Connecting during the Corona crisis – Bathgate Youth Band

Bathgate Youth Band is next up in our continuing series on how Scottish bands are staying connected during the Coronavirus pandemic:

Bathgate Youth Band was established in 2014 to provide a development platform for young musicians to come along, join a brass band and learn to play music in an ensemble environment.

From its humble beginnings the band has grown through the last few years moving from competing in the Preparatory to the Development Section at various band contests.

In June 2018 the band picked up a call from SBBA to perform on the roof terrace at Waverley Mall on Edinburgh’s Princes Street (pictured), as part of the worldwide Make Music Day celebrations, an event which many of our young (and older) musicians will remember for a very long time.

Moving into the 2019, the band achieved its first ever contest win at Innerleithen in September, before going on to host our inaugural charity concert in October in aid of a local charity, Team Jak Foundation.

During these unprecedented times, the band is keeping spirits up holding our Virtual Band rehearsal using Microsoft Teams, where we have been playing various games and generally making ourselves laugh.

#InspiringTomorrowMusicians

• Let us know about your band. Tell us about some of your successes, when you were founded, where and when you rehearse (when things are back to normal), and how your members are coping during the Coronavirus emergency situation.

Just send a couple of photos and a short write-up to Nigel Martin at sbbapr@gmail.com