The Scottish Brass Band Association is set to export its expertise to the rest of the UK with the news that British Open champions Tredegar is to become the first band in Wales to utilise the ground breaking youth development initiative that has proved so successful in Scotland.
Community revival
Speaking to 4BR, outgoing Scottish Development Officer Alan Edmond feels that the decision could well be the start of a community based youth banding revival in the principality and beyond.
"We have already had fruitful discussions with Tredegar and have been impressed with their vision and commitment to what is a long term development plan to increase youth participation in their banding organisation."
Proven success
He added: "The flexibility of the SBBA led initiative means that although there are differences in some areas of organisation and funding streams, the basic blueprint is robust, far reaching and has proven to be successful.
It has worked in Scotland and I believe it can work not just in Wales but throughout the UK with banding organisations just like Tredegar."
It has worked in Scotland and I believe it can work not just in Wales but throughout the UK with banding organisations just like TredegarAlan Edmond
Welsh first
The current Open and Masters champion was one of the first bands in Wales to embrace youth development in the late 1960s.
Tredegar Junior Band became Butlins National Champions of Great Britain in 1974 and 1975, with a band that spawned playing talent such as Robert and Nicholas Childs as well as Nigel Weeks, who went on to develop a second generation that claimed the European Youth Band title in the early 1990s.
New generation
And now, Band Secretary Alwyn Powell, is delighted that a new generation of brass band players will be nurtured in the Welsh valley community.
"The SBBA initiative has been an amazing success and we believe that it provides a template for long term development of young playing talent that will hopefully filter through not just to our own band but also to many other bands in South Wales."
