Former members of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain recently met for a special 70th anniversary reunion event as part of the Easter Course of the current ensemble.

Around 25 former alumni travelled to Harrogate Ladies College to join the present-day performers — including three players form the very first band course in 1952.

Every decade

There were in fact representatives from every decade of the band's proud history who joined together to form their own unique Reunion Band to perform classic repertoire such as 'The Cossack' march, 'The Day Thou Gavest', 'Laudate Dominum' and the sugar coated 'Tritsch Tratsch Polka'.

The event was organised by the newly formed Alumni & Associates committee who are taking on the proactive role of maintaining a strong contact with former players to help support the current crop of talented youngsters.

A new database is being created with the aim of noting every players who has proudly performed in the bands during its 70th year history. Former alumni are being encouraged to submit their details and connect with the committee via social media and the band's Facebook group.

Former alumni are being encouraged to submit their details and connect with the committee via social media and the band's Facebook group4BR

New lead

To facilitate the role, former player Richard Hillson has taken on the role as Chair of the Alumni & Associates Committee.

Richard played in the band in the late 1990s before going on to study Law at the University of Nottingham, and has since worked in investment banking for twenty years.

He hopes to use his professional skills in finance, management and fundraising (as well as playing cornet in the Triangle Band from North Carolina in the USA) to help the NYBBGB develop and grow.