The National Children’s Concert Band takes players aged between 10 and 14 who are at least Grade 4 standard on their chosen instrument. Although this minimum standard is recommended to ensure our players can have an enjoyable week and accessing the music chosen, NCCB Section Lead players are often Grade 6 standard or even higher.

Entrance to NCCB is determined by an online audition process (see below for further information), where prospective NCCB members submit a video recording of the set excerpts and two contrasting pieces. Position of players in each section within the band is decided by the Band’s conductor once all auditions have been received.

NCCB is conducted by Adam Broughton, whose experience working with youth ensembles has allows him to select music that will both challenge and engage our NCCB players. Recent NCCB repertoire has included arrangements from How to Train Your Dragon and Warhorse, David Maslanka’s ‘Rollo Takes a Walk’, and more traditional repertoire including Malcom Arnold’s English Dances and Holst’s Moorside suite. Adam works alongside our team of Course Tutors to develop the skills and musicality of NCCB members. Our players spend the majority of the first few days of the Easter residential in a combination of small sectional and full rehearsals, working with specialist instrumental Tutors to refine their technique and work on specific aspects of each piece.

Larger Wind, Brass and Percussion section rehearsals throughout the week allow participants greater understanding of how their parts fit with others in their section, while full rehearsals bring the Band together. Our members are always surprised how much progress they make in such a short space of time when working with our Tutors.

It is always a delight to see NCCB members developing their instrumental playing during the year, with many taking the step up to NYCB when they reach the appropriate age.

"She absolutely loved her week at NCCB in Stamford and was in her element playing such a diverse range of music with a lovely bunch of people. Thank you so much for providing such a wonderful environment with so many fantastic musical experiences." ~ Parent of a player in NCCB 2024