Youth Brass Day Shows the Future of Brass Band Is Bright

Yesterday's Youth Brass Day reminded us exactly why we started Chicago Youth Brass Bands.

Middle and high school musicians from 17 different schools across the Chicagoland area came together to experience brass band music. Several had played in a brass band before, but for most it was their first experience. Many were also playing a British brass band instrument for the first time, and not one student had seen the music before yesterday.

By the end of just one day, they performed five challenging pieces for family and friends.

What impressed us most wasn't just the performance: it was the attitude. Every student came ready to learn, worked hard all day, encouraged one another, and quickly formed new friendships.

A huge thank you to music director Andy Malovance for putting together an outstanding musical program and leading these young musicians with such skill and enthusiasm. He challenged the students every step of the way. By concert time, they were listening across the ensemble, matching style, timing, and tuning like a true brass band.

We're also incredibly grateful to our clinicians, volunteers, and families for making the day possible. Special thanks to the Illinois Arts Council, whose grant this season helped launch our weekly rehearsing youth brass band and made programs like Youth Brass Day possible.

Several of yesterday's performers already rehearse with the Chicago Academy Brass Band (formerly the Windy City Brass Academy), and we hope many of our first-time brass band musicians will join us this fall. If you weren't able to attend Youth Brass Day, we'd love to have you too! Our regular season runs November through May. This season will also be the band's first competition season, culminating in a trip to the North American Brass Band Association Championships in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Watch our website and social media this summer for registration information and season updates. Reach out any time at youthbands@chicagobrassband.org. We hope yesterday was just the beginning of many students' brass band journeys!