The Hayward Sanderson Trust has awarded a grant to support young players from Galashiels Town Band to attend the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland (NYBBS), helping ensure that talented younger musicians can continue to access high-quality national development opportunities.
For several years, the Band has part-funded younger members to attend NYBBS, recognising the significant musical and personal benefits the experience provides. The Hayward Sanderson Trust grant will be used to continue this support, helping to reduce financial barriers and ensuring that cost does not prevent young players from taking part.
NYBBS is organised by the Scottish Brass Band Association and brings together young musicians from bands across Scotland for a residential week of professional tuition, ensemble rehearsals and performances. In a short space of time, participants achieve musical progress that might otherwise take many months of weekly lessons and rehearsals.
Neal Wade, Bandmaster of Galashiels Town Band, said the benefits are quickly felt back home.
“The confidence and skills the young players develop through NYBBS feed straight into rehearsals and performances, helping raise standards across the band,” he said. “Our younger musicians are an integral part of the Town’s Band and play a vital role in allowing us to continue performing for concerts, civic occasions and community events.”
Malcolm Lindsay, Trustee of the Hayward Sanderson Trust, said: “This grant helps young people access opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach, while also strengthening a long-established local organisation that plays an important role in community life. Supporting initiatives that combine youth development with positive community impact sits at the heart of the Trust’s work.”
The Hayward Sanderson Trust welcomes applications from across the Scottish Borders, in particular Galashiels, and encourages people to get in touch about making an application for funding.
