Young musicians on course for a week of music making and fun

Today marks the start of the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland (NYBBS) summer course. Just short of 200 young instrumentalists will be attending the annual residential event at the Strathallan School in the Perthshire village of Forgandenny.

For the brass and percussion players attending NYBBS 2024 from across Scotland, the emphasis will be on having fun as well as enjoying the full learning experience.

This year’s 198 students will be supported by three musical directors – Ian Porthouse (Senior), John Boax (Reserve) and Alan Fernie (Children) – and 35 tutors, pastoral and medical staff.

Sectional practice sessions, master classes and full band rehearsals will provide the opportunity for some serious music making for the students while ‘extra curricular’ events will bring a more lively element to the course.

The NYBBS summer course is supported with funding from Creative Scotland through its Youth Music Initiative.

Instead of the traditional end-of-course concert by the three NYBBS bands on the final day, this year will be a musical extravaganza entitled Brass at the Park to celebrate the life and legacy of former NYBBS conductor emeritus Richard Evans who passed away in April 2022.

The grounds of Strathallan School will be transformed into a huge campus featuring a large marquee in which the NYBBS bands will be joined by special guests Dalmellington Band and, from the Isle of Man, Rushen Silver, with whom Richard worked for many years.

Strathallan Pipe Band and NYBBS Allstars will play at the opening ceremony at 11am and later in the programme the Perth & Kinross Schools Big Band and Percussion Ensemble will take to the stage.

Video recordings of Tokyo City Concert Band, another ensemble of which Richard was guest MD, will be shown between the live performances. Pictures that Scottish bandspeople have of Richard over the years will form part of a screened photographic show of the life and times of the popular MD.

Brass at the Park is open to the public as well as brass band enthusiasts and supporters and tickets can be obtained at https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/scottish-brass-band-association or by scanning the attached QR code. Donations on the day will go to the British Heart Foundation and towards the setting up of a bursary fund in Richard Evans’ name.