Review: Yorkshire Youth Brass Band at the 2026 RNCM International Brass Band Festival

A 20th Anniversary Celebration: Yorkshire Youth Brass Band at the 2026 RNCM International Brass Band Festival

To celebrate 20 years of the Yorkshire Youth Brass Band, the ensemble of talented young musicians led by their MD and former Principal Cornet of the Black Dyke Band, Richard Marshall, treated the audience to a programme of exciting works that were fitting of such an occasion.

Concert Prelude by Philip Sparke

The Yorkshire Youth Brass Band started their 20th Anniversary Concert in style with a fanfare opening that moved into a jaunty, jazzy section performed with bags of style and character. It was in this moment that I realised just how big this ensemble was with the band nearly filling the RNCM Opera Theatre, a testament to the success of this initiative and what a sound they made!

It was a really uplifting start to what would be an exciting and brilliantly performed programme.

When One Sees Light by Mia Yee

Not only did this programme showcase the talent of these young musicians, but also the talent of young and upcoming composers. When One Sees Light, was written by a talented composers, cornet and flugelhorn musician, Mia Yee, from New Zealand, who Richard met and was introduced to this work during a tour of the country.

It is an absolute gem of a work, with an emotive melody line and bittersweet, but moving nature. It offers a gorgeous solo moment for flugel horn at the beginning which was performed beautifully, as well as a stirring solo line for the Principal Cornet towards the end, which was equally superb. Soprano cornet also had a stand out moment, managing to soar above the band and sit on top of a huge ensemble sound with a dazzling tone that was incredibly impressive.

Concertino for Flugel Horn by William Himes

Richard then welcomed a former Yorkshire Youth Band member and current flugelhorn soloist with the Black Dyke Band, Phoebe Mallinson to perform William Himes' Concertino for Flugelhorn.

The opening movement was a giocoso delight with a light-hearted, skipping melody to start that then moves through a carefully-phrased slow melody which demonstrated the full extent of Phoebe's rich tone and melodic capabilities.

We then move into a slower, more sombre movement that had a laid-back, blues feel and every phrase from the soloist just oozed style. For a moment I felt like I was sitting in a Parisian cafe somewhere with a coffee. If Edith Piaf did flugel solos - this is what it would sound line. As we head into a short cadenza moment, the level of control Phoebe commands over her instrument is just outstanding.

The final movement is another complete contrast the previous two, with a celtic-inspired, dance feel that gave Phoebe the opportunity to really show offer her technical abilities.

It was an inspiring performance from Phoebe, showing exactly why she is the flugel soloist of one of the best bands in the world.

Dance Like David by Andrew Mackereth

This piece was programmed as a result of being one of the band's favourites to play and I can see why! With a driving rock beat and a superhero-esque theme featured throughout, it's a really fun little number that featured really stylish trombones and a fab drum solo moment.

Legends in Brass by James Curnow

Written in 1991, Legends in Brass is a work in three movements.

The first opens with a brief fanfare pm trombones before cornets take over with a stately theme, driven by the snare drum. It sounded like the music of knights and courtly dances - valiant and regal.

We then slow things down with a mysterious second movement. Euphoniums and baritones carried the first theme beautifully before handing it over the spotlight to cornets. Principal cornet excelled in the featured solo lines.

The third movement is lively with an air of triumph with great energy created by the horns, as they carry the melody and an outstanding Soprano cornet solo.

A really impressive performance of a vibrant work.

Encore: One Night Only

Naturally, the band's performance was met with appreciative applause and cries for an encore, and the band didn't disappoint, with a glittering rendition of this disco classic from Dreamgirls that had us tapping our feet and dancing in our seats.

I loved every minute of this performance from the Yorkshire Youth Brass Band! Another fantastic organisation made up of incredibly talented youngsters that have a bright musical future ahead of them!

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