A shared ambition "to increase understanding and widen opportunity"will see the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain (NYBBGB) and National Youth Brass Band of Switzerland (NJBB) celebrate the second year of their international musical exchange, Besson Horizons.
Supported by the leading brass manufacturer, the programme enables two young musicians from each country to participate in the other's summer course, deepening musical education and strengthening cultural ties in the process. The NYBBGB was founded in 1952, whilst the NJBB was formed in 1976.
Participants
This July, Lewis Barton (cornet) and Alice Clarke (horn) from the NYBBGB will travel to Switzerland to join the NJBB A-Band for their 50th jubilee year under the direction of conductor Allan Withington.
In August, Lauriane David (cornet) and Julie Pralong (cornet) from Switzerland will make the journey to join the NYBBGB summer course, led by guest conductor Martyn Brabbins.
Shared values
Reflecting on the continued success of the initiative, Mark Bromley, NYBBGB, CEO told 4BR: "We're proud to see this international exchange enter its second year. It's a testament to the shared values of our organisations in offering talented young musicians the opportunity to broaden their musical and cultural horizons.
With the continued support of Besson, it nurtures a lifelong passion for music and building friendships that span borders."
Enriching
This was echoed by Monika Bandi-Tanner, President of the NJBB, who added: "It's wonderful to see the Besson Horizons programme continue to grow. Our shared aim remains the same: to offer young musicians enriching, international experiences that inspire personal and musical growth.
Through these exchanges, we learn from each other, celebrate our differences and connect through the universal language of music."
Incredible
Feedback from the inaugural year of the programme highlights the value of the experience, with Swiss player Sascha Gyger telling 4BR: "It was an incredible experience to be a part of the NYBBGB summer course. The time spent with everyone in the UK was both musically enriching and socially rewarding.
I feel that I have grown significantly as a musician, learning from the exceptional talent around me and making wonderful new friends along the way."
With the continued support of Besson, it nurtures a lifelong passion for music and building friendships that span bordersMark Bromley, CEO, NYBBGB
Fantastic opportunity
This year's participants are equally excited, with Lewis Barton telling 4BR: "I'm incredibly excited to be part of this year's Besson Horizons exchange.
It's a fantastic opportunity to experience a new musical culture, meet like-minded young musicians, and challenge myself in a completely different environment."
International partnership
Euan Meikle, Besson UK and Ireland Sales Manager added: "We're delighted to continue supporting this exciting international partnership.
Programmes like Besson Horizons empower young musicians to reach their full potential while deepening their understanding of other cultures.
This is about building bridges through music — and ensuring a vibrant future for brass banding across Europe."
More information:
More information about the Besson Horizons exchange can be found in the videos below:
NYBBGB (in English): https://youtu.be/y-AUiR9s43s
NJBB (in French): https://youtu.be/OmPETlGF0ao
