NYBBGB Ready to Shine 2026: Free Audition Skills Workshops
- Mar 17
- 2 min read
National Youth Brass Band Launches Half-Term Audition Training for Young Musicians
The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain (NYBBYB) has unveiled its Ready to Shine: Audition Skills Workshops 2026 - a series of free training days designed to help young brass and percussion players prepare for auditions.
Taking place during May half-term, the workshops will be held across three major UK cities: London, Manchester and Birmingham, offering accessible, high-quality coaching for musicians aged 8-18.
What is Ready to Shine?
Ready to Shine is an interactive, skills-focused workshop programme aimed at building confidence and improving audition performance. The initiative is led by Robert Childs, NYBBGB's Director of Artistic Planning, and the sessions will be supported by a team of experienced brass and percussion tutors.
The workshops are specifically tailored to demystify the audition process and give young players the tools they need to succeed.
Key Skills Covered
Participants will receive expert guidance across all aspects of audition preparation, including:
Preparation: How to practise effectively and feel fully prepared
Performance: Techniques for playing under pressure
Presentation: How to communicate with confidence and musicality
Technical skills: Scales and sight-reading strategies
What Participants Can Expect
Each session is designed to be hands-on and engaging, with opportunities to:
Work in small groups with expert tutors
Take part in ensemble playing sessions
Watch demonstration of a successful audition
Join a live Q&A with tutors
Meet current members and ambassadors from the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain
Parents and guardians are also invited to attend the end-of-day sharing session and Q&A.
NYBBGB Ready to Shine Workshop Dates and Locations
The 2026 programme will take place across three venues:
Tuesday 26th May 2026: St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 4JJ
Wednesday 27th May 2026: Chetham's School of Music, Long Millgate, Manchester, M3 1SB
Thursday 28th May 2026: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT
All workshops will run from 10:30am to 3:00pm, with registration opening at the start of the day.
FREE Registration: https://forms.gle/LdGQt69TgLGBtnhu9
To find out more, check out the NYBBGB Website.
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