Astley Youth Band is an independent, community based band. Astley Youth Band was formed in January 1994. The aims of the band are: - To promote brass music for young people in the area. To supplement their music lessons at school. To provide a worthwhile recreational activity in an area where these are very limited. To give assistance to local schools, churches and organisations and fund raising events. To enter competitions, giving the band members goals to strive for both in playing and working as a team. To be a social gathering that the children enjoy attending, enabling them to meet new friends outside their home and school environment. There were just eight players who attended the first rehearsal for the band. Since then the band has grown dramatically and numbers more than 70 members. The band caters for all. There is a beginners group as well as the training and senior bands and the band will happily take players from 0 to 100. Astley Youth Band is a self-funded independent community organisation. The Rotary Club of Astley have given support as well as Leigh Lions Club, Blackmoor Youth club and local companies who have been equally generous with their aid. Astley Youth Band has also held several fund raising events to buy music and instruments. In March 1996 the band was awarded a grant of £27,500 from the National Lottery through the Arts Council of England for the purchase of new instruments. The band has also received generous support from the Community Foundation For Greater Manchester, Wigan Council for Voluntary Youth Services Fund, Wigan Community Chest, Wigan Local Network Fund and the Wigan Council Youth Opportunity Fund. The band has been on a number of tours to places such as the Isle of Man, France, Luxembourg, Germany & Holland, Ireland and in 2009 to Ayr. The band perform throughout the year, and are noted for the diversity of their engagements which include Concerts, Garden Fetes, Local Processions, Church Functions, Birthday Parties and Garden Parties. The band has successfully competed in the Youth Section of the North West Counties Brass Band Association Championships coming 1st three times in 2005, 2007 and recently in 2008. The band are the current 2010 National Youth Brass Band Champions in the Junior Section. Rehearsals The band rehearses every Thursday night in the Upper School building at Bedford High School in Leigh (Manchester Road, Leigh, Lancs. WN7 2LU) Players of any standard, whether on brass or percussion, are more than welcome. The band has a number of instruments available to loan. Rehearsals start at 6.30pm for all sections including the beginners group, training band and senior band.
Musical Directors The Senior Band's Musical Director is Helen Minshall who with her husband Steve formed the band in 1994, Helen has been involved in the brass band movement for many years as both player and conductor. The Senior Band's Assistant Musical Director since 2006 is Toby Hobson, who was the principal BBb Tuba from Foden's Band. The Training Band's Musical Director is Sue Harrison who has been Musical Director since 1998/99. The Beginner Band was formed recently and its Musical Director is Charlotte Dodd. |
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About AYB |