Following the two-year pandemic-enforced absence, the return of the National Youth Brass Band Championships is now only a month away. Whether you have a family member or friend who is performing in one of the participating bands, or know a keen young brass player, now’s the chance to book your tickets.
On 26 and 27 March the hall at Corby Business Academy will play host to over 1,300 young people from all over the UK, in four sections: Championship, Intermediate, Elementary and Besson Prodige Debut. Four adjudicators will preside over the sections, with two on each day. The Saturday adjudicators are Alexandra Kenyon and John Barber, whilst Sunday’s are Mark Bousie and Stephanie Binns. The event itself will be hosted by Dave Benson Philips, who is sure to bring jubilant energy alongside long-standing compère David Hayward.
Find out more about each compere and adjudicator below.
The compères
Dave Benson Philips
It’s a fact that most children in the UK have enjoyed being entertained by Dave Benson Phillips who, over the last 28 years, has become one of the most popular children’s presenters on television. He's best known for the well-loved, BAFTA-nominated BBC kids game show Get Your Own Back.
David Hayward
David is a long-time supporter of the National Youth Brass Band Championships of Great Britain. He has spent a lifetime in banding ever since he joined the Celynen Collieries Band in Newbridge, South Wales, at the age of seven. He has been privileged to have experienced banding at all levels, both as a player and conductor and latterly as a compère at local, regional and national competitions.
The adjudicators
Alexandra Kenyon
Alexandra has taught brass for 22 years both privately and in schools, and started her musical education on cornet in Huddersfield at the age of seven. In 2000, Alex moved to Scotland, where she played with Whitburn, Newtongrange & Scottish Co-op bands. Later playing her time with Black Dyke Band, she played soprano, flugelhorn, solo horn and assistant principal cornet. She is also the brass tutor of Cumbria Youth Orchestra and currently leads the Cumbria Music Hub.
John Barber
John is widely regarded as one of the most versatile trombonists in Britain today. He is Principal Trombone of the Foden's Brass Band, a position he has held since joining from the Black Dyke Band in 1996. He works widely outside brass banding in orchestras, having worked with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and Welsh National Orchestra, as well as performing with Elton John, Rod Stewart and Liza Minelli.
Mark Bousie
Mark studied euphonium with Steven Mead at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. He has held principal euphonium seats with a number of leading brass bands, including Sellers International and Fairey. Mark is also well known as a successful conductor, particularly of youth and lower section brass bands, and is a tutor at Junior RNCM and National Children's Brass Band of Great Britain.
Stephanie Binns
Stephanie started playing cornet at the age of 8 with the Mount Charles Youth Band, where she held the principal cornet chair for many years. In 2016, whilst on the Repiano and Flugelhorn chairs for the Cory Band, she won the 'Grand Slam'. She made the move up north in 2018, where she joined the Fairey Band on Principal Cornet. During this time, she was awarded ‘Player of the Year’ by her fellow band members. During 2020, she joined the Grimethorpe Band for some innovative virtual lockdown performances before joining the Black Dyke Band later that year on Flugelhorn.
Brass Bands England is delighted to have established, talented members of the brass banding community oversee the results. They also hope to see you there supporting the next generation of young brass musicians.
Advance tickets are still available to purchase; there are tickets available for on-the-day purchase but these are limited so don’t delay in reserving your seats. Tickets will be collected from the desk at the entrance on the day of the contest.