The Kirkintilloch Band are delighted to announce to 4BR that they have teamed up with former St Helen’s Youth Band supremo Lynda Nicholson to launch a new youth band to supplement the existing Kirkintilloch organisation.

First rehearsal

The new youth band, to be named The Kirkintilloch (Imperiam) Youth Band, will join with the 5 times Scottish Champions and its sister band, Kirkintilloch Kelvin Brass, under The Kirkintilloch Band banner with the first rehearsal scheduled for Sunday 28th September. It is aimed to build a youth band with around 80 players aged from 9 to 19 split into a Training Band, Beginners Band and Youth Band.

Free tuition

The new youth band is also being supplemented by the re-commencement of free tuition during the week in the band hall for any young players in the surrounding areas. This tuition was previously provided for over 30 years by long standing Kirkintilloch member and Honorary President William Tennant and will now be headed up by The Kirkintilloch Band’s soprano player Steve Stewart (upper brass) and principal tuba Andy McKreel (lower brass).

Sponsorship

The name of the youth band reflects an initial 12 month sponsorship deal with Glasgow-based firm Imperiam Limited. Imperiam Limited provide bookkeeping, accounting and taxation services throughout the West of Scotland and this is their first venture into arts sponsorship.

Imperiam Director Ian Watson said “We are a relatively young company ourselves and feel strongly that we want to support the arts with a particular emphasis on youth. We are pleased to team up with such a successful organisation as The Kirkintilloch Band and look forward to seeing the new youth band prosper and perform its first engagements.”

I am delighted to have an immediate opportunity to head up another high profile youth organisation and am looking forward to working with both the tutors and youth band members to hopefully create a successful and vibrant musical groupLynda Nicholson

Lynda Nicholson is well known throughout the UK for both her playing and her work with youth. Since 1988, she was the Music Director of The St. Helens Youth Brass Band, steering them to many concert and competition successes, including six National Championship titles. Under Lynda’s leadership, SHYBB has flourished to the extent that a Training Band and a Beginners Band have also been formed.

Lynda's delight

Regarding the launch of the new youth band Lynda commented “Having just re-located to Scotland I am delighted to have an immediate opportunity to head up another high profile youth organisation and am looking forward to working with both the tutors and youth band members to hopefully create a successful and vibrant musical group.”

Youth Band Chairman Steve Stewart added “When we heard that Lynda was moving up to Scotland we had no hesitation in asking her to join our new project. We had already identified that there was a lack of youth brass bands providing for kids in areas around the north of Glasgow and discussions were ongoing with various parties. Lynda agreeing to head up the organisation has added real impetus to the project and we can’t wait to get started!”

The new launch is being supported both by the Scottish Brass Band Association through its Youth Development Officer Alan Edmond and by East Dunbartonshire Council through its Cultural Co-ordinator Esmee Thompson.

Register interest

Any players aged between 9 and 19 are invited to register to attend the initial rehearsal on Sunday 28th September to be held in the Kirkintilloch Band hall via the Registration Form which can be completed or downloaded from www.kirkintillochyouthband.org

In addition, any players wishing to join the free tuition can also register their interest by e-mailing to info@kirkintillochyouthband.org or contacting Steve Stewart on 07919 605420.