The European Brass Band Association has announced that eight youth bands will compete at the European Youth Championship to be held in Perth in May.

In partnership with host organisers, the Scottish Brass Band Association, the eight representatives come from five different European countries, with the event split into two categories as part of the European Youth Day on Sunday 4th May at Perth Concert Hall.

The contest days starts at 12.00 noon with the Development Section, followed by the Premier Section.

Participating bands:

Development Section:

Rochdale Borough Youth Brass Band (England)
1st Old Boys Youth Band (Northern Ireland)
Manger Skulemusikklag (Norway)
Moray Concert Brass (Scotland)
Dalmellington Junior Band (Scotland)

Premier Section:

Carnoustie & District Youth Brass Band (Scotland)
Liberty Brass Band Junior (Switzerland)
Northamptonshire Youth Brass Band (England)

Set work

The competitors in both sections will enjoy the flexibility of an own choice programme (up to 20 & 25 respectively) although each must play a prescribed set work — ‘Little Suite for Brass’ (Malcolm Arnold) for the Development Section and ‘Resurgam’ (Eric Ball) for the Premier Section, as well as an own choice solo and a piece which has a musical link to their home country.

Positive response

SBBA Development Manager Andrew Duncan, told 4BR: "It’s been fantastic to see such a positive response to the introduction of the contest.

With such a variety of countries being represented in this inaugural event, it’s really a reassuring indication of the active growth and support that exists for youth brass bands — the foundations upon which the bands enjoying the European Brass Band Championships in the future will have been built."

Platform

Ulf Rosenberg, President of EBBA continued: "We are delighted with the number of bands taking part.

We believe that SBBA and EBBA’s desire to meet the rationale of the contest to provide a platform for Europe’s finest youth brass bands to perform a programme which is musically excellent and entertaining in a competitive environment has been fully embraced by the enthusiastic response from the variety of bands attending."

Youth Day

The European Youth Brass Band Contest forms part of the dedicated European Youth Day, and will follow a morning concert from the 2014 European Youth Brass Band and Eikanger-Bjørsvik Musikklag

On completion of the contest performances, the day will be brought to a close, with a performance by the King’s Division Brass Band of the British Army prior to the awards ceremony.

It’s been fantastic to see such a positive response to the introduction of the contestSBBA Development Manager Andrew Duncan

Tickets

Tickets for European Youth Day morning concert and European Youth Brass Band Contest are on sale from Perth Concert Hall Box Office (Online: www.horsecross.co.uk Tel: +44 (0)1738 621 031), with special discounts for those aged 16 or under, and combined ticket offers.