The Usk Youth Brass Band is made up of young and older, novice and experienced players, who entertain the community in and around Usk (see performance list below), as well as entering competitions. The Band is always on the look out for new players of any brass band instrument, so please get in touch if you fancy getting involved.

Conductor. Mr Jeff Jones

Rehearsals. The Band rehearses on Monday evenings during the School Term in the Memorial Hall, Usk:

6-7pm for the Learner and Training Bands, and
7-9.30pm for Main Band.

Subscriptions. The subscription fees are:

50p per week for under 18’s, and
£1 per week for adults.

This includes the loan of an instrument, if one is available.

Contact. If you would like to join, or want more information, please contact Mrs Sam Burchell (Band Secretary) on 01291-671121, or email Mrs Lea Jones (Chairperson), or just come along to the Memorial Hall on a Monday evening.

News. 2005 was a busy year for the Band (see performance list below) that peaked at the annual Christmas Concert where   
           awards were made to the most improved youth players of the year:

Jack and Ivy Stradling Memorial Trophy was presented to Katy Beckett (cornet) by Mr Bob Stradling.
Training Band Award was presented to David Morgan (tenor horn) by Mr Jeff Jones (conductor).

            2006 is already shaping up to be a busy year for the Band, including:

entering the Greater Gwent Youth Brass Band Festival at Crosskeys, 28th January,
a concert for Usk Mayor’s Charities in the Spring, and
a trip to Usk’s twin town, Graben-Neudorf in Germany, in the autumn.

The Band is extremely grateful in receiving great support from the community towards the planned trip to Germany, and generally encouraging young people to play and sustain the brass tradition in Usk.

The Band is currently looking for drummer/percussionist(s) and a B^b bass player with instrument. The Band has its own drum kit, but doesn’t have a B^b bass at present.

Brief History. There has been a brass band in Usk off and on since the early 20^th century, but the present band can trace its beginnings to the 1970’s when a group of players got together under the guidance of Jack Stradling. The Usk Town Band (also known at the time as Usk and District Silver Band) in addition to entertaining the community in and around Usk, began competing and in 1982 won the Welsh Regional Championships (fourth section) under the musical directorship of Michael Pegram, which qualified the Band to play in the National Championships at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Also, in 1982 the Band made a highly popular visit to Usk’s twin town Graben-Neudorf in Germany with Nigel Weeks as conductor, who conducted the Band at various times in the late 1970’s and through the 1980’s. Other conductors in this period included Aubrey Brice and home-grown Mark Stones. Unfortunately, due to a lack of players, the Usk and District Silver Band folded in the late 1980’s, but was reincarnated in the 1990’s as Usk Youth Brass Band under the musical directorship of James Nicholas, who was awarded the 2001 Con Buckley Memorial Trophy in 2001, at the Greater Gwent Youth Brass Band Festival, for actively encouraging and developing young players. The Band’s present conductor, Jeff Jones, took over in 2002 and, under his directorship, the Band has grown and improved greatly, with 2^nd place in the 2004 Greater Gwent Youth Brass Band Festival at Coleg Gwent, Crosskeys.

29^th January: Greater Gwent Youth Brass Band Festival, Coleg Gwent, Crosskey’s
19^th March: Mayor’s Concert, Sessions House, Usk
29^th March: Joint Twinning Concert with German Music Group, British Legion, Usk
24^th April: St. George’s Day Celebration Service, Coleg Gwent, Usk
21^st May: School May Fayre, Usk
12^th June: Raglan Music Festival
25^th June: Usk Open Gardens
26^th June: Usk Open Gardens Service, Sessions House
2^nd July: Playing in the Square, Usk (am)
2^nd July: Little Mill Fete (pm)
10^th September: Usk Show, Gwernesney
4^th November: Garden of Remembrance, Usk
13^th November: Armistice Parade, Usk
20^th November: Council Service, St. Mary’s Church, Usk
3^rd December: Victorian Day, Usk
4^th December: Twinning Association Carol Concert, British Legion, Usk
9^th December: Carol Concert, St. Mary’s Church, Usk
10^th December: School Christmas Fayre, Usk
11^th December: Santa in the Square, Usk
14^th December: Carol’s around the fire, King’s Head Hotel, Usk
17^th December: UYBB Christmas Concert, Memorial Hall, Usk
23^rd December: Carol’s, Greyhound Inn, Usk