Party time as Riverside Youth Band marks tenth anniversary

Celebrations will be the order of the day on Friday for Port Glasgow-based Riverside Youth Band as it prepares to mark its tenth anniversary in style.

The four-time Scottish youth champions will mark the milestone with a celebratory summer concert in Port Glasgow Community Campus this Friday (17 June) at 7.30pm.

The evening will include the world premiere of a new commission for Riverside by Scottish composer, Alan Fernie. Tail o’ the Bank pays homage to the organisation’s Inverclyde roots. A new poem has been prepared for the occasion, as well as a short fanfare to open the concert.

Also taking part in the concert will be Riverside’s Youth and Training bands, under the baton of musical director Mark Good, as well as, for the first time, the Riverside Rookies, led by Laura Good. The new initiative from the band offers players as young as primary three the first steps in their music making journey.

Riverside’s tenth anniversary comes during a busy spell for the Inverclyde organisation, which is now based in Port Glasgow New Parish Church.

Members were treated to a trip to Perth to watch the renowned Black Dyke Band in action, a concert which left many members spellbound. Several players also took to the stage in Birmingham’s Symphony Hall with the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland at the European Brass Band Festival.

Duncan Galbraith, chairman of Riverside Youth Band, commented: “From its formation right up to the present day, Riverside Youth Band has offered a welcoming place for young people to develop their music making, regardless of their postcode or life experience.

“The transformative effect of music is immense and we are proud of the young people who have played a part in the success of the organisation. Our tenth anniversary gives us time to reflect on the highlights of the past decade but we won’t be resting on our laurels. Instead, we look forward to pressing ahead by inspiring even more young people on their way to what will hopefully be a lifetime of involvement in music.”

Tickets cost £10 (free admission to children aged 12 and under) and should be purchased in advance at https://bit.ly/3NjLxLN More information is available by emailing info@riversideyouthband.co.uk