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The Youth Band
The Youth Band are the last band players in the organization play in before leaving. The age of players in the band ranges from 12 to 19, but all players are of a similar standard. Upon reaching the 'grand old' age of 18, many players leave, mainly due to University, but many try to stay on as long as possible.
The band rehearse at Ruskin High School, in Crewe, every Tuesday night from 7 o'clock until 9 o'clock.
The band is conducted by Nigel Birch, who is now in his second stint as Musical Director. During his first spell at the helm, he guided the band to consecutive wins in the National Youth Brass band Championships. He has also added a third place to this in 2002.
The band enter many contests, and have won not only the National Finals, but the North West Brass Band Association Contest, Rhyl Festival of Music, and the Newcastle-Under-Lyme Music Festival at varying times in their history.
There have been several recordings produced by the organisation over the past few years, featuring concert pieces, competition pieces and soloists the quality achieved has been outstanding considering the age of the band. The recordings section of this site contains information on how you can obtain these CD's and Tapes.
Musical Director: NIGEL BIRCH
Nigel Birch hails from Sandbach in Cheshire, and from the age of twelve started to play the Cornet at Haslington Boys Brigade Band. Within twelve months he went on to play for the Roberts Bakery Band, and to play for them for many years.
In 1984 Nigel left Roberts Bakery to fulfil a lifelong ambition of playing for the famous Fodens Band.
While with the band he was fortunate to play under some great conductors, such as James Scott, Richard Evans and most notably, Howard Snell.After a few successful years with Fodens Nigel rejoined Roberts Bakery, where he finished his playing career.
In 1990 Nigel took up the conductors baton, and joined the Lions Youth Brass. It was soon evident that Nigel and the band were an excellent combination, and in 1994, and then again in 1995, Nigel guided the band to becoming the Champion Youth Band of Great Britain.
Nigel left the Lions Band in September 1996, and at that time became band manager for the Roberts Bakery Band.
Nigel was persuaded to rejoin the Youth Band in August 2001, and already the band has gained third place at the National Finals, and won the Rhyl Festival of Brass.
In his time as conductor of the Lions Youth Brass, Nigel has brought many well known from the brass band world to the band, such as, Alan Lawton, Richard Evans, Russell Gray, Howard Snell, players from the Leyland and Fodens band, and the bands president and musical advisor, Colin Cranson, musical director of the Roberts Bakery Band.
Nigel, who has been married to Helen for ten years, and has two beautiful daughters, Charlotte and Franczeska, he very much regards the Lions Youth Brass as his band.
