24th December

Merry christmas from all at LYB!
Today was the last appearance by the band for 2003, we played fro 8am until 3pm at Safeway in Sandbach raising a total of £1020, yet another fantastic achievment. Congratulations to all involved with Lions Youth Brass for a fantastic 2003. Lets hope 2004 can be just as good if not better.

Ian Raisbeck

22nd December

Sorry for the delay but here are the results of the Lions' awards for 2003:

Bandsperson of the Year: Katie Smallwood (Baritone)
Most improved players: Phil Dobson (flugel), Steven Bebbington (soprano), James Darlington (cornet)
Improved players: Hannah Senior (cornet), Tom Hancock (cornet), Aaron Aston (cornet)
Congratulations also go to Katie again who has successfully auditioned fro both the Royal Northern College of Music, Salford University and passed her grade 8 all within 2 weeks! Alex Holsgrove also passed his grade 5 with distinction, well done to both of you.

Congratulations to all winners.
Ian Raisbeck

22nd December

Yesterday saw the Lions performing all day at Sandbach's Safeway store, the band played and bag packed all day in order to raise vital money towards the band funds. We managed to raise a total of £750 which is a brilliant return for the day. Lions are next in action on christmas eve back at safeway Sandbach.

Ian Raisbeck

19th December

Congratulations are in order for the Bands Eb Bass player Andrew Cooper. Andy was recently awarded the Malcolm Steele Memorial Cup by the Roberts Bakery band as their bandsperson of the year. Congratulations to Andy from LYB, keep watching out for a review of the Lions year including the results of the Lions bands prizes for 2003.

Ian Raisbeck

20th November

The band has been accepted to play at a music festival in the Czech Republic.
The festival will take place from the 30th of June to the 4th of July and so this will be the tour for the band in 2004.
We are really looking forward to going to the Czech Republic as it will be very different from our usual band tour and will be an experience in itself. Most people within the youth band have never had the chance to do anything like this before and so everyone is really excited and cant wait to go. At the start of next year we will be putting together a new program to take to the Czech Republic with us. We will also be doing some fundraising in order to raise the money we need to fund the tour. So the year to come will be a very hard working year for the band.

Sarah Raisbeck

17th November

Last nights joined concert with the Roberts Bakery Band proved to be a success in many areas. All of the bands performed very well and did their organisations proud. The night also rewarded the bands with good financial returns due to the large audience that came to the event. Keep watching for the concert review soon.

Ian Raisbeck

11th November

We have now have the confirmed program from Lions Youth Brass and Roberts Bakery Band for the joined concert to take place this sunday at the Oakley Centre, Crewe. It is as follows:

LIONS YOUTH BRASS (NIGEL BIRCH)
MARCH - SURE AND STEDFAST - ERIC BALL
FILM MUSIC - BEAUTY AND THE BEAST - F.BEARNARTS
CORNET SOLO - FANTASY VARIATIONS - I. RAISBECK (World Premiere) SOLOIST SARAH RAISBECK
POPULAR - MCARTHUR PARK - A.FERNIE
POPULAR - NO MATTER WHAT - A.LLOYD-WEBBER
FILM MUSIC - YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND IN ME - F.BEARNARTS
MARCH - FROM 2ND SUITE IN F - G.HOLST

LIONS JUNIOR BRASS (STEWART THOMPSON)

Cornish Pastyche - Nick Mills
This Is Our Band - Tony Cresswell
Clough Top March - Dave Chapman
A Saddleworth Suite - Dave Chapman
Muss I Den - Gary Young
INTERVAL OF 15 MINUTES

ROBERTS BAKERY BAND (COLIN CRANSON)
MARCH - ROLLING ALONG - W.HIMES
COMPOSITION - PASTORALE - G.RICHARDS
CORNET SOLO - SATCHMO - K.BAKER SOLOIST MARK DAVIES
CLASSIC - NEW YORK, NEW YORK - KARDER
FLUGEL SOLO - BENEATH THE WILLOWS - P.HARPER SOLOIST RACHEL WOOLLAM
DANCE BAND - BRASS BLUES - G.RICHARDS
SOPRANO SOLO - TRUMPET TUNE - STANLEY SOLOIST ANDREA EGGINTON
MARCH - RADETSKY - STRAUSS
HORN SOLO - THE LARK IN THE CLEAR AIR - LANGFORD SOLOIST ANNABEL BARNETT
DANCE - RITUAL FIRE DANCE - DE FALLA
EUPH.SOLO - SOFTLY AS I LEAVE YOU - DE VITA SOLOIST DAVID WOOLLAM
MEDLEY - GLENN MILLER SPECIAL - ASHMORE

Ian Raisbeck

8th November

Today the band performed a short lunchtime concert for Elsie Alcock, the retiring chairman of Sandbach town council. The event was set up in order for Elsie to present her cheques to the various groups she had named as her charities over the year she spent in office, The Lions Youth Brass recieved a cheque for £250. We are very grateful.

Ian Raisbeck

3rd November

A lot is happening at Crewe at the moment with this very forward-looking Youth Band.
Tuesday 4th November sees the experienced Malcolm Brownbill visit to advise the band, and then the equally experienced Graham O’Connor will visit the following week.
Musical Director Nigel Birch says;

at this time of the year we would normally have guest conductors around to prepare the band for contests, but we are not competing again until February due to our vast concert commitments. However, we do value the opportunity to have these very experienced band trainers at the band at all times, not just for contest purposes.

The band is looking forward to next year when they will take part in the Cheb music festival in the Czech Republic and look out for a possible name change in the near future. Anyone who is interested in joining this popular band, which has a beginners and junior band as well should contact Nigel Birch on 01270 509573 or 07734 263194.

Ian Raisbeck

10th September

The mailing list is launched! It will provide members with news on engagements, concerts, contests, tours and any other LYB updates. Its free to join, just fill in the box on the home page and click Join.

Also making a return is the guestbook, this is to leave messages about anything you like (within reason!). Suggestions, comments and problems with the site are very welcome.

Ian Raisbeck

3rd September

News recieved from Nigel Birch today:

It is with great regret that I have announced my resignation as Associate Conductor of The Rhyl Silver Band.
Over the past nine months I have worked tirelessly to improve the band, but the three hour round trip and increased workload in my day job, forced me to re-consider my commitments.
In my time with the band I have made many friends, and only wish I could have brought them a little success, and I shall miss them all very much. I wish them and my successor the very best of luck.

I shall now be concentrating all my efforts into Lions Youth Brass, and spending more time with my wife Helen, and my two beautiful daughters, Charlotte and Franczeska.

Nigel Birch

2nd August

The band have just returned from their tour of Torquey. It was a brilliant tour in what has been described as the best yet. Full details can be found on the brand new Tours page.

Ian Raisbeck

10th June

Last saturday saw the band perform in Safeways Sandbach in an attempt to raise much needed funds for the band. The band managed to raise £323 which is brilliant for one days work.

However, due to instrument repair costs, new music, Tour, and the CD recording costs the band funds are still low. The band have announced that we we will be busking at Safeway Sandbach again on 20th July between 11am and 2pm.
Jane Stubbs

10th July

The plans for the forthcoming summer tour to Torquey, are now taking shape. There are 10 concerts over the 6 days, they are as follows:

Sat.26th July: 19.00 to 21.00 - Princess Gardens Torquay

Sunday 27th July: 11.00 to 15.00 - Rotary fete Torre Abbey

Monday 28th July: 11.00 to 12.30 and 14.00 to 16.00 - Princess Gardens and 19.30 - St. Pauls Church Preston, Tickets £4.00

Tuesday 29th July: 11.30 to 12.30 and 14.00 to 16.00 - Princess Gardens

Wednesday 30th July: 13.45 to 14.45 - Cockington Fete and 19.30 - St. Matthias Church Wellswood Torquay

Thursday 31st July: 19.30 - Rotary concert, Sandbach, Cheshire

Nigel Birch

23rd June

Lions have annonced that the youth band will be busking at Safeway's in Sandbach on the 5th and 6th of July during the day. This is in an attempt to raise much needed funds for the forthcoming tour.

Ian Raisbeck

16th June

The weekend provided more success for Lions at the Rhyl festival of brass. The band finished second overall just one point behind the band that were runners up to us last year. In the solo classes, Ian Raisbeck was runner up in the open class, Neil Raisbeck won the 10 - 11 class and Alex Holsgrove was runner up in the same class.

With a first and 3 second prizes the day was more than worthwhile. We look foward to returning in the future.

Ian Raisbeck

5th June

The band are currently deep into rehearsals for the forthcoming Rhyl festival of brass. This week the band were very fortunate to have been conducted by Richard Evans. Richard took the practice on tuesday which proved to be a great experience for the players involved. The band wish to thank Richard Evans for helping and hope that we can work with Richard again in the future.

The full programme for rhyl is:
Come follow the band
Post Horn Galop (soloist - Ian Raisbeck)
Flashdance
Duet for two cats (soloists - Sarah Raisbeck and Greg Holsgrove)
Carnival de Paris

8th May

The bands musical director Nigel Birch is pleased to announce that one of the brass band movements most respected and flamboyant conductors will be taking the band for a rehearsal on the lead up to the bands defence of their Rhyl Festival Of Brass trophy. Richard Evans, Former conductor of the Leyland band, will be visiting the band on Tuesday the 3rd of June.

Richard has been to the band before, in 1994 and in 1995 when the band won the national youth championship on both occasions. This will be something for all the players and conductor to learn a great deal from.

Nigel Birch

4th May

The band performed a concert at Winsford Methodist Church last night. Details now available on the Concert Reviews Page.

Ian Raisbeck

1st May

The bands recording is now available. It is entitled 'Sounds of Youth' and features many popular pieces as well as most of the bands soloists. The recording is priced at £10 and is available at any forthcoming concert or by contacting Jane Stubbs, see Recording page for more details.

Ian Raisbeck

14th April

The band recorded their first CD over the weekend, it turned out to be a highly succesful two days. Thanks go to all of the band for the high levels of concentration put in over two days, Nigel for all of the preperation and to the recording engineer from 'Reality Recordings' who made the weekend so easy and enjoyable. The band are now awaiting the final product which is expected to be available in a few weeks.

Ian Raisbeck

11th April

Chris Thompson has released this statement regarding the previous story.
'Unfortunatley, after four brilliant years I have felt the need to resign from the Lions Youth Brass. This is due to the fact that because of other commitments I no longer feel able to give everything I can to Lions. The band and their conductor Nigel Birch deserve better than that, and by stepping aside now it gives the band time to bed in a new bass trombone player. I shall be performing for the band on their forthcoming CD and will be on stage with them at the Rhyl Festival of Brass, and I wish both the band and Nigel Birch every success in their future ventures.'
Chris Thompson

10th April

Chris Thompson, Bass Trombonist, Band Rep and Webmaster has announced that he will be leaving the band after the forthcoming Rhyl festival of brass. This is due to the increasing pressure he is under to fulfill Lions commitments as well as playing solo trombone for a senior band. Andrew Cooper takes over as Band rep until after the summer tour. Ian and Sarah Raisbeck will take over the website for the forseeable future.

Ian Raisbeck

27th March 2003

With immediate effect the bands Flugel Horn player Fiona Holsgrove has finished playing and has left Lions Youth Brass.
It will be explained to the band at tonights rehearsal the reasons behind this decision.
I wish to convey my thanks to Fiona for her committment to the band and wish her al the best in the future.
This decision does not affect the positions of Greg and Alex.
Fiona's replacement will be announced shortly.

Nigel Birch, Musical Director, Lions Youth Brass

23rd March

11 year old Neil Raisbeck of the Lions Youth Brass has had a very good weekend. Taking part in the Newcastle Under Lyme festival of Brass soloist competition, Neil was awarded first place, out of 12 players. Not content with this, Neil also went to pick up the Lions trophy at the festival which is awarded to the most promising brass player at the festival. Looks like Lions have an up and coming version of Shoena White!

Also victorious at Newcastle was Solo Euphonium Nicola Hughes. Not only did Nicola retain the Under 18 solo contest that she won last year, she completed a hat trick of victories by winning the Open Solo competition and the vocal section. Well done to Nicola on a great days music making!

Stewart Thompson also took the LJB to the Newcastle Festival, where they were pleased to pick up first place in the Under 14's Band and Orchestra section. This result earned them a place in the Grand Final, and they put in a sterling performance, only to be piped by a Clarinet group. Well done to the LJB and of course to Neil on their superb acheivements this weekend.

8th March

An early morning trip to nearby Hanley was made by LYB, who performed at the annual Lions Convention. Obviously, LYB are sponsored by the Lions Club, and today was a huge and prestigious engagement for the band. The band also have a concert this Tuesday (11th) at Rode Heath Primary School, which will include every band in the LYB organisation.

1st March

I recently received an email from Ian Raisbeck, which goes as follows:
"I unfortunately will not be accepting an invitation to play with National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain due to a number of reasons. it is unfortunate as it would have been a great honour but cirumstances mean I have to leave the place vacant due to my own commitments.
This is a shame for Ian, but it is still a fantastic acheivement for him. Well done!

21st February

Band rehearsals carry on after the disappointment of the National Youth Finals at LYB. The LJB have a competition to rehearse for, whilst the Youth Band are busy preparing concert items for a new CD recording which shall take place in early April. All possible soloists are hard at work on their chosen solos, and the band are playing well-it should be a fantastic CD!

18th February

Congratulations go to Soprano Cornet player, Ian Raisbeck who is going to play for the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain during their summer course. This is great news for Ian, especially as he didn't have to apply to get in like most players, as he was invited to join. A huge well done to Ian from everyone at LYB, and we're sure he'll represent Lions extremely well during the course!

15th February

Today saw LYB competing in the National Youth Championships Community Section at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. A strong performance by the band of their programme, Standard of St. George, Narnia Suite, Shenandoah and the March from Second Suite in F, was unlucky not to be awarded with a place in the top three, with LYB having to settle for a Silver award of merit, releasing our grip on third place that we took last year. This is a shame as all the band have put in a sterling effort to attend all rehearsals in the run up to the contest. Congratulations go to the winners, JAG Mount Charles Youth Band.
Now the band have a CD recording to look forward to in early April.

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