Sellers International Youth Band

Sellers International Youth Band, the current British Open Youth Champion, was formed in May 1998 when a lottery grant for new instruments for the Sellers International Band allowed David Armitage, Chairman of Sellers International, to make a full set of instruments available for the new group. Many of the twenty or so young people who attended the first rehearsal had never played a brass instrument before. A number of them still play with the band.

The first public appearance of the Youth Band was in December 1998 with the Sellers International Band at Dewsbury Town Hall under the baton of founding Musical Director David Essex, a former horn player with the Black Dyke band. During the early days the band was also greatly indebted to Jim Fletcher, a horn player with Sellers, who tutored many of the youngsters.

David left the band in November 2001 and was briefly succeeded by Richard Wilton, who played Principal Eb Bass with Sellers before he moved to Grimethorpe Colliery. In May 2002 Mark Bousie was appointed Musical Director. Mark was the Principal Euphonium of the Sellers International Band for over 10 years and, in addition to working as a full time secondary school music teacher, has had many successes as a soloist.

In only their second competition appearance the Sellers International Youth Band won first prize at the local 'Youth in Brass' contest in September 2002. Since then the band has gone on to win many prizes including the award for the 'Most Promising Youth Band' at the 2004 National Youth Brass Band Championships, Runners-up at the 2005 Pontins British Open Youth Championship, 1st prize in the Youth Sections of both Delph and Dobcross Whit Friday March Contests in 2005 and the award for the 'Most Improved Band' at the 2006 National Youth Brass Band Championship.

2007 has most certainly been the Band's most successful year to date with awards for Most Entertaining Item, Best March and 4th place overall at the Action Research UK Youth Entertainment Championship held in Blackpool, a Gold Award in the Community Section of the National Youth Championships, and 1st prizes at the Bray Pogson Contest, Pontins British Open Championship and Tameside Youth Festival. The band has also picked up countless instrumental awards along the way, including prizes for Best Cornet (Joe Murray), Basses and Percussion. In July the band made its debut performance at the finals of the National Festival of Music for Youth held at Symphony Hall, Birmingham. In recognition of its achievements this year, Sellers International Youth Band has been nominated in the Best Lower Section/Youth Band category of the 2007 awards of the leading brass band website, 4barsrest.com.

The Youth Band (with thanks to David Armitage) has also commissioned a number of new pieces of music from one of the countries leading young composers, Peter Meechan. These have all been given high profile premieres: 'The Chronicles of Odersfelt' at The Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester in April, 2005; 'Apex' at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool in February, 2007 and 'Fanfare for a Festival' at the Symphony Hall, Birmingham in July, 2007.

Sellers Youth Band is also proud that a number of its players are also members of both the National Childrens' and National Youth Brass Bands of Great Britain. The band is in constant demand to give concerts around West Yorkshire and a significant amount of its work is dedicated to raising money for charity. Since its formation the group has helped to raise over £50,000 for good causes.

Since its formation nearly 10 years ago, the band has gone from strength to strength and membership now numbers over 35. The band also has a training group, under the leadership of talented cornetist Richard Shaw, aiming to provide the band with the next generation of talented young brass players.