Youth Brass 2000 is ensuring that they are well prepared for their forthcoming appearance at the inaugural Youth Brass in Concert contest at Sage Gateshead on 24th November.

The current European Youth Premier Section, BrassFest UK, British Open and National Youth Champions have been spending their weekend in intensive rehearsals — all undertaken by former principal players of the band — some going back to its first years under MD Chris Jeans in the early 1990s.

Star help

The cornet team is being looked after by Adam Hebditch now at Trinity College, whilst the horns, baritones and euphoniums come under the watch of Black Dyke's Siobhan Bates and Brighouse & Rastrick's Steve March.

Tim Jones of GUS is taking care of the percussionists, whilst the troms and tubas will be benefitting from the expertise and experience of composer Paul McGhee and Royal Philharmonic trombone star Matt Gee.

We are thrilled that all these former principal players have offered their help in this wayBand Chairman Don Collins

Thrilled

Band Chairman Don Collins told 4BR: "We are thrilled that all these former principal players have offered their help in this way.

The current band is working so hard to maintain the standards that Youth Brass 2000 has become renowned for over the years, and we're sure they will be inspired once more as we look to add another prestigious title to our name."