NCBF 2024/2025

XBY Concert Band have once again triumphed at this year’s (2024/2025) National Concert Band Festival. 

We began our journey to success with a performance in the Open Wind Band Class at the regional heats held at Trinity School in Croydon in November. A band of around 40 players travelled to the event on Sunday 19th November, to play Eine Kleine Yiddishe Ragmusick and Gallimaufry, under the direction of our Associate Conductor, John Hargreaves. 

There was time to listen to some of the other competitors before the adjudication when we were thrilled to receive a Platinum Award and an invitation to perform at the National Festival itself.

The National Concert Band Festival begun over 30 years ago and has since developed until it is now regarded as the UK’s largest wind and big band event. It takes place annually and in recent years there have been in excess of 2,400 participants and 900 supporters taking part at the two day event.  

This year, members of XBY travelled to Manchester to take part in the Open Wind Band Class. It was great to have a band social the night before to really take time to develop the relationships and friendships within a band that have such strong connections with many members knowing each other since school days through musci education at BYMT (Bromley Youth Music Trust)!

We performed The Catskills from East Coast Pictures by Nigel Hess and Sinfonietta by Rob Wiffin our performance was conducted by John Hargreaves. Feedback and gradings were provided in both written and spoken format and a Platinum Award was given to the band at the adjudication ceremony. 

We look forward to hopefully taking part again next season!