The organisation has always had a strong musical tradition. This has mainly been in marching bands but there have always been some full brass bands. In the late 1970s contact was made between brass bands in BB companies throughout the UK in order to establish a link between these bands. As a result an annual National Brass Band Contest was started in 1980 and cooperation between the bands grew.
In the BB Centenary year, 1983, the brass bands formed the first ever National Brass Band (over 300 strong) to take part in the main celebrations in Ibrox Park in Glasgow. Throughout that year, massed brass bands were involved in other centenary events, including the Royal Review by HM The Queen at Holyrood Palace.
After the centenary the brass bands requested a more formal contact and a chance to reach out to other members of the organisation (and the sister organisation, The Girls’ Brigade) to give opportunities to individual members who play brass, but who have little or no opportunity to play in a local BB brass band.
The Boys’ Brigade National Brass Band Association was therefore formed in 1985 as a means of communication between bands; a forum for ideas and discussion; an advisory body; contact with other music associations and organisations; to provide assistance to small bands and to organise events and training at national level for member bands. Full Band membership is available to Boys’ Brigade and/or Girls’ Brigade (GB) brass bands Additionally, Affiliated band membership is available for any non BB/GB band that has a direct Brigade link and who would like to take an active part in Association events or Associate membership for those individuals interested in supporting the Association . Members wholly finance the Association’s administration costs through annual membership fees.
The number of brass bands in the BB have, sadly, depleted in recent years but there are still 6 member bands (involving over 70 young people), in Chandlers Ford, London, Nottingham, Halesowen, Doncaster and Accrington. In addition, the Association is able to offer BB/GB members in Companies without bands, the opportunity of taking part in massed brass band activities.
The Association organises informal get-togethers, training courses and massed band events where young people from BB and GB Companies can come together to practise, play and experience fellowship in a much larger band. Every five years members travel to Denmark for the National Music Festival of the FDF (Danish BB & GB). Massed bands have performed at the 1994 Royal Review by HM The Queen at Windsor Castle, at various British leisure parks such as Alton Towers, Legoland in Denmark and Windsor, and at the Royal Tournament at Earls Court. Concerts have been held in Derby, Birmingham, Hucknall, Chandlers Ford, Liverpool and Halifax. A nationally represented band recorded the first ever BB national brass band CD which was released in 2002 (click here for details). A feature of recent years has been the early May Bank Holiday training weekends at RAF Cosford and RAF Uxbridge.