Tag: Youth Band

Youth band strikes Gold in Cheltenham

Admin Leave a comment

On March 23rd, the Youth Band headed off to Cheltenham where they took part in the National Youth Championships of Great Britain. They competed in the Yamaha Performance Section where they faced a stiff challenge from well established bands like Elland Training Band and Pembrokeshire Music Service. They performed really well and played with confidence. Those of us who were unable to get to the performance on the day were able to watch the live stream of the contest on the WOBPlay platform and the recording will be available there should you wish to catch up.

The band were unlucky not to be in the prizes on the day, but came away with a Gold Award with the judges saying their performance was “based on the most solid of banding basics”.

A solid result and a really great performance. Well done.

York Carol Concert

It wouldn’t be Christmas without York’s Annual Community Carol Concert, for 65 years the concert has marked the start of the festive season and we are back at York Barbican with a bang (and maybe some snow too) to celebrate 65 years of festive fun and all your favourite Christmas carols and songs.

Join Shepherd Group Youth Band, Badger Hill School Choir, Track 29 Ladies Harmony Chorus, York Stage School and Steve Cassidy for a Christmas sing along under the baton of Musical Director Mike Pratt. Carol concert favourites Adam Tomlinson and Rev Andrew Foster return to keep you entertained, be ready for laughs and maybe some festive surprises…

Proceeds from this year’s concert will go to the Lord Mayor and Sheriff of York’s Christmas Cheer Fund and the Press nominated charity. Help us make a difference to the lives of people in our community this Christmas.

St Leonards Hospice Light Up a Life

A Memorial Service for Christmas held in partnership with St Leonard’s Hospice

Join the Shepherd Group Youth Brass Band for this wonderful and moving event at Selby Abbey.

Wetherby Drovers March Contest

The Youth Band are taking part in the inaugural Wetherby Drovers March contest. They are up against some serious competition in the likes of the Reg Vardy Band. It looks like it is going to be a great day, so why not head over to Wetherby and cheer them all on.

The tour continues…

Peter Scott Leave a comment

Last night (15th February) the Youth Band went out from their hotel for a look round Disneyland Paris before heading back for food.

The band in front of their hotel.
The band at their Hotel.
Disneyland Paris by Night

After a long overnight drive down from York and an early morning ferry ride, the order of the day was Pizza and an early night. You do wonder how much sleep they got though!

Pizzas for the band
That’s the basses sorted for their tea then…

Today saw our Youth Band heading into Paris where they first went to explore Sacré Coeur before heading over to play in the Jardin du Luxembourg which is on the edge of the Latin Quarter. The park boats a spectacular bandstand which sees a variety of musical performances through the year. This time round, the sounds of Yorkshire Brass added to the atmosphere.

Ready to play
Horns and basses
The sun is out
Entertaining Paris
That’s concentration!
The cornet section
Euphs, Paris and Troms
The band at Sacré Coeur
Percussioninsts
Quite the bandstand isn’t it
Ready to go…

Check out these links to see the band performing in the Jardin du Luxembourg.

Youth Band head for France

Peter Scott 2 Comments
Youth Band Ready or the Off
Youth Band all ready to set off.

The Shepherd Group Youth Brass Band are off on tour again. They all congregated at the bandroom at midnight on Valentines Day and boarded a coach heading for France. They arrived in Dover in the early hours of February 15th and then headed off to Calais.

When The Boat Comes In?
When the boat comes in…

The band will spend the 15th recovering from he overnight journey before heading off to play in two amazing locations. They will play in Le Jardin du Luxembourg on February 16th before heading to play on the main stage at Disneyland Paris on the 17th. Following that is the long journey back before the member os of the Senior Band accompanying them take the stage with Black Dyke Band on the 19th.

Keep an eye on the website for more updates on the concerts and what the players get up ti in their downtime!

Youth band players watch a clown
Is Craig still working on the boats?
Players stand on deck with the White Cliffs behind them.
Au revoir Dover!
Players on deck en route for Calais.
We’re on our way!
Players brave the cold for a selfie.
Bit cool for selfies!
Richard and some of the players looking at a model of the ferry.
I wonder if I could dock that at Naburn?

This trip is a highlight of the Youth Band calendar. We try to head out on a concert tour every year, it gives the players the chance of performing on prestigious stages and broadens their horizons. If you have children who would like to learn to play a brass instrument, then please reach out to us; contact details are available in the links above.

Youth Band “Lights Up” Selby Abbey

Admin Leave a comment

Light Up A Life is an event our bands have been proud to be part of for many years in York. This year is no different and Sunday saw our Youth Band heading off to Selby Abbey where they performed to a packed audience in aid of St Leonards Hospice. This really is one of the most important performances of the year for the Youth Band and they were superb as they always are.

Sponsor a mile to Disneyland

Peter Scott Leave a comment

Next year, we are taking the Youth Band over to Disneyland Paris where they will represent us on the mains stage there in concert. This is a unique opportunity for our young players but is something we need your help in raising funds for.

It is 507 miles from the band room to the park, this makes a round trip of 1014 miles. Could you help the band out by sponsoring a mile? If you can help, then please click on the donate button below.