Following positive feedback from both participating bands and audiences, Youth Champs will once again be taking place at King Edward's School on Saturday 17 April 2027.
Organised by BBE, the event celebrates the very best in youth brass banding from across the country, bringing together talented young musicians for a day of inspiring performances and musical excellence.
A break from tradition
Due to the way Easter falls in 2027, alongside the positioning of the Regional Brass Band Championships within the calendar, the traditional end-of-March date was not possible this year.
The new date of Saturday 17 April has been carefully selected to best support young players and ensembles, as it allows participants time to return to rehearsals following the Easter break, and avoids a clash with the European Brass Band Championships the following week. It additionally sits far enough ahead of the summer exam season to enable participation from as many young musicians as possible.
On the change, CEO Sarah Baumann said: “Although we know the change in our usual date may not make it suitable for everyone, we have had discussions with many of our Youth bands usually in attendance to discuss this potential change, and we look forward to returning to our usual date in late-March for 2028.”
A great day in the UK’s second city
The return to King Edward’s School was announced at this year’s Youth Champs, which saw over 40 youth bands come together for a brilliant day of music making. Feedback from band leaders praised the venue and facilities, with special mention to the friendliness of the staff.
Sarah Baumann added: “As many of us are aware, putting on a brass band contest is no mean feat. King Edward’s School proved to be one of the most popular venues for the Youth Champs in recent years, and we are delighted to be working with them again. The school’s central location within the country is a huge draw, as shown by the record-breaking number of bands at Youth Champs 2026.”
Four Sections. One big day
Bands will be able to choose from four performance sections, designed to provide opportunities for ensembles of all experience levels and ambitions:
- The Showcase Section – a non-competitive performance opportunity, ideal for bands wishing to perform in a supportive festival environment.
- The Performance Section – an accessible introduction to competitive brass banding, where youth bands present a 15-minute programme of music of their own choosing.
- The Challenge Section – a 15-minute own-choice programme, with the added creative requirement that a student must either conduct one of the works or compose/arrange part of the programme.
- The Championship Section – a more advanced competitive section featuring a 20-minute programme, including the designated set test piece.
Further details will be released over the summer, including a comprehensive pre-entry information pack to help bands decide which section best suits their ensemble. This information will also include indicative timings for each section (subject to entry numbers) and details of the selected set work for the Championship Section.
Entries for the event will open in early September via the Brass Bands England website and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. The event reached its capacity in November last year, with a waiting list started for those who entered after the competition was full - BBE received no drop-out’s in 2026.