🎺 Calling All 8th–12th Grade Brass & Percussion Players! 🥁
The Brass Band of Huntsville is thrilled to announce that registration is now open for the Youth Brass Academy of Huntsville (YBAoH) NABBA Competition Brass Band and get ready for a season full of excitement! You'll make lifelong friends who share your passion for brass as you rehearse, laugh, and grow together. Every rehearsal brings fun, from playing bold, bright music to celebrating each milestone with your bandmates. This award-winning youth brass band takes you on the road to Fort Wayne, IN, where the trip becomes an adventure as memorable as the performance. Traveling with your friends makes every mile part of the experience, from the bus rides to the moment you take the stage. It's a unique musical opportunity to play in a championship-caliber ensemble and push your skills further than you ever imagined. Sign up now and become part of a band that's making its mark on the national brass scene.
🗓 NABBA Competition Brass Band Details
Performance 1: Southeastern Brass Band Festival--Strongly Encouraged Participation
Date & Time: Saturday, March 13, 2027, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM (clinic – 10:00 am – 11:00 am)
Location: Sandra Moon Performing Arts Center (7901 Bailey Cove Rd, Huntsville, AL)
Highlights:
Strongly Encouraged participation in pre-SEBBF NABBA music clinic Friday, March 12, 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm.
Receive personalized coaching from Brass Band of Huntsville professionals.
No fee for clinics.
Pinnacle Performance 2: NABBA Championships, Ft. Wayne, IN
Dates: Thursday, April 9 – Sunday, April 12
Location: Ft. Wayne, Indiana
Highlights:
Travel by coach to Ft. Wayne with stops on the way.
Lodging in four star hotels.
6:1 (or less) Chaperone – Student ratio
Enjoy listening to incredibly musical British brass band performances by adult and youth brass bands from across the nation and Canada.
Enjoy fun, make lifelong friends, and take on a challenging and rewarding musical opportunity that will help you grow into a stronger musician!
💰 Registration & Important Info
Cost: $300 covers participation in Spring NABBA rehearsals and preparation.
Registration Opens: NOW
How to Register: Visit www.brassbandofhuntsville.com and click on the Youth Brass Academy tab.
Competition Season Note: Students who register for the 2027 competition season are expected to be available for the Southeastern Brass Band Festival (March 12–13, 2027) and the NABBA Championships (April 8–11, 2027).
Additional Financial Obligations to travel to the NABBA Championships will be announced. beginning in January. Various fundraisers will be made available for student participation.
Corporate/Business Sponsorships along with applying for grants will be sought to lower the financial obligations for students.
Additional Details:
Open to students in 8th - 12th grade of metro Huntsville area schools.
Open to students on the following instruments:
Trumpet
French Horn
Euphonium/Baritone
Trombone
Tuba
Percussion
Seating auditions will take place at the second full YBAoH rehearsal. The selected 2027 NABBA Championships Competition Piece will be distributed at the first full YBAoH rehearsal and used as the audition music. Two varied sections of the piece will be selected to showcase technical and lyrical abilities. Chair placement and part assignments will be based on live auditions at the second rehearsal.
Rehearsals will begin on Sunday, January 3, 2027 and take place each Sunday afternoon from 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm at the Sandra Moon Center band room, 7901 Bailey Cove Road, Huntsville, AL 35803.
Tuition for the ensemble is $300 for the 2027 NABBA Season payable online when registering or by a check made out to Brass Band of Huntsville, (Youth Brass Academy in the memo) brought to the Sunday, January 3, 2027 rehearsal. There are a limited number of need-based YBA scholarships available. Applications will be emailed upon request.
It is expected that you will participate in the Southeastern Brass Band Festival on Saturday, March 13, 2027 and a clinic on Friday evening, March 12, 2027, both of which will be held at The Sandra Moon Community Complex, 7901 Bailey Cove Road, Huntsville. There is no fee for the clinic.
It is also expected/required that you participate in the NABBA Championships on April 8 – 11, 2027 in Ft. Wayne, IN. Per student cost for this trip will be between $500 - $1000 above your 2027 YBAoH registration fee. The NABBA Championships trip is the pinnacle of the YBAoH performance season where we defend our recent awards.
Students will perform all concerts in Black pants and YBA Polo shirt. Students will also be required to purchase a “travel T-shirt” which will have our logo on the front pocket and the YBAoH roster of performers on the back. Students also have the option of purchasing a black hooded sweatshirt with our YBAoH logo on the front and YBA on the sleeve. Purchase information for the YBA polo, travel T-shirt, and sweatshirt to follow.
Student ejection from the ensemble (for behavior or other such reasons) is at the discretion of the director and education committee. Any student who is removed from the ensemble will not be entitled to a refund.
YBA students are strongly encouraged to assist with BBoH/YBAoH fundraising activities to support operational and NABBA Championships costs.
Students in the ensemble agree to have photos/videos of them taken and shared on the various social media accounts and websites of the Brass Band of Huntsville and/or Youth Brass Academy of Huntsville.
Concert Dress:
Concert dress for YBA is all black with YBA member polo shirt. We will use this for all performances during the season. This includes black dress pants, long black socks and black dress shoes. No Jeans or leggings. This will be the uniform for males and females. Students will be directed to a specific vendor for the polo shirts.
YBA Owned Instruments:
The YBA will provide players with cornets, baritones, flugel horn, and Eb tenor horns. There will not be a rental fee, but if damage to an instrument occurs members will be responsible for all repairs. Students and parents will be required to fill out and sign a YBA instrument loan form. The YBA Education Committee monitors the condition of the instruments during the program year and will contact you if the instrument is damaged while in the student’s possession.
Music:
YBA Brass Band members will be supplied with a music folder. All music must be kept in this folder and may not be removed. Please do not put any other music in your folder; it is for YBAoH brass band music ONLY. You are responsible for maintaining all music in the folder. If you lose a part, let the director know so a replacement can be obtained. All students must always have a pencil in their folder.
Private Lessons:
Most of the students in the YBA already take lessons. We do not require it, but we STRONGLY recommend it. Individual attention from a professional teacher or player can be invaluable and will help improve your playing at a faster pace. If you need help finding a teacher, our directors can help you.
Equipment Responsibilities:
All members are required to help with set-up and break-down for rehearsals and concerts. Each section will have a specific responsibility. Volunteers are also expected to help with the load-in and load-out of equipment at our storage facility. Details will be provided the week of each concert.
Communication:
Since our members are spread out all over the region, we use e-mail and to communicate important information. Prior to rehearsal on Sunday’s, members are required to check e-mail for weekly updates (Wednesdays).
Attendance:
Attendance at all rehearsals and concerts is mandatory for members as some parts are only one student on a part. Only your required school functions and illnesses are excused absences; all other absences are considered unexcused. ALL absences (except illnesses) must be approved prior to, not after the event. Any conflicts with dress rehearsals and performances must be brought to the attention of the YBAoH Conductor before accepting membership into the BBoH Youth Brass Academy of Huntsville. While required school functions are excused, extra-curricular school functions such as musicals and plays are not. Members are expected to not add other activities on top of YBAoH scheduled events. If a member is chronically absent from rehearsals, they may be in jeopardy of dismissal from the program. To report an absence, please contact Mr. Zac Rohner (Zac@brassbandofhuntsville.com), or Mr. Robert Slamp (robert.slamp@brassbandofhuntsville.com).