On Saturday 23rd March Lions Youth Brass took their three bands (71 young people) to Dean Close School in Cheltenham for The National Youth Brass Band Championships 2024, organised by Brass Bands England! Lions Youth Brass were the only organisation to enter a band into every section. Lions Debut Band Lions Debut Band, the starting point of Lions Youth Brass, entered the Besson Prodige Section. “The Besson Prodige Showcase Section is the Youth Champs’ non-competitive section, offering an opportunity to take part and contribute a great performance without the pressure of competition.” The young players were delighted to walk away with a certificate of Merit and a special mention for… Read More
Continue ReadingNational Youth Championships 2022!
What a weekend…! Lions Academy Band First to play was our Academy Band in the Elementary section on Saturday morning.Programme:1. The Muppet Show 2. Londonderry Air – Soloist, Charlie Kearon 3. The Saddleworth Suite – Pots ‘n’ Pans, Grasscroft Ghoul & Friezland Fiesta 4. Abide With Me 4 Bars Rest said “Lions certainly had a gold hallmark about their set under conductor Tom Hancock, as they opened in a long line with the ‘Muppets Theme’ (with brilliant car horn soloist), before segueing skilfully into the euphonium solo ‘Londonderry Air’ played wonderful by ‘Best Soloist’ winner Charlie Kearon. Their original brass band work, Dave Chapman’s ‘A Saddleworth Suite’, featured great percussion… Read More
Continue ReadingAnnual Slow Melody
On Sunday 2nd December, Lions Youth Brass will be hosting its 13th annual Slow Melody Competition. This is a great chance for all members of Lions Youth Brass to showcase their skills. This year we welcome back Elizabeth Lawrence and Mareika Grey as our adjudicators with Fenella Haworth-Head as our piano accompanist. The last 12 years have been very successful with high participation from members and we’re hoping for the same again. Please see attached entry form with all details on. Section times will be announced shortly after the closing date but will between 9.30am and 2pm. This year we will be featuring a family section which will allow brothers and sisters to play together Please print off and… Read More
Continue ReadingFrom Sandbach to Switzerland
Sit back, relax, and enjoy the movies as some of the county’s top musicians take you on a tour of the silver screen. From John Williams to Hans Zimmer, Fodens Band, the Roberts Bakery Band, and Lions Youth Brass will be performing together for one night only for their From Sandbach to Switzerland concert. More than 100 of Cheshire’s top players will be helping to raise money for the Lions Youth Brass band as they prepared to head to Montreux, Switzerland for next year’s European Youth Brass Band Championships. The band qualified to represent England at the prestigious tournament after finishing second in the National Youth Brass Band Championships… Read More
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Photos for sale
As part of the band’s fundraising efforts for Switzerland, a large number of photos from recent concerts are available for sale. Photos are priced at £1 for a high resolution digital download and the band will get 66p from each photo purchased. 3 July 2018 All 3 bands Remembering Nell / Awards Concert – https://goo.gl/amc6BA 7 July 2018 Junior Band Whiston Contest – https://goo.gl/9xyu9n 8 July 2018 All 3 bands Congleton Park – https://goo.gl/1qsYKc 8 July 2018 All 3 bands Macclesfield Lions – https://goo.gl/2Hww9e
Continue ReadingBingo Night!
Eyes down for a line and get those dabbers ready as Lions Youth Brass Band holds a fundraising bingo night to help raise money towards the European Youth Brass Band Championships next year. A fantastic second place finish in April’s National Youth Brass Band Championships of Great Britain meant the young players secured their place in Europe’s top competition next year. But in order to compete in the contest the organisation is having to raise around £20,000 to travel to Montreux in Switzerland with just under 40 young players ranging from 14 to 19. It is an amazing opportunity for the Sandbach-based band but means a lot of fundraising will have… Read More
Continue ReadingNational Youth Brass Band Championships of Great Britain
The annual National Youth Brass Band Championships of Great Britain was a roaring success for the young Lions as the Youth Band secured second place. The success didn’t stop there as the Beginner Band were awarded a certificate of merit and the Junior Band a silver award – a top result in a category containing 12 bands! It was all change for the competition this year as the venue moved to Warwick Arts Centre in order to avoid a clash with the East holidays. Brass Bands England chairman Mike Kilroy told audiences the competition could well stay put next year as well. Junior Section A section containing 12 bands… Read More
Continue ReadingYounger Lions roar at Newcastle!
Our Junior and Beginner bands were in action at the weekend, taking part in the annual Newcastle-under-Lyme Festival of Music, Speech and Drama. It was an early start for the Beginners, who took to the stage in the Under 14 stage before 10 am. Performing last in their section they played a short programme that included Madrigal, Mini March and concluded with Ode to Joy. A performance that MD Chris later described as ‘close to perfect’ was rewarded with a hugely well deserved second place, placing the band (who had an average age of around 8/9) ahead of older and more advanced bands. Full of euphoria they then joined in… Read More
Continue ReadingOur Adventure in Whiston
At 12pm on Saturday 1st July, our Junior band set off for Whiston! Having arrived at approximately 2pm, the band made their way to the village hall for a quick rehearsal ready to blow the judges away, at the 6th Annual Whiston Festival of Brass. After a strong performance from Shirland Training Band it was time for Lions to take to the stage – a stage that looked quite compact thanks to how many players turned up. Their first piece struck a chord with the the audience as, in brass band tradition, they played the famous march True and Trusty. The Juniors then managed to get the audience singing along… Read More
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