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Astley Youth Band was formed in January 1994 to promote brass music for young people in the area, supplement their music lessons at school and to provide a worthwhile recreational activity in an area where they were are very limited at the time.
Astley Youth Band was formed in January 1994 to promote brass music for young people in the area, supplement their music lessons at school and to provide a worthwhile recreational activity in an area where they were are very limited at the time.
Here is a photograph from the very first rehearsal:
Here is a photograph from the very first rehearsal:
Since then, however, the organisation has grown and diversified. The Astley Youth Band Organisation has expanded and now includes the original Astley Youth Band, as well as Astley Training Band, Astley Unlimited Band and Astley Unlimited Choir. The organisation caters for all.
Training Band formed in 1995 as the Junior Band to enable brand new starters to learn how to play brass, before moving on to the Youth Band. Originally taken by Sam Grant, and then Sue Stirzaker, the current MD is Sam Raisbeck.
Astley Unlimited Band formed in 2015 and is aimed at connecting up with adults with a love of brass banding who have time to spare in the day to enjoy playing music, it now attracts over 30 players for its weekly rehearsals. Helen Minshall is the current MD of Unlimited Band.
Astley Unlimited Choir formed in 2017 and has been growing from strength to strength with regular Monday morning rehearsals and performing at a number of concerts throughout the year. Sue Stirzaker is the MD of Unlimited Choir.
Concerts and Tours
All our ensembles have regular concerts throughout the year, including at Tyldesley St George's Church (as part of the Charity Brass Band Concerts), Brass at the Seaside, regular events at Lancashire Mining Museum, and an annual Christmas Concert at Atherton Parish Church.
The band has also enjoyed many tours to places such as France, Luxembourg, Germany & Holland, Ireland (2008), Ayr (2009 & 2017), Northern Ireland (2010), Annan (2011), Gosforth in Cumbria (2012) to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, the Isle of Man (2013 & 2024), the Isle of Arran (2015) and to Jersey in 2019.
Competitions
Astley Youth Band has successfully competed in the Youth Section of the North West Counties Brass Band Association Championships coming first three times in 2005, 2007 and 2008.
Astley Youth Band were the National Champions in the Junior Section of the National Youth Brass Band Championships in 2010. In 2011 & 2012 the band have competed in the Intermediate Section of the National Youth Brass Band Championships, in 2011 the band were announced as 'The Band With The Most Potential'.
Astley Training Band entered the 2011, 2012 & 2016 National Youth Brass Band Championships in the Training Band Section and in 2011 were awarded the 'Band Of The Day' prize.
In our most recent incarnation, the organisation has grown to this:
Anniversary Events
In 2019 the band celebrated its 25th Anniversary with a wonderful concert and party at Leigh Sports Village. The event was attended by the Mayor of Wigan, three local councillors and the Rotary President. It was incredible to see faces from the past; Dave Norcott, Steve Tonge, Debbie Broadhurst, together with former players, parents, friends from throughout the 25 years of the band. Each band performed and the choir sang. The concert finale was a very moving massed reunion band and we performed an old favourite march, “True and Trusty”, Helen’s arrangement of the hymn tune St Clement, The Final Countdown and John Miles Music, which has been part of the programme throughout the band’s history. The band continues to thrive, thanks to the hard working volunteers who work tirelessly to provide members with the very best musical experience possible, and long may then continue to do so.
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