The Youth Band is the top tier of the Lions Youth Brass organisation. This band is mainly made up of players aged 11-18 who have been playing their instruments for 4 or more years.
The band rehearse from 7pm-9pm each Tuesday, with occasional extra rehearsals and workshops.
In 1994 and 1995 the band were twice National Champions under the direction of Nigel Birch, their legendary leader who conducted the band for almost 30 years. Since then, the band has proudly competed at the top tier of UK youth brass banding, with numerous podium placings and gold awards at the National Youth Brass Band Championships, Youth Brass in Concert, and in 2019 they were selected to represent England at the European Youth Brass Band Championship.
The band enjoys a varied calendar of events, performing alongside our other bands as well as independently. Each year the youth band take part in a concert tour during the first week of the school summer holidays, recent destinations have included Weymouth, North Wales and Belgium.
Former members of Lions Youth Brass have gone on to perform with some of the UKs leading brass bands and orchestras including; Foden’s Band, Black Dyke Band, Grimethorpe Colliery Band, Tredegar Town Band, and many more. Matthew Brett (a former percussionist with Lions) is now the principal percussionist with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Many other former players continue to make music in many different ways and at different levels, and several of our team of volunteer helpers are former Lions players including two of our Musical Directors.
Ian Raisbeck
Ian Raisbeck is himself, a former member of the band and has maintained close links with Lions over the last 30 years. In January 2023 he was appointed as Musical Director following the tragic loss of Nigel Birch.
For 12 years Ian was a member of Foden’s Band, performing at the highest level winning 3 National titles and the British Open. During this time he founded and managed the Foden’s Youth Band.
As a graduate of Birmingham Conservatoire he has a wide and varied experience as a Trumpet player performing orchestral, musical theatre and contemporary music.
Ian has composed and arranged many works for the band, and works full time as a teacher at Sandbach School.
Recent Awards
National Championships
2025 – Gold Award
2024 – Best Soloist
2024 – Gold Award
2023 – Best Soloist
2023 – Silver Award
2022 – 2nd Place
