halifax
  Packed into the pews — the players conducted by Samantha Harrison

Halifax Minster recently hosted its Youth Band Festival in association with Elland Silver Band.

It saw eight training and youth bands from across the region perform 12-minute own choice programmes, showcasing their talents before joining together for a spectacular massed band finale.

Great success

The event was hailed as a great success, with the bands giving outstanding performances showcasing their abilities in full.

A spokesperson told 4BR: "This inclusive, non-competitive event, encouraged all levels of music making, providing an opportunity to gain performance experience and simply enjoy playing in a great venue.

Children as young as 6 years old performed with their individual bands and the massed ensemble, providing a unique experience. The inclusivity of the festival also encouraged adults, alumni and peers to sit in with bands to mentor and support young performers."

Taking part

Taking part were Elland Silver Starter, Training & Youth Bands, Dobcross Training & Youth Band from Saddleworth, Red Admiral Youth Band from Mawdesley, Shepherd Youth Band from York and the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain Ambassador Ensemble.

The event also received a £4,000 'Culturedale' enhancement grant to help raise its profile and outreach to grassroots musicians.

New work

Composer Nick Brocklehurst was commissioned to write 'Band Together' to perform in the massed band finale. It took its inspiration from musical theatre and popular culture and proved to be a great audience pleaser.

Next Step Films filmed the event for their on-demand service NXTOD and a film about the festival and its wide-ranging benefits. It can be enjoyed at: www.nxtod.com

Funding also provided the opportunity for a young professional to work on an Arts project, with Hollie Wright, a media student at Salford University adding her skills with branding and social media. The media page for the Festival has now reached over 55,000 views.

Volunteers from Elland Silver Community Band and Halifax Minster were also on hand to steward the event and serve refreshments.

All the bands were outstanding, and a real showcase of the amazing work which is being delivered at grassroots levelSamantha Harrison

Huge success

Speaking about the success of the event, Samantha Harrison, Festival organiser and Elland Youth Band Musical Director told 4BR: "This year's festival was a huge success. All the bands were outstanding, and a real showcase of the amazing work which is being delivered at grassroots level.

The additional funding has enabled us to build on the foundations of this event, and to celebrate all that is good about music making. I encourage all bands to do this and get involved with bringing musicians together.

'Band Together' is the perfect piece to do this, and I'd love to see this go viral."

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    


wELSH aREA

Draws & Results: 2025 Welsh Regional Championships

March 15 • Holywell and Deiniolin Silver claim the first titles of the weekend in Swansea


Stevenage

Draws & Results: 2025 London & Southern Counties Area Championships

March 15 • Cobham claims the first title of the Stevenage weekend.


cIVIC cENTRE

Result: 2025 Midlands Second Section Area Championship

March 15 • Carlton Brass claims the Second Section honours in Bedworth


Derek rENSHAW

Renshaw adds experience to MD role at Hade Edge

March 15 • Three time National winner Derek Renshaw brings his experience to the role of MD at Hade Edge Band.


Regent Hall Concerts - RAM Trumpet Ensembles

Friday 14 March • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - Wigfield Brass Quintet

Friday 14 March • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Contest: London & Southern Counties Regional Championships

Saturday 15 March • Arts & Leisure Centre, Lytton Way, Stevenage SG1 1LZ


Contest: Midlands Regional Brass Band Championships

Saturday 15 March • Bedworth Civic Hall, High Street CV12 8NF


Contest: Welsh Regional Championships

Saturday 15 March • Brangwn Hall, Guildhall Rd S, Swansea SA1 4PE


Port Sunlight Lyceum Brass

March 15 • Merseyside/Wirral based. We are a friendly 4th section band with regular jobs and socials throughout the year! Looking for a Principal Cornet, Cornets(position negotiable), Flugal and Trombone. All Players welcome! Instruments available to use!


The Marple Band

March 13 • Cornet ( positions negotiable),baritone and kit percussionist vacancies to join our fabulous band. We are a friendly ambitious 2nd Section band, starting an exciting new musical journey with our MD Nick Birch.


Rushden Town Band

March 12 • Back Row Cornet - due to a change in job, the band has a vacancy for a back row cornet. The band has a lovely atmosphere, and has regular jobs throughout the year as well as taking part in at least two contests.


Ian Holmes

BA (hons), PGDip (RCM), ARCM, ALCM
Conductor, piano accompanist and educator


               

 © 2025 4barsrest.com Ltd