Brass Bands England (BBE) and the National Association of Brass Band Conductors (NABBC) have announced details of a new partnership that will see the two bodies working together to develop educational opportunities for conductors across the country.

In addition to BBE providing administrative support for the NABBC, the arrangement will mean that all members of the NABBC will receive individual membership of BBE, which will be included in the cost of their existing membership.

NABBC members will see the renewal of their membership move to the BBE website at www.bbe.org.uk

Next generation

This partnership is aimed to provide administrative streamlining of the NABBC and allow the organisation to focus on developing new services and activities for its current members as well as play a greater role in developing the next generation of conductors.

Russell Gray, NABBC President, Russell Gray told 4BR: "When I started working with the NABBC I wanted my tenure to be marked by a shift to make the body more relevant to the entire brass band community.

This new partnership makes this a reality by modernising our administrative processes and supporting the kind of programmes that can make a real difference."

Taking the plunge

Russell revealed that the first new initiative will see the partnership develop a set of workshops aimed at developing the conducting skills of those new to leading bands or for those thinking about what he called, "taking the plunge".

The courses will focus on band training in the lower sections, whilst also giving participants the opportunity to work with some of the finest bands in country."

Improving the training of bands through developing the skills of the people directing them is absolutely vital in our quest to see England's bands again leading the worldBBE, CEO Kenneth Crookston

Key element

Speaking about the partnership BBE CEO, Kenneth Crookston, added: "This marks the start of a key element in BBE's development plan. Improving the training of bands through developing the skills of the people directing them is absolutely vital in our quest to see England's bands again leading the world.

We are really excited about the possibilities that our new relationship with the NABBC can bring in the years ahead."

He added that the workshops will form a new strand of BBE's development programme, sitting alongside such initiatives as the artistic direction, player development and BandSafe sessions that the body has already unveiled.