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Youth Brass 2000 – What Next??

Sarah Johnson tells you all about the award winning band and asks what next?

Those not involved in ‘Brass Banding’ don’t know much about its great appeal but for the people involved it becomes a huge part of their lives. Youth Brass 2000 is a perfect example of a brass band which offers hours of great enjoyment to all its young members. Youth Brass rehearse in Wilbarston, a small village in Leicestershire, not widely recognized in comparison to other places, and nor particularly was the band, until recently when due to its huge success Youth Brass 2000 is becoming increasingly well known.

Winning Streak

Every year the band enters a series of major competitions and of course their aim is to win but with such a busy schedule its impossible for them to perform a different programme in every one. Artistic director, Chris Jeans, therefore picks a theme which they base their music around for the whole of that year. With London holding the Olympics this year, 2012’s theme had to follow suit. However it wasn’t just Britain’s sporting stars that found themselves on a winning streak. 2012 turned out to be a productive year for the band as well and with so many opportunities for them to ‘get the gold’ they had a busy year right from the start.

Their first major competition was the Butlins Mineworkers Championships and the youth band has been the reigning champion for four years! Whereas previously only some band members could compete, due to numbers, last year they split into two bands and Youth brass 1000 was born. Both bands returned with first prize.

The bands next win came at the National Youth Brass Band Championships held at The Royal Northern Collage of Music (RNCM), Manchester. This competition attracts around 2000 young players from all over Britain making it a prestigious event to win. 2012 was the first year in the history of the band that they won and it left them all amazed.  “The immense challenge against 17 other top quality youth bands and for us to be crowned Champion Youth Band of Great Britain is the highest accolade that we have won in the history of our band "I am Over the Moon" Chris Jeans, Artistic Director.

The final cherry on top of their fantastic year was being awarded the title BBC Radio 2 Youth Band of 2013, something they didn’t compete for. A panel of the best brass players in Britain judge who wins this accolade each year and so when they received the news they were all ecstatic.  

Work Hard, Play Harder

I’m not suggesting that the band doesn’t work hard, they have to give up vast amounts of time to rehearsals often participating in full day practices close to a competition, but it always pays off. Once they get all the competitions out of the way they go on a summer tour somewhere in Europe. Tour is a chance for the players to let their hair down. Last year they stayed in Holland but played in Luxembourg, Germany and Belgium as well and, during their five days abroad, the teenagers enjoyed time visiting theme parks, and bowling allies.

On tour, rehearsals take on a slightly different format. The band tends to play their favourite pieces so all they really need to do is polish them up and in some cases add choreography. One of this tour’s favourite new pieces was Mr Sandman which involved some skilled hand bell and boomwhacker playing on the part of some players and the piece even sparked the band to produce a parody version in aid of their tour manager Don Collins appropriately named ‘Mr Collins.’

What next?

But what lies ahead for this excelling youth band? We’re only three months into 2013 and they’ve already been incredibly busy.

January saw them succeed in retaining their title at Butlins as well as giving them the opportunity to perform alongside Chad Shoopman, a leading American trumpeter. “Performing with Chad Shoopman was an unbelievable experience and something I'll never forget! Thomas Fountain, principle cornet. 

And of course we mustn’t forget their trip to the RNCM to compete in the BBC Radio 2 young musician of the year contest. Although they didn’t win their performance was aired on the radio later in February.

Then they went to Blackpool for the National Youth Brass Band Entertainment Championships where they performed a Glenn Miller themed set dressed in 1940s American style army uniforms. They came away with 9 out of 12 awards available.  

In April they will return to the RNCM to compete in the National Youth Championships where they hope to retain their title.

Finally, in August, they jet off to Austria for their tour giving a little bit more of the world the chance to hear their music.

Rising Stars

We wanted to gain a better insight into what it takes to win solo awards at these competitions so we spoke to Thomas Fountain (principal cornet) and Jack Wilson (Soprano cornet) who both won awards at the recent Blackpool Entertainment Championships.

Thomas - Principal Cornet

You’ve had a successful year so far being awarded BBC under 18 soloist of 2013, best soloist with both Youth Brass 2000 and Virtuosi GUS band at the Butlins Mineworkers and best solo cornet at the Blackpool entertainment Championships. What does it feel like when you win an award?

It feels good as you know you've stood out from the rest must have done something right

Is this the first award you’ve won at the Entertainment Championships?

No, I won the solo prize last year as well. It's nice to be the first person to win it twice and also consecutively

Having won so many awards you must be a good player. What other bands do you play in apart from Youth Brass 2000?

I play in the Virtuosi GUS band, National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, Territorial Youth Band of the Salvation Army, County Youth Band and the School Band.

You must be busy playing with all of those bands? How many hours do you practice in a day?

Yeah, it takes up a lot of my week I practice for at least an hour probably!

You’ve been in the band for 3 years now, what made you join Youth Brass 2000?

Well Chris jeans had spoken to my dad and so I went along for a rehearsal and loved it so carried on.

Jack- Soprano Cornet 

You won best soprano cornet at the recent Blackpool Entertainment Championships, have you won awards before?

Er, yeah I have won a few.  

When did you win your first award?

My first award was winning my local bands junior section solo award when I was around 9 or 10 but that was on cornet as opposed to Soprano Cornet.

How long have you been playing soprano cornet?

I started playing soprano cornet in October last year.

Wow, you must be really good to have won an award already? What does it feel like when you win an award?

It feels really amazing. I feel so glad that I played well and play such wonderful instruments.

What got you interested in playing soprano cornet?

Well I have always fancied playing sop from an early age because of all the really high lyrical lines that sound amazing when they sit on top of the big brass band sound. I also enjoy the role of which the soprano has with in the band.

Do you play in other bands like Thomas?

Yes, I also play for the virtuosi GUS band, Northamptonshire County Youth Brass Band and the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain.

What made you join Youth Brass 2000?

I originally came to help youth brass out at Manchester contest but I enjoyed it so much I decide to join.