2022 marks the 70th anniversary of the formation of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain. 

A proud history has been hallmarked by many outstanding concert performances at major venues across the UK, whilst the band itself can boast alumni that reads like a brass banding ‘Who’s Who’.

Generous

This generous invitation from Butlin’s to mark the start of the celebrations was rewarded with a programme played with polish and enthusiasm by a band that clearly was determined to play with a great deal of propriety pride.

Dr Robert Childs ensured that musical acknowledgments were made to the founder father Dr Denis Wright with the opening ‘Fanfare’, whilst he also kept a tight grip on the pacy tempo of ‘Le Corsair’  arranged by another inspirational MD in Geoffrey Brand.

This generous invitation from Butlin’s to mark the start of the celebrations was rewarded with a programme played with polish and enthusiasm by a band that clearly was determined to play with a great deal of propriety pride.

Kirsty Abbotts and Brett Baker had no need to roll back memories with their wonderful playing on ‘Alaw’  and ‘Making Whoopee’, whilst the contrasts of ‘Shepherd’s Hey’  and ‘Pell Mel’  set things up nicely to round of the first half with the pomp of the ‘Grand March’  from ‘Aida’.

Well stoked

The second half was more of the same; a colourful ‘Festive Overture’  and well stoked engine on ‘Royal Border Bridge’  bookmarking Alan Morrison’s super rendition of ‘Memory’.  

Jonathan Bates’ tribute to former administrator Philip Biggs in ‘By Water and the Word’  was a thoughtful insertion whilst John Storey and James McLeod has plenty of virtuoso euph fun  on ‘Brillante’.

A thumping old ‘all bells’ ‘1812 Overture’  was a reminder of that old classics - played by generations of National Youth players over the years still provides a great way to round off any celebration event.

Craig Chapman