Founded in 1958, the NYBBS is due to celebrate its Golden Anniversary next summer.  To mark this special occasion, it is our proposal to undertake a concert tour of Japan. A tall order, perhaps, but one that we feel we are more than ready for considering our history, stability and strength.

• What is the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland?

The NYBBS operates under the umbrella of SAMA (The Scottish Amateur Music Association) and runs summer residential courses for young brass and percussion players from all over Scotland and beyond.  The nominal age limit is 21 and each year around 150 young musicians gather to work and perform collectively.

• What’s the standard like?

Only the cream of the country’s young brass players make it into the National Youth Brass Band.  Many then go on to study music at college and university.

• So is it elitist?

We are interested in improving overall standards and encouraging all young people to be involved in music-making.  To this end we have a Reserve Band (over sixty-strong) designed to help players who have not quite made the standard required to be in the NYBBS proper.  In 2007 we introduced a third band designed for the youngest and least experienced of our applicants.  This three tier system ensures that all applicants receive the training and encouragement best suited to their level of development.

• Why do players want to join?

Our high level of enrolments (despite the hefty course fee) is quite simply because players and, perhaps more significantly, their parents accept that the standard of tuition and the overall quality of experience is second to none.  No other group in Scotland comes close to being able to provide a similar package.

• Where do the staff come from?

Our staff are selected because of their excellence in the fields of education and music.  All house (pastoral) staff members are experienced teachers in Scottish schools.  All tutorial staff have risen to the top in either music education or in performance.  Many have produced CDs as soloists or conductors and most are household names in the brass band world.

• What does the band actually do?

Each year following our summer course, which since 1994 has been held in St Andrews, the band gives at least one gala concert.  In the early days these concerts were attended by parents and friends.  While that is still true, we have now attracted a huge following audience and recent concerts (in St Andrews’ Younger Hall) have been close to standing room only!

• Just a concert?

More than just a concert!  We were the first brass band ever to take part in the official Edinburgh International Festival and have performed countless Scottish, British and, indeed, world premières.  The band has played in front of crowds of well over a thousand in prestigious venues and concert halls across Europe.

• Across Europe?

The NYBBS has already enjoyed several successful foreign tours to Switzerland, Germany (twice) and Denmark as well as a tour of Orkney.  Our proposed trip to Tokyo is, however, our most adventurous project yet.

• Why have I not heard of the NYBBS?

Brass banding is a fairly esoteric pursuit but the NYBBS is well known and well respected.  We have broadcast many times on BBC Radios 2, 3 and Scotland as well as Radio Clyde.  Our most recent tour of Germany was made into a BBC Radio Scotland documentary entitled ‘Brass Over Munich’.

• Can I Help?

A group such as the NYBBS is expensive to run and we are always keen to attract sponsors.  Any sponsor will receive the maximum amount of coverage we can manage.  This will include adverts (if required) in our concert programmes as well as recognition and appreciation in any newspaper, magazine or other media articles.  There is, admittedly, limited coverage in the dedicated brass band magazines but, in the build up to our Japanese tour, we fully anticipate significant coverage from the Scottish press.  We hope to produce a CD of the live concert performances and multiple copies will be made available to our main sponsors.

Most importantly, any sponsorship will benefit talented young Scottish musicians – a very worthy and undervalued group.

• Not sure?

Please look round our website and have a listen to the tracks on the ‘BBC Radio Documentary’ page.  You may not be a brass band aficionado but I defy anyone not to be impressed with our standards, our history, our performances and, with your help, our future.