About Us
The National Scout and Guide Concert Band was re-started in 2016 after a long gap and had an initial membership of 35. It increased to 62 in 2019 members and continues to go from strength to strength with 90 members on the 2024 course. Now in its 10th year the NSGCB is made up of members of Scouting and Girlguiding aged between 12 and 25 who are proficient to grade 4 or above in at least one wind, brass or percussion instrument. They meet once a year for an intense week of music making alongside Scouting and Girlguiding activities, culminating in two concerts at prestigious venues in the Birmingham area.
Rehearsals
The week is made up of intense rehearsals, work shops, master-classes and sectional tuition. You’ll be working with our team of professional conductors and tutors to ensure you develop your creative talents and have fun along the way. Most days are divided between full concert band rehearsals and smaller sectional workshops, helping you to enhance your skills and technique in a more focussed setting. Our team of dedicated tutors are all professional instrumental teachers and musicians, helping you to get the most out of your instrument on the course. Their enjoyment of the unique setting offered by the NSGCB is plain to see, and a number of tutors have been with us every summer since the NSGCB was reformed
For more details and a ‘Behind the Scenes Video’ see The Course page.
Music
The NSGCB rehearses and performs numerous pieces of popular concert band repertoire. This includes a wide selection of genres from show-tunes including selections from Les Misérables (Lloyd Webber), The Greatest Showman and An American in Paris (Gershwin) to Vaughan William’s English Folk Song Suite, The Royal Fireworks Music by Handel, Liberty Bell (Sousa), Encanto (R Smith), Walton’s Crown Imperial in Coronation Year, Pomp and Circumstance (Elgar) and Jerusalem (C. Parry). Additionally they also play more popular music; Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody, Abba Gold (Sebrets), Michael Jackson’s through the Years and the energy of Ride by Samuel Hazo being some of the most well received!
In 2020 when the course was cancelled due to Covid19 the NSGCB and NSGSO members produced a lock-down video. In 2021, when the course was cancelled yet again, we were able to offer a one day playing event for some of our members.
Concerts
The NSGCB perform a number of concerts during the week, usually performing at the Severn Valley Railway and a concert in the community during the week. They host a Saturday afternoon concert at a prestigious concert venue in the Birmingham area, as well as being guest artistes at the NSGSO evening concerts.
The NSGSO concerts conclude with a joint piece involving all the members of both the NSGSO and NSGCB – a truly spectacular moment showcasing the musical talents of Scouting and Girlguiding, with over 160 musicians on stage!
Information about upcoming performances can be found under Concerts.
Additional Information
However we also have space during the day for rest and chat. You can find out more under Social Activities.
You can find out more information about the concert band under History and information about upcoming performances under Concerts.
Neil Wright, NSGCB conductor
Neil was born and educated in Newark, Nottinghamshire and started playing percussion when he was just 2 and a half! Neil played percussion in various ensembles including concert bands, marching bands, orchestras and big bands as well as being a distinguished brass player.
Building on his passion for music, Neil studied for his BMus (Hons) at Hull University and went on to teach music. Neil has now been teaching music for over 25 years in varying roles such as Head of Music and Director of Community Music. In addition to teaching secondary students, Neil also conducts many different groups from Concert Bands to Big Bands to Symphony Orchestras in the Nottingham area. He is also the recently retired Chair of the British Youth Band Association (BYBA), and now a Fellow. Neil is Bandmaster of the Stapleford Citadel Band of the Salvation Army.
Neil was delighted to accept the role as the inaugural conductor of the National Scout & Guide Concert Band in 2016 and has seen it progress from strength to strength over the years. Since 2016, it has more than doubled in size and under his baton members’ playing ability has developed considerably. Additionally, Neil has conducted the National Scout and Guide Concert Orchestra and Big Band at our Special Event Concerts at both Rolleston Last Night of the Proms and at Coventry Methodist Central Hall as part of the Coventry City of Culture Year.
