The YYBB offers young people who have already achieved a Grade 4 standard the opportunity to develop their musical ability and play together in one of the country’s best youth bands. Many bands include youth sections, but few are able to offer the leadership, musical tutoring and mentoring that Black Dyke members can give to the YYBB. We want to help develop the next generation of band players at the same time as making sure that everyone who takes part is given the confidence to expand their musical horizons in the future.

Each year, we hold between six and ten workshop weekends, including full band rehearsals, sectionals, and masterclasses led by Director of Music, Professor Nicholas Childs, and music staff from the Black Dyke Band. The list of tutoring staff taking part includes some of the country’s leading band musicians, including Richard Marshall, Brett Baker, Dan Thomas, Siobhan Bates, Matthew Routley and Neil Edwards. Courses are held at Saddleworth School in Uppermill, and the band is supported in everything it does by the sponsorship of the Geneva Group in North Yorkshire.  

2020 was a challenging year for the YYBB, as it was for all musicians. We were unable to meet in the way we normally would and so our usual pattern of development was curtailed. However, in January 2021 the YYBB held their first Virtual Course to great critical acclaim, with further courses now planned throughout 2021, including the first on 28th March. Since the first Virtual Course the band has seen a 25% increase in its membership and further development in our new Mentor scheme, all of which gives us great optimism for the coming year.

If you are interested in joining a band and would like to know more about what the YYBB does, we would love to hear from you. We welcome enquiries from all aspiring band members and will do all we can to give you a great start to your band playing journey. Why not contact us for more information and give us a try!

If you would like to learn more then please contact:

Alison Childs
Administrator
Yorkshire Youth Brass Band

E: [email protected]
M: 07802 771735